PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment and it includes all the safety items that are held and worn in order to provide protection against hazards.
There are various types of PPE that have been designed with the aim to safeguard the wearer.
To ensure the highest level of protection , the correct choice of PPE as equipment against bacteria & viruses play a role.
What are types of PPE?
Protective clothing, helmets, goggles, ear plugs, respirators, safety boots are some of the examples of PPE and face masks (N95 respirators), face shields, medical gloves, gowns, are the PPEs that are used in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus can gain entry into the human body primarily via nose, mouth and or damaged skin as infected people expel their salivary and respiratory secretions into the surroundings when they talk, cough, or sneeze.
Its transmission occurs through direct, indirect and closed contact with infected people.
To avoid contact with these secretions one should opt for the right PPE. (3)
Masks
Face shields, N95 respirators and surgical face masks are some of the examples of PPE that are used in these Covid times.
Face protection is designed to protect the wearer from airborne particles, potential splashes of infected secretions, fumes and vapours.
PPE worn on the face not only defends the face but also the lungs and stomach as they catch particles before the nose and mouth.
Hand Protection
Hands are the primary source of germs.
Surgical Hand gloves and alcohol based sanitizers or hand washing alone can avoid transmission and kill germs.
Eye Protection
Safety glasses, goggles or eye/face shields are encouraged to be worn worldwide in high risk places.
Infectious or pathogenic strains can enter via conjunctiva (mucosal linings) of the eye into the body.
Paramedics are advised to wear eye protection to avoid contact with blood splashes, respiratory droplets of infected patients during coughing, sneezing or talking.
Gowns
Also known as garment, the gown is a classified as PPE.
Aprons
Aprons are used to protect against Covid and others viruses.
Boots or Closed-Toe Work Shoes
To avoid the contamination through the floor, boots or closed-toe work shoes are also used as Personal Protection Equipment.
Regulations with PPE
With the increasing numbers of Coronavirus infections, PPE is in high demand and this high demand has increased the probability of counterfeiting having the effect of compromising quality.
In order to be effective, PPE has to be able to do the job it is designed for.
People should be made aware about the types of PPE and their uses.
It is, however, the responsibility of the government and local authorities to maintain checks and balances on the manufacture, transport and selling of PPE.
It is also the responsibility of the buyer to buy from approved certified sites and licensed shops to make sure that PPE is compliant with the law.