PPE: For Manufacturers It's More than a Trend

In March 2020, the search for "personal protective equipment" increased by 173%. Three guesses as to why... Because of the dangers of COVID-19 and, in many cases, mandates by our states, the everyday person now needed different types of PPE examples. The idea of PPE isn’t a new one, but for many people, this was the first time hearing this much about it.

It was a new thing to listen to the WHO and OSHA when it came to facial coverings, for example, the importance of N95 masks. It will be hard to forget our states all vying for more masks and respirators from the federal government or our own rush to find masks, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper.

While this is a strange new development for the average person, manufacturing PPE has always been a necessity. Plenty of industries require extensive use of protective wear, whether or not there’s a pandemic going on—think healthcare, construction workers, or working around many types of machinery.

Eye safety in the workplace

At WireCrafters we prioritize safety and in our industry, it’s important too. The most common PPE you’ll see throughout our facility is safety goggles to protect our employees’ eyes. We even require our guests to wear them.

Our eyes may not be as vital to the body as, say, our hearts, but they are definitely essential organs for our livelihoods.

Eye protection is necessary whenever you are working with or around these kinds of materials:

• Dust, concrete, metal, and other particles
• Chemicals, both in liquid and gaseous states
• Falling or shifting debris
• Welding light and electrical arcs
• Thermal hazards and fires
• Bloodborne pathogens

Thousands of people every year experience blindness because of a workplace incidents involving those kinds of hazards. This is because more than 10% of work-related eye injuries result in temporary or permanent blindness. 

Most of these injuries could have been prevented with the use of eyewear. In some cases, however, goggles and other eyewear was present, but the employee was using the wrong kind. It’s so important to use the proper PPE to prevent harm. Here are different PPE examples that are specific to protective eyewear, but keep in mind that they serve different purposes:

• Safety glasses
• Goggles
• Hybrid safety glasses and goggles
• Prescription safety glasses
• Face shields

It is our priority at WireCrafters that our own employees never fall victim to eye injury, which is why we provide protective eyewear and encourage our employees to follow safety procedures.

Workplace Safety Guidelines

If you ever need more advice on what PPE to wear and other tips and requirements related to workplace safety, OSHA is going to be your best reference. They even have a guide all about PPE examples that will help both employers and employees do the following:

• Understand the types of PPE.
• Know the basics of conducting a "hazard assessment" of the workplace.
• Select appropriate PPE for a variety of circumstances.
• Understand what kind of training is needed in the proper use and care of PPE.

Read more in OSHA’s Personal Protective Equipment guide now.

For your convenience, our team at WireCrafters has also put together a free manufacturing safety guide that not only provides tips that apply to many industrial and manufacturing facilities, but it also ranks all of WireCrafters main products in how they provide safety, security, and/or storage support for facilities.

You can download your copy of WireCrafter’s Manufacturing Safety Guide here.

WireCrafters is dedicated to making sure your business and ours are both as safe as possible. For us, that means protecting our employees from workplace hazards with safety goggles and other PPE. And for you, that means manufacturing versatile, high-quality products with OSHA regulations in mind. Our wire mesh panels, pallet rack enclosures, and more ensure safe storage in your facility. We even offer employee separation panels to keep your employees socially distant and safe from COVID-19.

Learn more about our commitment to safety here or contact us today to start a conversation on how WireCrafters can help make your facility safer.