Diversified technology company 3M is hosting a free webinar on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) compatibility as part of its ‘safety spotlight’ series.
The webinar will take place on Wednesday 14 November at noon (GMT), delivered by Technical Services Engineer Alan McArthur of the 3M Safety Solutions Division. He will explain the importance of PPE compatibility and issues to consider when selecting appropriate and adequate safety equipment.
“Compatibility is the ability of several PPE products to be worn together in a way where no one item compromises the ability of another to protect the wearer,” McArthur says.
“Many industries and activities, including construction, food and beverage manufacture, paint spraying and welding to name but a few, present multiple hazards to workers, meaning more than one PPE item may need to be worn simultaneously on the worker’s head or face, which can lead to compatibility issues.
“This webinar will provide an overview of PPE compatibility, including the risks associated with incompatible PPE and ways to approach the issue. One option is to use combination products that bring together several PPE types in a single unit – for example a powered air respirator with a headtop that incorporates hearing, eye, head and respiratory protection. This system reduces the number of items competing for space on a wearer’s face.
“Another option is to involve wearers in the PPE selection process and to individually assess the fit of the different PPE components. PPE which is not fitting properly will offer significantly reduced or even zero protection – increasing health risks to workers.”
To register for the webinar, go to www.3M.co.uk/ohes/speakerseries.