Scott Blakelock: Mitigating the risks with essential PPE

Wearing PPE can be seen as a nuisance but it’s an essential part of the hierarchy of control when all other measures have been exhausted or prove to be impractical.

Correctly selected and worn, PPE can help protect workers from potential hazards, improving safety of the workforce and increase regulatory compliance.

Arborists are exposed to hazards that can negatively impact their hearing, head, eyes and face amongst many others. Understanding these hazards and working through the hierarchy of control which includes suitable PPE appropriate for the hazard(s) and the wearer can help mitigate the risk. 

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To mitigate against potential risks, PPE must reduce the given hazard to an acceptable safe level and be suitable for the individual wearer in context of the work environment. Suitability can be assessed in terms of how well the PPE fits on the wearer and whether it is likely to interfere with the work task or general work environment. 

Workers are often exposed to multiple hazards at any one time and this true for arborists. Working at height introduces potential for impact or falling object injuries to the head. Understanding what head protection products are available and what the differences are in the EN standards may help mitigate the risk of injury. 

WHAT ARE THE SAFETY HELMETS USED IN INDUSTRY?

Safety helmets are used across many industries and understanding the head protection standards and the compatibility of other PPE attached to the helmet is essential when selecting a product that will satisfy a risk assessment. 

Common standards used in industry are EN397 Industrial Safety Helmet and EN12492 Mountaineering Helmet. The industrial safety helmet requirements can reduce the impact of a falling object, whereas the mountaineering helmet requirements can reduce the impact of blows to the head.

WHAT 3M PRODUCTS ARE USED BY ARBORISTS AND ARE COMPATIBLE? 

The X5000 is a dual certified safety helmet and depending on configuration can be in EN397 Industrial Safety Helmet or EN12492 Mountaineering Helmet mode. The wearer can adapt the helmet to suit their needs making the helmet agile and a great option for arborists.

Regarding compatibility, the X5000 is certified for most of our 3M PELTOR hearing and communication solutions. The X5000 has the U5B face shield holder that will carry the 5 Series and WP visors. Each component has been tested in combination to ensure that they do not impact individual performance.

WHY IS COMPATIBILITY IMPORTANT?

There are three reasons why compatibility is important: safety, performance, and regulation. Consider hearing protection as an example; noise induced hearing loss from noise at work can cause irreversible damage. The long-term exposure damage can be difficult to detect because the effects and symptoms build over a period time. 

Occupational deafness does impact workers in the UK and the HSE has statistics available to view on its website. Between 2017/18 and 2019/20 it is estimated there were 17,000 workers with work-related hearing problems with 95 new cases of occupational deafness in 2019. The statistics for occupational deafness highlight the problem for industry. Understanding compatibility of PPE could help contribute to the prevention of these work-related hearing problems. 

PPE is the last line of defence, but when it is required, we want it to perform effectively. 

The European Directive 89/656/EEC – use of personal protective equipment states the following about compatibility: “Where the presence of more than one risk makes it necessary for a worker to wear simultaneously more than one item of personal protective equipment, such equipment must be compatible.”

Many combinations of PPE are encountered in the workplace including hearing, head and eye/face protection. Each item of PPE must be tested, and CE approved against the appropriate European Standard. 

There are no EN standards for assessing compatibility with different items of PPE.

However, earmuffs mounted on industrial safety helmets, climbing helmets, rigid headtops of a powered and supplied air respirator system or face shield must be tested and CE approved in combination with another.

HOW WOULD A CUSTOMER KNOW WHAT IS COMPATIBLE AND CERTIFIED FOR USE?

Ask the retailer or manufacturer to confirm this information. The CE certificates will have a list of products that have been certified for use and is generally listed within the supplied users’ manuals.

PEOPLE SOMETIMES REFER TO HEARING PROTECTION AS BEING 'CHIPPER SPEC', 'CHIPPER MUFF' OR SIMILAR – WHAT IS THAT? 

Well, it does not exist. The only relevant factor when it comes to noise is how much of it the user is exposed to, and of course, if we go into detail, if it is high or low frequency noise. Chippers generate different levels of noise, are used for different amounts of time and proximity to the chipper will also impact exposure. Understanding the noise level is key to selecting the right hearing protection. 

Consider if you need to maintain situational awareness or need to communicate with others. If so, these features can be included in the hearing protection. 

Hearing protection not only needs to be compatible with a given safety helmet but also the individual wearer as we all have different facial/head features that can potentially have an adverse effect on fit. Hearing protection fit testing can be assessed through the

HOW DOES EARFIT VALIDATION SYSTEM CHECK HEARING PROTECTION? CAN YOU EXPLAIN? 

In simple terms, the Earfit Validation System shows how well employees fit their hearing protection by measuring the sound level outside and inside a specially adapted hearing protector, providing quick and accurate quantitative results.

To help ensure workers achieve the right level of protection you need to measure the Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) of each wearer. The highest SNR (Single Number Rating) earplug or earmuff won’t provide the expected protection if it doesn’t fit the wearer adequately or is used incorrectly. 

This system can help you better understand the individual characteristics of each worker and find the appropriate hearing protection that best fits them and their workplace needs. 

WHAT ARE THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SELECTING HELMET-MOUNTED PPE? 

Face protection, is the face shield holder certified for use with the helmet?

Is the face shield holder certified for use with the face shield?

Is the hearing protection tested with the helmet?

What are the hazards and what level of protection is required?

And finally, overall – is the selected PPE suitable for the work environment?

For more information about any of the information in this article, please contact 3M.