Smart Protective Apparel and PPEs Role in Lone Worker Safety and HazCom
From traditional PPE to advanced smart clothing, innovative protective gear is evolving to transform occupational safety, communication, and the overall well-being of workers.
- By Gen Handley
- Oct 11, 2023
What does hazard communication mean to you? Is it a document of existing occupational dangers that’s shared with employees? Or is it the standard set of symbols that you see on containers holding toxic substances? Both examples are correct, making up a bigger picture of effectively educating employees on the hazards they face while at work.
In the United States, chemical manufacturers and importers must evaluate the hazards of chemicals and label them appropriately according to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), it requires hazard information to be communicated on labels and safety data sheets. In addition to proper communication, OSHA also requires employers to thoroughly train their workers to handle specific chemicals safely and properly.
Overall, strong, effective communication is vital for occupational health and safety and a safe work environment. Maintaining at least one communication channel with the lone worker can ensure that they can request help in an emergency as well as communicate important information such as their location and other details that could benefit an emergency response. Strong communication can also reduce stress with the employee worrying less about their safety and focusing more on their work.
The Evolution of Protective Gear and PPE
A significant area that can improve and complement worker communication is personal protective equipment (PPE) and protective work clothing. What is the earliest example? Depending on who you ask, it could be the masks, goggles, and body suits of plague doctors in the 16th century. Or it might be the respirators used by soldiers in WWI. Regardless, you may use some form of PPE at your job, including face masks, protective gloves, and clothing of all kinds.
Protective occupational clothing and equipment have evolved significantly with innovative protective apparel that protects and facilitates communication amongst staff and with the employer. Rather than replacing PPE, smart protective apparel will complement it for the occupational benefit of the employee. Smart clothing is typically traditional garments that are more “intelligent” with some function or beneficial response to changes in the worker’s physical and emotional conditions as well as their stimuli from the surrounding work environment.
With hazard communication, traditional PPE can actually present some challenges for occupational safety, such as viewing and comprehension of hazard communication symbols and instructions (goggles, protective eyewear) and also limit verbal communication, resulting in an increased risk of miscommunication that could have dangerous results. Additionally, while effective for simple safety purposes, traditional PPE is fairly limited in functionality and worker protection potential. But with work clothing and apparel, PPE is also becoming lighter and more advanced.
This article originally appeared in the October 2023 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.