HUMAN FACTORS & ERGONOMICS PPE FOR POSITIVITY
Worker wellbeing has become a hot topic in recent years – and with good reason. From increased productivity to reduced absenteeism, a happy workforce can bring exponential benefits for business.
Nonetheless, a positive working environment is about much more than controlling the lighting and temperature or employee benefits.
The new ISO 45003 standard on psychological health and safety shows organisations how to make their people their priority, identifying where psychosocial risks arise and how they can be mitigated or eliminated. The standard shows how improving psychological safety involves taking precautions to avert injury or danger to employee psychological health.
That means high-quality PPE is vital. How workers feel in what they're wearing has a psychological effect. If employees are given poor-standard PPE, they will inevitably feel less important themselves.
IMPLICATIONS OF POOR PPE PPE should meet EN standards as the bare minimum
but, even then, workers often dread having to wear it. Women, smaller men and young people in particular can find it hard to find PPE that fits, but poor-quality products tend to be uncomfortable for anyone. That can reduce compliance and increase the risk of accidents and discontentment.
Substandard products generally fail to stand the test of time, too. Workers throwing poorly produced gloves into an overflowing bin at the end of their shift are reminded on a daily basis about the disposable nature of their protective equipment. That not only increases waste – hurting the bottom line – but can negatively impact on workers' wellbeing and the company's culture more generally.
“ERGONOMIC PRODUCTS THAT ARE EASY TO WEAR WILL DRAMATICALLY CUT THE RISK OF NON-COMPLIANCE.”
If employees receive good-quality PPE, on the other hand, they are more likely to use it. Ergonomic products that are easy to wear will therefore dramatically cut the risk of non-compliance.
That means safety gloves that are designed and manufactured to fit the shape of the individual's hand. It means footwear that delivers all-day comfort, cushioning to reduce musculoskeletal issues as well as protection from workplace hazards. It means comfortable earplugs helping to reduce pressure and also containing no contaminants that could enter the body.
42
Products should also be created for longer-term use. Durability signals quality to employees and means they are more likely to look after them. That brings benefits for wellbeing, cost and sustainability.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARABILITY A valued employee is the greatest asset a business can
have, so it makes sense to choose PPE that delivers on wearability. There are four main factors that determine whether a product offers true wearability:
Proper fit: One size does not fit all. It may seem obvious, but products that have been selected for the individual and their workplace requirements can help avoid accidents, reduce discomfort, increase productivity and give wearers confidence.
All-day comfort: With proper fit comes comfort. Products should be designed to work with the body,
www.tomorrowshs.com
Providing workers with personal protective equipment that delivers on wearability can significantly improve compliance, safety and overall wellbeing, says uvex.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
