What PPE Guidelines Should Your Workplace Be Following?

With New Zealand recently experiencing a global pandemic, having the right protective gear and processes in place at work has never been more important. At Westpeak, providing the equipment that ensures the safety of those employed in NZ’s hardest-working industries has always been central to our mission. In this blog, we take a look at the PPE guidelines for NZ workplaces and present our comprehensive range of safety wear to protect workers in the most challenging work settings.

The Role of PPE

The purpose of PPE is to provide protection for workers when other safety measures cannot completely eliminate risks to the workers’ health and safety, constituting the last line of defence against workplace injury and illness. PPE for a construction site or similar job site consists of a protective helmet; eyewear and face protection; protective boots; safety gloves; ear protection; respiratory protection such as dust masks; and hi-vis clothing. In the last 19 months, the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has led to a host of other, more stringent safety measures and the use of different PPE, such as face masks and gloves.

 

Face Coverings

Experts believe that the main form of transmission of COVID-19 is through air-borne particles that are spread when two people are in close proximity to one another, especially at one metre or less. This makes face coverings a crucial piece of PPE, particularly in settings where the recommended social distancing of 2 metres cannot be consistently maintained.

While face covering mandates vary depending on the industry, indoor/outdoor settings, and a number of other factors, it is strongly suggested that employers encourage their workers to wear face coverings whenever they are at work. Single-use surgical masks have been proven to significantly reduce the spread of germs, and to lower the risk of contamination, it is only these kinds of disposable masks that are approved for use in healthcare settings. However, in all other work settings, workers can wear reusable fabric masks, which are more cost effective and eco-friendly (see our previous blog on the subject of environmental damage caused by single-use masks).

Westpeak offers two types of disposable face masks; the standard, surgical Ear-Loop Face Mask and the N95 Duckbill High Efficiency Respiratory Mask, both available in boxes of 50.

For reusable masks, we stock TGA Approved Reusable Face Masks in one-ply composite cotton and Flexible 2 Layer Washable Face Masks made from poly/cotton. Both types can be embellished with your company branding.

Disposable Gloves

Another way the COVID-19 virus can be spread is through touching contaminated surfaces, a risk that can be reduced by wearing gloves. Westpeak offers a choice of Hi-Five Ultra-Tough and High-Risk Latex disposable gloves from Esko in boxes of 50. Built for tough work conditions, these are five times stronger than standard disposable latex gloves, such as those worn by medical workers.

Contact Westpeak

At Westpeak, we offer only the highest-quality safety wear and PPE with fast, efficient, personalised service. Our friendly team of experienced experts are always ready to talk through your requirements. To find out more about any of our products or to make your next order through Westpeak, head to the contact section of our website and get in touch by phone or email today.