HOW TO PERFORM A SUCCESSFUL HSE RISK ASSESSMENT FOR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING?
All companies are required to map and evaluate hazards at the workplace and assess the risk associated with the work being done.
As a Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) professional, it is your responsibility to guard the safety of your workers in their day-to-day jobs.
Work safety, it’s very important. Many factors in the work environment needed to be considered: Machine operation rules, and trail safety signs. Protective clothing is one of them! What do you need to know about risk assessment for Protective clothing and how they provide employers with the protective clothing they need?
First, you should follow a checklist to ensure that the assessment is suitably comprehensive. It involves:
- Identify risks, and review your work environment
- Specify your protective wear needs and analyze which category
- Identify your protective clothing requirements
- Introduce your workers
1. You need to know what risks our employees are exposed to, and which safeguards provide the best solution. Your evaluation will be based on your unique risk environment, security regulations, user needs, and preferences.
Factors to consider in your risk analysis
-The probability of exposure to the risk/hazard
-The amount of exposure to the risk/hazard
-The severity of injuries linked to the risk/hazard
When you identify which risks are the most pressing, you’ll have concrete guidance for selecting the protective clothing that covers the right mix of protection for these risks.
Make sure to investigate the protective clothing you use in unusual situations or extreme weather conditions, as day-to-day garments.
HOW TO PERFORM A RISK ASSESSMENT AT THE WORKPLACE?
A risk assessment should and must always be carried out in consultation with the employees, union representative, and safety o, officer. If you are not sure how to carry out a risk assessment at the workplace – or if particularly complicated hazards exist. You should read The Directive 89/391/EEC, which guides risk assessments. It will help and advise safety experts who want to conduct a garment risk assessment, and it will help companies to fulfill their duties as laid down in the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC.
What does the safety clothing risk assessment cover?
Personal protective equipment regulations require a specific risk assessment for safety clothing and equipment. This Will help you identify:
The risks against which you need to provide safety clothing and equipment; The extent to which the risk is reduced by providing safety clothing and equipment; The information and training about the safety clothing and equipment which staff require; and remember: any safety clothing and equipment used must comply with the relevant national and European standards.
2. Specify your needs and analyze which category
When you’ve identified and analyzed your workplace risks, you can list the protective clothing solutions you currently have in place.
Examples of risks that should be examined as part of a risk assessment:
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR WELDERS
- Protection against contact with heat and flame (EN 11612)
- Clothes are certified for protection against thermal hazards that can occur in connection with electric arc flash accidents (IEC 61482-2).
- The general guidelines call for an ATPV/EBT rating of at least 8 cal/cm2. In situations of higher risk, we recommend multiple layers of protective clothing or garments with a higher arc flash rating.
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR ELECTRICIANS
∙ Protection against contact with heat and flame (EN ISO 11612).
∙ Garments are certified for protection against thermal hazards that may occur in electric arc accidents (IEC 61482-2).
An ATPV/EBT value of at least 8 cal/cm2 is the general guide several layers of protective clothing are recommended at higher recommended or clothing with a higher arc rain;
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR OIL WORKERS
∙ Protection against contact with heat and flame (EN ISO 11612).
∙ Clothes are care certified to protect against sudden discharges of electrostatic energy and used in situations where there is a risk of static sparks igniting flammable substances such as gas or oil (EN 1149-5).
∙ Conductive features such as metal zips and buttons must be concealed for improved safety.
∙ Protection against rain elevated visibility is also an important factor for this group.
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR RAIL WORKERS
- Protection against contact with heat and flame (EN ISO 11612).
- Certified clothes to make users highly visible in their immediate surroundings during the day, at night, and in bad weather (EN ISO 20471).
- Some workers also need clothes certified in the EN ISO 11611, standard for welding and similar activities.
2 .WHAT KINDS OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING DO YOUR WORKERS WEAR?
Different risks and tasks call for different garments, so take inventory of the different types of clothing you need for your workstations:
∙ What’s the protection offered by each of these garments?
∙ Are they flame retardant (FR)?
∙ Are they easy to move around in?
∙ Are the fabrics breathable and comfortable?
∙ Do your workers wear their garments correctly
Wearing protective clothing incorrectly can severely reduce the amount of protection offered by the garments, in the event of an accident.
3. IDENTIFY YOUR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS
After your risks are assessed in evaluation, it’s time to identify the requirements that your ideal protective clothing would meet.
Examples of lists of possible protective clothing options for various parts of the body.
- Conventional or disposable overalls
- Aprons
- Chemical suits
- Cooling vests
- Weather-proof gear – waterproof trousers, raincoats
- Fire-proof clothing
- Hi-visibility (hi-viz) clothing
4. TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION FOR YOUR WORKERS
Workers must be provided with all necessary information, training, and instruction. They should know:
∙ Why and when to use protective clothing
∙ How to wear their protective clothing
∙ How to look after their protective clothing.
∙ The purpose and limitations of all protective clothing they are required to wear. ∙ What the clothing is designed to protect them from; what it will not protect (so that workers do not accidentally expose themselves to potential harm when they are required to wear it.
Storage: Give workers information and training on correct storage and maintenance of their protective clothing.
∙ it can be kept clean and dry
∙ it is safe from damage or interference
∙ it is easily accessible to workers.
Cleaning:
Your supplier must provide protective clothing that is clean and hygienic. Cleaning should be carried out according to manufacturer instructions.
Some protective clothing may need re-treating or re-coating after being cleaned (eg re waterproofing). Protective clothing that has been exposed to harmful substances (such as fuel, grease, or paint) will need to be decontaminated after use. Decontamination: should be carried out by someone with the right training and knowledge to do it properly and thoroughly.
Inspection: Protective clothing should be regularly inspected for:
-Signs of soiling
-Signs of contamination
-Damage (rips, tears…
-Functioning closures (buttons, zips…)
-Missing accessories (reflective trims, clips…)
-Fabric working as it should (still be waterproof or heat-proof).
FIT AND COMFORT
∙ Clothing should be easy to put on and take off.
∙ It should not interfere with the normal movement required for the job. For example, walking, climbing stairs or ladders, sitting, standing, and operating plant or machinery.
∙ It should not be too loose or baggy. Loose or baggy clothing could get snagged on objects or cause tripping.
∙ Pants and sleeves should not hang down over hands or feet. Rolled-up sleeves and trousers could get caught in machinery. ∙ Protective clothing should cover an entire area, even when a worker is moving. For example, if a person raises their arms or leans over, clothing should not leave parts exposed. ∙ Head protection should be snug. It should not be able to slide around or tip forward.
∙ Clothing should not be so tight that it restricts blood flow. ∙ Clothing should not have sharp edges or rough surfaces that could harm the worker or others near them.
∙ Where possible, protective clothing should be made of breathable materials to avoid thermal discomfort (workers becoming too hot or sweaty while working).
∙ Compatibility with other clothing and PPE
∙ Protective clothing must be compatible with other PPE workers may need to wear or use at the same time.
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Casablanca, Morocco
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