Each day, you should correctly wear your PPE to remain safe and return home at the end of your shift. Hearing protection is very unique as it doesn’t end after you clock out. Daily activities such as mowing your lawn, attending a game, or even seeing your favorite band should be viewed as contributors to hearing loss and you should be aware of the effects.
According to John Hopkins Medicine and the Hearing Loss Association of America, “Hearing loss is the third leading major public health issue, affecting 48 million Americans, or 20% of the adult population.” Arthritis leads the way, followed by heart disease. Sixty percent of people with hearing loss are either in the workforce or in educational settings.
Eye protection is a key component of every Safety Program, and prevention is the best protection! An incident can occur at any time, setting, or location and correctly using your eyewear will lower your chance of an injury.
Prevent Blindness America reports that 90 percent of the more than 2,000 eye injuries occurring each day are preventable through the use of protective safety eyewear.
The best reason to maintain a top-of-the-line PPE program, including employees’ critical eye and face protection, is to prevent a life-changing injury. Eye injuries can range from mild—minor bumps and scratches—to serious, eyesight-threatening injuries that demand immediate medical attention. Common injuries include corneal abrasions, which are scratches on the clear, front surface of the eye. They can result from merely rubbing your eye or from wearing contacts too long, or from a speck of “something” in the eye or being poked in the eye by some object.