Commonly called the EAR, THE Personal protective equipment are protective measures to reduce the risk of accidents. PPE is generally part of an accident prevention program. This program is developed for each company, as risks vary from one company to another.
Personal protective equipment is used against risks:
- Physics,
- Chemicals,
- Ergonomic or
- Organic
In the field of housekeeping, Personal Protective Equipment is equally necessary. Here are some of the PPE needed:
Chemical protection gloves
As you know, there are a wide variety of gloves. However, nitrile gloves are the best for protecting you against chemicals. Again, there are several qualities. If you only use basic household cleaning products such as neutral cleaners, disinfectants, toilet cleaners, or even eco-friendly products, boxed nitrile gloves are sufficient. They come in boxes of 100.
On the other hand, if you work with more harmful chemicals, hot water, or other similar conditions, you will need gloves designed for this type of product. You will need to research with your usual supplier to find the right glove for you, informing them of all the applicable risks.
Safety glasses
Again, a great choice. But the important thing is that they're comfortable and effective. They protect your eyes from objects as well as chemicals. It's worth shopping around. Some can cause your eyes to fog up. When you're working, you can't afford that risk. You need to be able to see clearly at all times. What's more, some models can be worn over your prescription glasses. Or, you could even have safety glasses made to fit your prescription.
Safety helmet
There are blue, white, yellow, and even pink ones! However, the most important thing is to protect your head above all else. Moreover, since you can spend several hours wearing your safety helmet, it's important to be comfortable while being safely protected. There are different closure models available. Not all of them are comfortable. Again, once you try it, you'll love it!
When it's just to protect your head from chemicals, you could also wear a bomb helmet, available from Tenaquip.
Protective mask
Depending on the risk you need to protect yourself against, there's a mask to suit your needs. For example, for dust protection, the 3M N95 mask is a recognized standard.
If, on the other hand, you need to protect yourself against chemical fumes, a full or half mask may be necessary. These are washable Besides.
Work shoes or boots
First of all, when you're working, don't wear flip-flops or other open-toed shoes! It's essential for me to try on the work shoes or boots you're about to buy. When you're working on your feet for long periods of time, you need to be comfortable. Also, depending on the work you'll be doing, you'll need to choose work shoes or boots. These must meet CSA standards. Slip-resistant is even better.
So, if you work in the food industry, you will also need to make sure that your boots are food approved.
Before you go shopping for your pair, you should know several things: What risks do you need to be protected against? What are your employer's requirements?
Hearing protection
In some factories, the noise is particularly loud. And beyond a certain level, you will automatically be provided with disposable hearing protection. There is also the option of having earmuffs. They are more comfortable. However, they are not necessarily permitted everywhere; it depends on the hearing hazard.
Clothing
When you work, there's a minimum dress code to follow. Shorts and tank tops are all well and good, but they're not appropriate for work. Clean, hole-free clothes seem basic to me. Pants and a short-sleeved shirt seem like the minimum acceptable. Some factories require long sleeves to protect against a specific risk. Some employers will have their own dress code that you'll have to follow. This one is primarily designed for your protection, after all.
You may be required to wear protective clothing against certain hazards, for example, chemicals.
Finally, I would like to highlight two training courses that are a good complement to an accident prevention program:
WHMIS 2015 which all companies must comply with by December 1, 2018
Health and safety in housekeeping which covers the risks commonly seen in our industry,
This article follows several blog posts related to health and safety. Here are some articles that might interest you:
You might also want to check out this article from the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Council which has a comprehensive article on designing an effective PPE program.
If you liked this article, I would be very happy to share it again. 
Who am I?
My name is Lydia Frascarelli, a trainer and consultant in housekeeping – sanitation within my company: CF Salubrity Inc. After 32 years at the helm of a cleaning company with around 100 employees, I now offer consulting and training services, specializing in cleaning and food safety. I also have the pleasure of supporting entrepreneurs in their businesses or building managers as well as housekeeping managers. I love my job and I take great pleasure in seeing these managers dare to create.
