Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E.) For Workplace Health & Safety
Given the many outbreaks over the last few years, and especially the deadly outbreak of Ebola, many have grown concerned over the potential spread of this deadly virus. The best course of action is to educate the public about the products and personal protective equipment that can minimize the risk of exposure and keep individuals safe.
PPE serves a dual purpose. Originally developed to protect healthcare workers, PPE, when used properly, can also represent the first line of defense against contact transfer to patients of pathogens such as MRSA, HIV and C. diff.
Personal Protective Equipment comes in many forms, and when used properly in conjunction with each other, has the ability to greatly mitigate your risk of cross contamination. Personal Protection Barriers (gloves, face masks etc), Disposable Barrier Covers (keyboards, computers etc) and Protective Garments are all designed to work together to guard against infectious elements and cross contaminating. They are offered in different fabrics, thicknesses and styles to provide the wearer with the appropriate gear for the application.
MDS Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of these personal safety products designed to prevent exposure and maximize protection. With advanced knowledge and resources, it is possible to protect yourself and others in and out of the workplace.
Ensuring Workplace Safety For Personnel
Appropriate protective gear is essential to ensuring safety and compliance for all health care workers. Disposable Isolation Barrier Gowns are the base for any protective equipment. Our gowns provide the added benefit of innovative knit cuffs coupled with a thumb loop to prevent sleeve rise and exposing your skin. The most common gowns used have back panels that wearers slide into and adjust/tie but over-the-head gowns are typically used in emergency situations.
Protective gowns are offered in different fluid-resistant fabrics such as spunbond polypropylene, polyethylene, SMS/multi-ply, PE-coated, spunlace and microporous laminate. The fabrics used can range in protection from basic or routine contamination control, to high-risk, high-level infection control for the maximum protection against exposure. Many hospitals are now requiring that their healthcare providers use gowns that conform to AAMI PB70 Guidelines. Under AAMI Guidelines, protective apparel must meet minimum performance standards for strength, barrier protection and fluid resistance to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients from microbial contamination. Isolation type barrier gowns are often accompanied with disposable gloves, shoe covers, shoe covers and bouffant caps.
When working with high-level infectious or hazardous agents where chemicals or permeation is a concern, operators may wear limited-use chemical or encapsulated suits. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and OSHA have defined four levels of chemical protection based on chemical suit designs as Level A, Level B, Level C and Level D. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed standards that include NFPA 1991 for Vapor-Protective Ensemble and NFPA 1992 for Liquid Splash-Protective Ensemebles for Hazardous Emergencies. Typically limited-use chemical-resistant suits are worn along with respirators, heavy gauge chemical-resistant neoprene gloves or butyl gloves and chemical-resistant boots or booties.
Adapt PPE According to Workplace Environment
Different levels of protection depend on the contamination control warranted for your environment.
In addition to the Disposable Barrier Gowns, MDS also carries a variety of outerwear suitable for other environments. A more controlled setting may call for a Disposable Protective Lab Coat which also features knit cuffs, snap front with or without pockets and even thumb slits. Work in the field may require Disposable Protective Coveralls that feature full coverage of inner clothing. Disposable coveralls are available with attached hood and booties. These protective barriers are further enhanced by wearing Disposable Sleeve Protectors. that can be added as another layer of protection for the wrist and forearm area or worn over bare skin.
Disposable Bouffant/Hair Caps or Beard Covers are also recommended in many settings. They protect the field from hair and skin flakes and are fluid-resistant. For complete head to toe protection use Disposable Shoe Covers, that fit over boots and/or large athletic shoes. Disposable shoe/boot covers are available in many configurations and with plain and anti-skid bottoms. For higher protection we also provide many varieties of Disposable Gloves & Chemical-Resistant Gloves. MDS also provides products for Respiratory Protection as well as Disposable Face Shields.
Use of these products will improve your safety in the workplace and safeguard you from the most common lapses in protection from infectious bacteria.
Markets Of Specific Risk Warranting Personal Protection Equipment
- HazMat/Hazardous Waste
- Patient Transport (EMS) & Emergency Service (EMT)
- Hospitals/Out-Patient, Immediate Care, Surgi-Centers
- Undertakers/Coroner Office
- Pharmaceutical
- Nuclear Services
- Dental Medicine/Dental Institutions
- Infectious Waste Handling
- Medical Research & Infectious Disease
With proper education and advanced protective products, you can improve your personal safety both in and out of the workplace. Please feel to contact with questions, samples, volume discounts or for P.P.E. equipment not listed!
+800.274.4637 | +716.668.4001 | [email protected] | MDS Associates
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