PPE Mistakes, Part 4

Do you make any of these mistakes with personal protective equipment (PPE)?

• Removing and reinserting foam roll-up earplugs while working on equipment. Any contaminant that’s on your fingers will be on those earplugs when you roll them up again. If your ears itch with the plugs in, it’s probably because you made this error. Wash your hands and replace the earplugs with a new set.
• Wearing a dust mask when the situation calls for a charcoal canister filter mask. Any kind of respirator mistake can have permanent consequences. If you’re working around drywall finishers, that dust mask will help protect you from breathing in particles. However, it won’t protect you against the solvent fumes you’re breathing around painters.
• Wiping your safety glasses on your shirt. Most people use the recommended amount of laundry detergent when washing; it’s actually far more than you need. The result is your shirt (and other clothes) fibers contain laundry detergent. Smearing this detergent onto your glasses leaves a vision-obscuring film. Use lens-cleaning cloth/paper instead.