PPE
This article will introduce you to the different kinds of PPE you’ll come across as an instrumentation technician. PPE will typically be one of the first things you learn about on the job site. They are required to protect you from the many hazards you’ll come across in the instrumentation field.
The module that this article references can be found here under section U6551.05.
Keep in mind that this article is just covering basic PPE and may not be applicable to your work environment. Make sure to follow your company’s PPE policy.
What You Need To Know
Eye Protection
Safety Glasses
Good for avoiding scratches and impact hazards to your eyes.
Safety Goggles
Good when working in dusty areas or when dealing with chemicals.
Welding Helmet
Good when working in environment where you will be exposed to intense light.
Face Shield
Good when you may be at risk for chemical splash
Ear Protection
Hearing loss is a huge problem for people working in our trade. We can often be exposed to loud noise in our work area. It is recommended to wear hearing protection if the time weighted average noise is above 85 dBA and double hearing protection above 100 dBA. I’ll use earmuffs in noisy environments and put in earplugs as well if double hearing protection is required
Body Protection
Coveralls
Standard coveralls should be fine if you are working in the field however some industries don’t require coveralls at all. Coveralls are used to protect you from scratches and impact hazards.
They will not protect you from chemicals. Make sure that you are wearing the right material when handling dangerous chemicals. You can find the handling information on the chemicals SDS.
Safety Gloves
Safety gloves are another one that can be quite difficult to wear. Our work usually requires fine movements of the hand and wearing gloves often makes that hard. At the end of the day they are still very important. They protect your hands from punctures and scratches as well as irritation.
Safety Boots
Make sure that when you are buying safety boots that they have the green triangle with the CSA logo. Try not to just buy a pair of cheap safety boots. You’ll be on your feet lots throughout your career and cheap boots can shred your feet and can be hard on your back. A nice pair of insoles is also recommended.
Conclusion
You can refer back to this article when selecting your PPE for the job but always make sure to follow your company’s policy on PPE. If you ever have any questions regarding PPE safety be sure to ask your supervisor for clarification.
