10 Questions You Should to Know about ppe safety gloves

Q1. How do manufacturers ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is safe and effective?

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit ppe safety gloves.

A1. To help ensure medical devices, including PPE are safe and effective, the FDA has established Quality Systems Regulations and Good Manufacturing Practices. Manufacturers are expected to use these regulations and practices to maintain consistent product quality and to guide performance testing to make sure that their products conform to recognized consensus standards.  For PPE, these standards may include for fluid resistance, leak protection, filtering capacity, or resistance to tears and snags.  When these regulations and practices are followed, they provide reasonable assurance that the device is safe and effective. 

FDA has also issued device-specific guidance for some products so that manufacturers understand the Agency&#;s expectations.  Search for FDA Guidance Documents

Q2. Will personal protective equipment protect against a specific disease?

A2.PPE are designed to create a non-disease specific barrier to penetration of substances, solid, liquid, or airborne particles.  In general, neither FDA nor the manufacturer can provide assurances that PPE will protect you against a specific disease.  The data that FDA uses for the evaluation and clearance of PPE rarely includes performance evaluation or testing against specific viruses, such as Ebola or flu.  If performance data has met FDA requirements and demonstrate protection against a specific disease, the product labeling will state the claim for protection against a specific virus or bacteria.

When there is an outbreak that affects the broad population, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is responsible for making specific recommendations for infection control measures in different circumstances and settings. For example, the CDC has provided the following recommendations:

Q3. Should caregivers use PPE to help protect against infection when caring for a sick person at home?

A3.In some circumstances, a health care provider may recommend that caregivers use PPE when caring for a sick person at home.  It is important to know that the use of PPE alone will not fully protect you from acquiring an infection or passing an infection to another person. Other infection control practices, such as hand-washing, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, isolation of patients and using properly covering cough and sneezes, are also important steps to minimize your risk of infection.

Additionally, please be aware of proper removal and disposal procedures. Even if PPE successfully protects you while it is worn, improper removal and disposal of contaminated PPEs can expose the wearer and other people to infection.   

Q4. Where can I buy PPE?

A4. Most types of PPE are available without a prescription.  Pharmacies, medical supply stores, and Internet medical supply retailers sell PPE. 

For more information about buying medical products on the Internet, see FDA&#;s website on Protecting Yourself.

Q5. Can I reuse PPE?

A5. In general, most PPE is designed to be used only one time and by one person prior to disposal. There are a few exceptions, for example some types of elastomeric respirator masks and protective eyewear such as goggles may be reused if the user follows decontamination methods in the product labeling.

If PPE is exposed to infectious materials during use (e.g., body fluids from an infected person) the PPE is considered contaminated and the wearer should remove it promptly, using proper removal and disposal procedures. Please be aware that even if a PPE successfully protects you while it is being worn, improper removal and disposal of contaminated PPEs can expose the wearer and other people to infectious agents.   

Q6. Can I wash disposable PPE?

A6. No. Disposable PPE is designed to be used only one time and by one person; it cannot be washed.  Washing PPE changes its protective or barrier capabilities, and it may no longer be effective.

Q7. Can I share PPE with other users?

A7. In general, most PPE cleared by the FDA is intended to be used only one time and by one person. Sharing PPE is not advised.  The protective capabilities of single use PPE cannot be assured when it is reused by the same person or used by more than one person.  Sharing PPE that is intended for single use may expose another person to infectious materials. PPE should be removed promptly after use and disposed of properly.

Q8: Does every piece of PPE provide the same level of protection?

A8: PPE is designed to be used with other infection control practices such as hand-washing, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and covering coughs and sneezes to minimize the spread of infection from one person to another.  

Wearers of PPE can determine what protective level a PPE is rated for by the standards to which it has been tested.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website orange foam ear plugs.

CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) maintains a database called NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment Information (PPE-Info) that includes most of the current PPE standards in more detail.

Q9: If I experience a problem with my PPE, what should I do?

A9: If you suspect or experience a problem with your PPE, we encourage you to file a voluntary report through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program and notify the manufacturer.

Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to FDA's user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities.

Additional Resources

It can be tough to know where to start when it comes to choosing the right protective clothing and safety equipment for your workers. Incidents and accidents in the workplace can often be attributed to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) not being used. At times though, it can be that the wrong protective clothing or equipment was chosen for the job, or inadequate supervision and user error meant it wasn't properly worn in the first place.

Sourcing the right protective clothing for your workforce is vital. Here are some of the questions you should be asking about PPE to ensure your workforce is protected while carrying out their duties.

QUESTION 1: WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF RISK OR HAZARD?

The first step for any health and safety professional should always be to assess the hazard. Conducting a risk assessment is about identifying potential risks and hazards to safety of personnel in the course of performing their work, assessing the extent of those risks (who could be harmed and how) and then implementing measures to eliminate or reduce that risk.

Where risk cannot be eliminated at source, PPE may be required to reduce the risks to workers. If, for example, there is a risk of hand injury, you need to source appropriate protective work and safety gloves. Where debris and dust is an issue respiratory protection, safety goggles and eyewear will be needed. Or your workers may require height safety equipment. You may need to consider workers exposed to multiple risks, requiring several items of PPE. In this case it is paramount to ensure that all the items of PPE you select are compatible and will work correctly when used in conjunction with each other. For example, ear protection and safety helmets need to work together.

In any scenario, all risks need to be assessed and the appropriate PPE purchased and worn.

QUESTION 2: HOW CAN I BE SURE THE PPE I CHOOSE WILL BE RIGHT FOR MY WORKFORCE?

Once you've established what the risks are and that PPE is required, you need to know that it's going to be fit-for-purpose not only for safety reasons but for long-lasting efficiency and comfort.

This is when you should talk to the experts. Every organisation's requirements are different and it is only by taking expert advice and guidance on this crucial area of health and safety in the workplace that you can be assured you have the right protection. By talking to a safety solutions provider that is registered with the British Safety Industry Federation, the body that audits safety professionals, you will have access to PPE professionals who are able to make intelligent suggestions based on real experience, industry standards and expert knowledge.

In the world of PPE, it is definitely not the case that one size fits all. Protective gloves are a prime example. There are good reasons why there is such a vast range to choose from and it's because they are each designed to protect against different hazards &#; heat resistant gloves, needlestick gloves, rigger leather and welding gloves, chemical handling gloves, food safe gloves and so on. Each glove is categorised and tested to performance standards.

Simply plumping for any old glove could either leave your workforce unprotected against the specific hazards of their job or land you with a bigger bill for this item of Personal Protective Equipment, because you have inadvertently bought a higher or incorrect spec glove to that required.

A PPE expert will first establish the risks that mean PPE protection is required &#; in the case of gloves, for example, they will determine if they are required to protect against cuts, extreme temperatures, chemicals or a combination of factors. They will then ascertain the level of dexterity required and any other factors that will help narrow the options to those best-suited for your workers and your budget.

QUESTION 3: HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF AND MAINTAIN THE PPE I BUY AND HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

As with any equipment that can save a life or prevent harm and injury to a person, it's important to know the history of any item of PPE, to ensure the level of protection it can offer remains as high as it was on the day it was made.

Never take the risk of using second-hand equipment, unless you are guaranteed that it is still totally up to scratch.

Always store PPE according to the manufacturer's instructions and thoroughly check that it is not worn or damaged before every use. At the first sign of wear or damage it is time to discard and replace it.

The friendly team of safety experts at Contego Safety Solutions is always on hand to give advice and guidance on the right PPE and protective clothing for your needs. Contact us now on 122 or  to discuss your requirements.

To find out more our extensive range of products visit our online shop or download the Contego Catalogue now.

For more information, please visit heat resistant work gloves.