Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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PPE assessment: improving your bottom line
An assessment of personal protective equipment can identify opportunities for improvements that can positively impact the bottom line of many businesses.
"A plant walk-through to gain input from the workers can provide insight into the various processes involved and whether the PPE used is providing the protection and performance required," suggests Ansell Industrial's AsiaPacific Head of Marketing, Greg Plemmons.
"By speaking with employees, management can learn about the critical factors associated with each task and any concerns that may impede worker productivity. If, for example, employees don't have hand protection that provides the level of protection they need, they may perform tasks more slowly because they lack confidence in their ability to safely do the job.
"If their hand protection products do not provide sufficient grip to securely grasp wet or oily objects, their performance may be hampered by a concern about dropping and even breaking objects."
Gregg believes that many other factors can affect worker productivity, including apprehension about punctures or abrasions or whether PPE will provide the necessary heat or thermal protection. An assessment will also determine whether workers' PPE is comfortable enough for them to perform their tasks to the highest level.
"By analysing the critical factors associated with each task, the assessor can make recommendations to eliminate potential injuries and PPE misapplication," he says.
"Productivity is directly impacted by the amount of waste a facility produces. Reducing waste in the form of defects or lost time can significantly drive down operating costs. A PPE assessment can identify solutions that can substantially reduce the amount of waste and the associated costs that may be present in the current work environment."
With operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, Ansell employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and holds leading positions in the natural latex and synthetic polymer glove and condom markets. It operates in three main business segments: Occupational Healthcare, supplying hand protection to the industrial market; Professional Healthcare, supplying surgical and examination gloves to healthcare professionals; and Consumer Healthcare, supplying sexual health products and consumer hand protection.
T: 1800 337 041
E: [email protected]
W: www.ansell.com
23rd June 2011