PPE: types, requirements and regulations

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) means any equipment intended to be worn and kept by the worker for the purpose of protecting him against one or more risks likely to threaten his safety or health during working hours, as well as any complement or accessory intended for this purpose.
PPE is divided into different categories based on the activity carried out by the worker, in order to protect all workers from the multiple risks intrinsic to the specific activity they carry out.

Rules relating to PPE

The regulations relating to safety in the workplace are contained in Legislative Decree 81/2008; in particular, the art. 20 of the same reports what the obligations of all workers:

• Each worker must take care of his own health and safety and that of other people present in the workplace, on whom the effects of his actions or omissions fall, in accordance with his training, instructions and means provided by the employer;
• Workers must observe the provisions and instructions given by the employer, managers and supervisors, for the purposes of collective and individual protection, correctly using work equipment, dangerous substances and preparations, means of transport, as well as safety devices;
• Any collaborator must appropriately use the personal protective equipment made available to them and must immediately report any deficiencies in the equipment and devices as well as any dangerous conditions of which they become aware to the employer, manager or person in charge;
• PPE must never be removed or modified without the necessary authorization.

Furthermore, PPE must meet some specifications requirements:

• Be adequate for the risks to be prevented, without in itself entailing a greater risk;
• Be adapted to existing conditions in the workplace;
• Take into account the ergonomic or health needs of the worker;
• Can be adapted to the user according to his needs;
• In the case of multiple risks that require the simultaneous use of multiple PPEs, these must be compatible with each other and such as to maintain, even in simultaneous use, their effectiveness against the corresponding risks.

Classification of PPE

PPE is divided into three categories:

• Simple PPE design: include those intended to safeguard the person from risks of minor physical harm:
  • harmful actions with superficial effects produced by mechanical instruments;
  • minor and easily reversible harmful actions caused by cleaning products;
  • risks deriving from contact or impacts with hot objects, which do not expose to a temperature higher than 50°;
  • ordinary atmospheric phenomena during professional activities;
  • slight shocks and vibrations capable of reaching vital organs and causing permanent injuries;
  • harmful action of the sun’s rays.

• PPE of complex design: concern those intended to protect against risks of death or serious and permanent injury:
  • respiratory protection devices that filter against solid or liquid aerosols or against irritating, dangerous, toxic or radiotoxic gases;
  • insulating protective equipment, including those intended for scuba diving;
  • PPE that ensures limited protection over time against chemical aggression and ionizing radiation;
  • PPE for activities in environments with conditions equivalent to an air temperature not lower than 100°C, with or without infrared radiation, flames or melting materials;
  • PPE for activities in environments with conditions equivalent to an air temperature not exceeding –50°C;
  • PPE intended to protect against falls from heights;
  • PPE intended to protect against risks associated with activities that expose one to dangerous electrical voltages or used as insulators for high electrical voltages.

• PPE that does not fall into the other two categories.

Sometimes, however, being cautious and wearing PPE is not enough to avoid accidents. It is therefore a good idea to protect your business and your employees from damage and accidents with the right policy.

In particular the Collaborators’ liability insurance policy to Lokky has the objective of protecting the insured if the requests for compensation concern the accident of one of their collaborators. In particular, it protects the business owner from:

• accidents suffered by workers employed by him, subject to compulsory accident insurance and employed in the activities for which this insurance is provided;
• compensation for damages resulting from accident, death and bodily injury resulting in permanent disability.