It is important for all bio-medical waste removal Fort Lauderdale workers to wear PPE, or personal protective equipment at all times when handling infectious and hazardous waste. This is done in order to protect themselves from physical injury or, worse, contracting some dangerous pathogen.
However, the purpose of PPE is not just for the workplace, but any other activity that can inflict harm upon the person’s body.
Personal protective equipment limits the chance of the wearer getting exposed to hazards and pathogens, as it serves as a barrier between his or her skin, eyes, nose, mouth and any pathogen or other hazard that might harm the wearer.
Types of PPE
PPE comes in different varieties, styles and designs. These are:
1. Eye PPE. Eye injuries are mostly caused by air particles. Certain air-borne bacteria from infected waste can get in the person’s eyes this way. For this reason, wearing eye protection goggles is vital in bio-medical waste disposal.
2. Skin PPE. A lot of medical waste materials contain chemicals and other substances that are, or can be dangerous to the individual’s skin. The need for skin PPE grows even further if the person handling the waste has cuts, scars or bruises on his or her skin. Skin PPE is important for protecting against radiation, parasites, contaminated surfaces, high temperatures, etc. The most common PPE for skin protection are gloves. People working in bio-medical waste removal companies must wear either nitrile or latex gloves at all times.
3. Hearing PPE. Hearing PPE are usually less needed when it comes to bio-medical waste removal. They are much more used in the manufacturing industry, as there the person is affected often without realizing it and slowly losing his or her hearing. The two typical hearing PPEs are earplugs and earmuffs.
4. Head PPE. This type of personal protective equipment is a necessary apparel for workers at the construction site. Everyone from the guy mixing concrete to the head honcho coming to inspect his or her workers must wear helmets. It is also the favorite headgear of politicians just before the elections.
5. Respiratory PPE. Certain pathogens from medical waste can be breathed in and damage the respiratory system in your body. Two types of respiratory PPE are used to protect your lungs and breathing canals – oxygen mask and gas mask.
6. Protective clothing. The ultimate in PPE, protective clothing is designed in such a way that it provides maximum protection for the wearer. This might fully protect the wearer, from head to toe, like in the case of hazmat suits, or it can include lab coats, steel-toed boots or other such clothing.
Conclusion
PPE, or personal protective clothing is often the only thing that stands between your employees and a dangerous infection. For someone dealing with bio-medical waste removal Fort Lauderdale, it is vital to use PPE at all times when handling infectious or hazardous materials.
