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Personal Protective Equipment [Infographic]

September 28, 2017

Your Last Line of Defense: Gear up with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep you protected in the field.

Startling Stats

  • Every day, about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. [1]
  • Unintentional injuries have increased over 4% and are now ranked as the fourth leading cause of death. [2]
  • In 2009, there were 667 fatalities and 28,958 injuries due to work zone crashes. [3]
  • In 2012, over 1,020 workers died from head injuries sustained on the job. [4]
  • Every seven seconds a worker is injured on the job. That’s 540 per hour, 12,900 a day, 90,400 a week, 4,700,000 a year. [5]

It is imperative to maintain your equipment in sanitary and reliable conditions. Your PPE is your last line of defense from hazards. Inspect regularly. Gear up. Get working. Be safe.  

protective equipment

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Hard Hat

Worn whenever employees are exposed to overhead dangers from falling objects, impact or electric hazards.

  • Foresters are REQUIRED to wear ANSI Z89.1-2003 or 2009 Type I Class E as general equipment
  • Worn in storm situations and/or high-wind conditions, marking hazard trees or working with tree crews
  • Replace at least every five years or if finish becomes dull, chalky, or when cracks or splits are discovered

Hearing Protection

Worn when noise levels exceed OSHA’s 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA)/85 decibels (dB).

  • Ensure hearing protection is securely placed in the ear canal or covering the ear
  • Ear plugs, canal caps or ear muffs are the most common types of hearing protection
  • Replace improperly fitting, dirty or worn-out hearing protection

Safety Glasses

Worn to protect your eyes from impact hazards like flying debris, large chips and particles.

  • ANSI Z87.1 or Z87.1+ glasses meet the impact requirements of OSHA
  • Worn in ALL field situations outside of a vehicle
  • Protection against exposure to vegetation, flying objects, glare, chips and dirt
  • Replace glasses when scratched or damaged

High-Visibility Safety Vest

Worn when working outside of your vehicle to increase visibility to others.

  • ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Type R: Class 2 or 3 safety vests are REQUIRED for roadway work
  • Suitable for daytime and low-light conditions
  • Replace if torn, damaged or lettering/reflective tape has worn away

Boots

Worn by all field employees at all times.

  • Minimum of 6 inches tall to ensure proper ankle support
  • Rugged treads on the soles protect from slippage on loose terrain
  • Replace if damaged, cracks expose inside of the boot, or treads have worn and traction is lost

Other PPE may include:*

  • Face shield
  • Gloves
  • Respirator
  • Coveralls
  • Walking stick
  • Pepper spray
  • Gaiters
  • Safety whistle

Additional Resources

Click here to learn about the 10 Most Common Workplace Injuries & How to Avoid Them.

Author
ACRT Staff

ACRT is the largest independent utility consulting company in the U.S. and empowers utilities to proactively manage vegetation across their entire rights-of-way. We consistently stay on top of and share relevant industry content with our employees and customers around the country.