Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can be found in most workplaces, but is it being used correctly? There are many myths surrounding PPE , some of which can lead to injury or worse. Amy Morris of Safe Environments entry in the British Occupational Hygiene Society and 3M competition to attend the IOHA 2015 conference.

1. Getting your PPE Facts right
5 facts and 5 myths
competition
Amy Morris

2. We rely on five sense right?

3. Let this be the first mythWe rely on five sense right?

4. There are actually between 9 & 21
 O2


💡
⚖
Depending on how you count them
💪
🚾
🌈
💡

5.  O2


🌈
💡
⚖
💪
🚾
And we do not want to lose these senses!
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can help!

6. “PPE should be the first line of
defence against hazards”
Injury
Pain Disease

7. “PPE should be the first line of
defence against hazards”
Injury
Pain Disease

8. PPE is the last defence in the
Hierarchy of Controls

Elimination
Substitution
Engineering Controls
Administration Controls
PPE

9. 
40% of eye injuries occurred whilst safety
glasses were worn due to incorrect type or fit
1

10. 
“The highest level of hearing
protection is the safest”
In ear or over ear
(or both)
Class 5 Worn all the time

11. 
“The highest level of hearing
protection is the safest”
In ear or over ear
(or both)
Class 5 Worn all the time

12. 
Reduced
communication
Cannot hear vehicles Missed warning sounds
The highest hearing protection
may be overprotection

13. If you damage your hearing, a
hearing aid CANNOT bring it back

2

14. “Safety boots only protect from
slips and toe injuries”
Impact
Punctures Crushing

15. “Safety boots only protect from
slips and toe injuries”
Impact
Punctures Crushing

16. Rolling anklesChemicals
Fatigue when standing
for long periods
Correct fitting safety boots can
also protect you from

17. Rubber and urethane are more slip
resistant than leather or vinyl soles
3

18. O2
“Wearing a respirator is enough to
protect you from airborne hazards”
ParticlesDust
Asbestos

19. O2
“Wearing a respirator is enough to
protect you from airborne hazards”
ParticlesDust
Asbestos

20. Positive Pressure
Test
Negative Pressure
Test
Face fit &
Fit testing
Respirators only protect you when
they fit correctly
O2

21. Facial hair can prevent the facepiece-to-
face seal, greatly reducing effectiveness
4
O2

22. “Disposable gloves will protect you
from chemical injury”
 Latex glovesNitrile gloves
Vinyl gloves

23. “Disposable gloves will protect you
from chemical injury”
 Latex glovesNitrile gloves
Vinyl gloves

24.  Latex damaged by
oils and grease
Nitrile dissolved by
acetone
Vinyl degraded by
paint strippers
Disposable gloves can react with
chemicals, causing more harm

25. Some gloves are porous, meaning
bacteria can get through from hands
5


26. PPE is used as a last resort
If you are unsure about your PPE
Don’t risk losing your senses* *Pun intended

27. Thank you for the opportunity
2
‘Myths’ determined by my own research
1
3
4
5
Victorian Deaf Society, Information Sheet
3M Protective Eyewear, from Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Safe Work Australia, Slips Trips and Falls Factsheet
NC Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Division, Publication
NZ Ministry for Primary Industries, Foodsmart: Myth busting about gloves