Believe it or not, PPE has been around for centuries. According to researchers, there is evidence that gloves were worn by the Greeks as early as the 8th century. They worn them to protect themselves from thorns. Gloves have long been worn by the wealthier class to make a fashion statement as well. Masons would often wear them during the Middle Ages to protect their hands from dangerous materials. Their gloves were made from sheepskin. Helmets date back to at least 900 B.C. as Assyrian soldiers wore them to protect their heads from things like arrows and sword attacks.
Today, we wear hard hats to protect us from hazards such as falling objects and electrical hazards. Were you aware that hard hats come in different classes and types though? Long before we heard about respiratory protection for Covid 19, workers have been wearing respirators and masks to protect from harmful fumes, vapors, and mists-in addition to protecting themselves from diseases and bacteria. Gloves are worn in modern times to protect from a wide array of hazards such as chemicals, sharp objects, blood borne pathogens, electrical hazards, etc. Were you aware that gloves have many different permeation and degradation ratings; in addition to being made from numerous different barrier materials? Choosing the proper respiratory protection, skin protection, foot protection, eye protection, and hearing protection can be a daunting task as you will need detailed information about the PPE you might wear- as well as the hazards your employees may face.
Call A-C-T today for a quote on providing your team with PPE training. Our dedicated team can also assist with writing PPE programs, developing hazard assessment strategies, conducting third-party audits, and performing qualitative respirator fit testing. We have trainers and consultants that are degreed professionals and hold OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer status and are Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (CHMM).
