PPE assessment for mines can improve bottom line

An assessment of personal protective equipment (PPE) on mining sites can identify opportunities for improvements that can positively impact the bottom line of many businesses.

“A walk-through of your mining operations to gain input from the workers can provide insight into the various processes involved and whether the PPE used is providing the protection and performance required,” said Ansell’s head of marketing for industrial, Mitchell Mackey.

“By speaking with employees, management can learn about the critical factors associated with each task and any concerns that may impede worker productivity. If, for example, employees don’t have hand protection that provides the level of protection they need, they may perform tasks more slowly because they lack confidence in their ability to safely do the job.

“If their hand protection products do not provide sufficient grip to securely grasp wet or oily objects, their performance may be hampered by a concern about dropping and even breaking objects.”

He said many other factors can affect worker productivity, including apprehension about punctures or abrasions or whether PPE will provide the necessary heat or thermal protection. An assessment will also determine whether workers’ PPE is comfortable enough for them to perform their tasks to the highest level.

According to Mackey, by analysing the critical factors associated with each task, the assessor can make recommendations to significantly reduce potential injuries and PPE misapplication.

“Ansell PPE specialists are able to assist with a glove assessment that involves the analysis of a mining site’s current hand protection environment and will deliver a best practice recommendation.

“Productivity is directly impacted by the amount of waste a facility produces. Reducing waste in the form of defects or lost time can significantly drive down operating costs. A PPE assessment can identify solutions that can substantially reduce the amount of waste and the associated costs that may be present in the current work environment,” he said.