FACTS
- Some hazards may be controlled by eliminating them at the source through engineering and administrative controls, but personal protective equipment (PPE) is a crucial safety precaution often used in combination with other controls.
- When controls can’t eliminate hazards, personal protective equipment (PPE) can provide acceptable protection within its capabilities and limitations. It’s important to remember that PPE doesn’t eliminate hazards; it just minimizes exposure.
- PPE should be viewed as the “last line of defense” in protecting you from workplace hazards.
STATS
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hard hats were worn by only 16% of workers who sustained head injuries, although 2/5th’s were required to wear them for certain tasks at specific locations. Only 1% of approximately 770 workers who suffered face injuries were wearing face protection. 23% of the workers with foot injuries wore safety shoes or boots. About 40% of the workers with eye injuries wore eye protective equipment.
- About 60% of workers use PPE during work. Main reasons for non-use are discomfort, lack of knowledge on how to use it and poor fit. Occupational accidents in the last 12 months were reported by 64.3% of workers.
- Each day, an estimated 2,000 workers suffer eye injuries on the job, and costs employers and insurance companies millions of dollars a year. These injuries incur more than $924 million annually in workers’ compensation, and nearly $4 billion in wage and productivity losses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 90 percent of all workplace eye injuries are preventable with the use of proper eyewear and safety measures.