Worker escapes major injuries by wearing the correct PPE

Tom Tieman of GSO Stainless recently escaped a broken jaw, teeth, nose and multiple stitches by wearing the correct PPE. Tieman was polishing a metal safety handle on a pedestal buffing machine when, in a split second, the handle was torn from his grip and then projected at bullet speed towards his face.

Tieman managed to avoid major injuries as he was wearing the ProChoice-assembled brow guard with visor - BGVC. The BGVC absorbed most of the impact leaving Tieman with only minor injuries including a bleeding nose and top lip with a bit of swelling. The visor was left with a dent in it that was about 5 cm long and 1 cm deep into the polycarbonate surface.

The BCVC has recently had its impact rating upgraded to Extra High Impact, under its SAI Global Certification (Lic.SMKH25279) in accordance with AS/NZS1337.1 Standards. To achieve an Extra High Impact rating, the visor technology is taken to the next level and must withstand the impact of a 6 mm steel ball shot at 190 m/s. To put this into perspective, an Extra High Impact resistant visor offers over 50% more impact protection than a regular High Impact visor, which could have been an important factor in the extent of Tieman’s injuries.

The design of the ProChoice BCVC offers 180° head protection, an easily adjusted headband, a cotton sweat absorption band and quick-lock clips for the easy replacement of visors.

Reflecting on the incident Tieman said, “I’m confident that if I wasn’t wearing the visor (BGVC) my injuries would have been a lot more serious. I would have definitely been hospitalised with a fractured face.”

The ProChoice visor (BGVC) is a mandatory piece of PPE in the workshop at GSO Stainless, he said. “The visor will continue to be a permanent fixture when using buffing and grinding equipment on site,” he added.

Tieman will have to replace his BGVC Visor, which is standard workplace safety practice after an accident - a lot cheaper and less traumatic than replacing his face.