Why are protective measures for pollutants at home or at the workplace important?
If contact with pollutants can occur at the workplace, appropriate protective measures are required. These should protect the employee from the pollutants and create and ensure a safe working environment.
What protective measures are there for potentially hazardous substances?
In principle, there is a suitable protective measure for every hazardous situation.
Depending on the type of substance and the hazard, various protective measures are necessary and sensible at the workplace. If dusts occur at the workplace, they must be prevented from being inhaled. The simplest way to prevent the inhalation of dusts is to wear a breathing mask. Extraction systems can also reduce the dust content in the air we breathe. Such devices are particularly useful in filling plants, where a high level of dust can be generated. The GSA Gesellschaft für Schadstoffanalytik offers advice on all aspects of pollutant issues.
Which protection for what?
There is personal protective equipment, which includes all protective measures that protect the body from contact with pollutants. This includes safety goggles (eye protection), protective clothing such as protective gowns or safety shoes to protect the body. There is also hearing protection and face protection. Various protective measures are combined for the best possible protection. The protective measures to be used can be found on the mandatory symbols. These must be clearly visible at the workplace. (The symbols shown here are only examples and are not exhaustive).
Symbolic image of mandatory signs
(Image source: © David Benes/123RF.com)
From left to right: Wear head protection (helmet) – Wear foot protection – Wear
gloves – Wear safety goggles
Who controls this?
It is important that the specified protective measures are also complied with at the workplace. This is of course in the employee’s own interest, but it is also the employer’s duty to regularly check compliance. In addition, the employer must provide the necessary protective equipment and draw up operating instructions and protection plans. This is laid down in both the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the PPE Usage Ordinance.
Employees are obliged to apply the protective measures during their work. In addition, a “visual and functional check” must be carried out by the employee before use. If defects or damage are discovered, these must be reported immediately and the protective equipment replaced.
Sources:
[1] Source image: © Sira Jantararungsan / 123RF.com
[2] https://www.vbg.de/apl/arbhilf/unterw/32_per.htm
[3] https://www.baua.de/DE/Themen/Anwendungssichere-Chemikalien-und-Produkte/Produktsicherheit/Persoenliche-Schutzausruestungen/Bereitstellung-Benutzung.html;jsessionid=05B205A191D5FAB4F4F6E47768F4ACE2.s2t2
[4] http://www.bmas.de/DE/Service/Gesetze/psa-benutzungsverordnung.html