Page 34 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2017

PROTECTIVE APPAREL
A Double-Edged Sword: The Power of Choice in FRC
Here’s how you can safely increase comfort and compliance and reduce complaints.
BY SCOTT MARGOLIN
Many PPE programs suffer from low wear- er acceptance and high complaint levels. One of the most common—and avoid- able—causes is giving individual wear-
ers little or no choice or control over what they must wear. No one likes to be told what to do, much less how to do it. People are hardwired to react negatively to mandatory language, even when they know it’s in their best interest.
Allowing individual choice is a proven and ex- tremely effective way to remove or dramatically re- duce resistance. But given the dramatic expansion in arc-rated/flame resistant (AR/FR) fibers, fabrics, and brands in recent years, making informed choices that ensure worker safety and comfort has become far more complex and has increased the possibility of introducing potentially serious pitfalls. It is more
important than ever to work with a subject matter ex- pert (SME), a highly knowledgeable, trusted resource upon whom you can rely for honest and complete in- formation. With the help of an SME, you can safely harness the power of choice.
Power of Choice
Even when all the options are roughly equivalent, people prefer to have choices. Choice equals control, and everyone likes to feel empowered. This core te- net of the human psyche changes little, if at all, as we mature, and it remains a prime motivator of behav- ior throughout our lifetimes. So is it any wonder that so many personal protective equipment uniform programs struggle to achieve and maintain high lev- els of wearer compliance, much less satisfaction or even happiness?
28 Occupational Health & Safety | AUGUST 2017
www.ohsonline.com
TYNDALE COMPANY, INC.