Page 68 - OHS, June 2021

OIL & GAS
Evolving PPE: Going Beyond Fit
for Enhanced Protection and Wellness
Proper footwear can help avoid major accidents in the oil and gas industry.
BY JIM BAILEY
When it comes to protecting workers and creating a strong safety culture in the workplace, there’s no substitute for high-quality PPE, great partners and ongoing efforts to improve. After all, PPE, and safety footwear in particular, is very personal to workers and must be worn for long hours. Being aware of new technologies when selecting the right PPE will help keep workers comfortable and safe while on the job.
A focus on safety is especially important for those in work environments that include a wide variety of potential risk factors, such as in the oil and gas industry. Below are considerations for safety professionals to keep in mind when outfitting their workers with safety gear across industries and various risk levels.
PPE is Personal
When thinking about safety, it is essential to consider comfort and fit along with protection against common hazards like slips, trips, falls and puncture wounds. The wrong equipment can increase the rate of injury or cause injury itself, which can be detrimental to worker productivity and job satisfaction.
One key PPE component to consider is protective footwear, a personal purchase that needs to be tailored to a worker’s specific fit and needs. Improperly fitting footwear can make workers uncomfortable and cause fatigue, blisters, shin splits and other injuries. It’s crucial for employers to partner with a footwear company that will help workers find a work boot that is the right size and width to ensure all-day comfort and safety.
From a head-to-toe PPE perspective, it is also important to look at gender-specific design as both footwear and workwear should be tailored to women and men differently to ensure a comfortable fit. Industry-leading PPE manufacturers are closely examining the differences and introducing purpose-built options made using gender-specific lasts or specific patterns for women to ensure the best fit possible. Having the right PPE selection that considers all employees fosters safety, comfort and inclusivity.
Keep Up to Date with
New Technologies and Worker Expectations
PPE isn’t static. Like many other technologies, it is constantly changing and newer, better options are frequently introduced to the market. To ensure workers have the best protection available, it’s a good idea to stay up to date on recent innovations.
Additionally, boundaries are blurring more and more for today’s workers, and they don’t want to compromise between comfort and safety. They also seek style and versatility as well as the ability to select their preferred purchase method.
When it comes to footwear, technologies such as non-metallic toe caps, which weigh much less than their steel counterparts, and new, lightweight outsole materials that offer superior traction are making a big difference for workers. While these may not be the right selections for all environments, they are breakthroughs worth noting and may be right for light-to-medium-duty situations.
These and other technologies also allow for new factors like low-profile products that look like stylish sneakers but include
64 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2021
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