Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) wasn’t a term that most people were familiar with prior to the Coronavirus pandemic. Now, PPE seems to be everywhere. But what exactly is PPE? PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) are the garments, face coverings and gloves that healthcare workers and those working in close proximity to viruses and bacteria use to protect themselves. They are single-use masks, and gowns that are intended to act as a protective barrier for one occasion, and then thrown away.
Who needs PPE?
Healthcare workers, or anyone working in close proximity to patients with the COVID-19 virus must wear proper PPE, as well as those workers in support roles who have the possibility of infecting or being infected by patients.
Like many things, it’s impossible to take a “one-size fits all” approach to PPE. Different work environments require different levels of protection. Before the pandemic, you may have heard about PPE in reference to OSHA workplace guidelines (OSHA stands for the United States Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the department that ensures safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.) In the past year, you may have heard a lot about masks and gloves, but PPE can also refer to other safety equipment like helmets, safety shoes, and flame resistant clothing.
Why and when do I need to wear PPE?
It’s easy to understand how the general public’s wearing face masks can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 via airborne particles and droplets when coughing, sneezing or simply speaking. In the case of medical professionals, OSHA requires PPE for anyone who may be in contact with bloodborne pathogens. This includes anyone whose work exposes them to blood and other infectious materials.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), facemasks should be worn by patients with confirmed or with possible COVID-19 infections while being evaluated by medical professionals.If you’re a healthcare worker, PPE should be worn anytime you’re in proximity with patients and other medical staff that’s been in contact with those being treated.
Those with more chance of exposure to the virus or who have more contact with the public should be wearing masks with the highest filtration efficiency available to them. There are a variety of masks available including N95s, KN95, KF94s and medical 3-ply masks. We’ve compiled more information to help you choose the right mask for your situation in our handy guide.
What types of PPE do I need for outdoor dining or a trip to the grocery store?
While we’ve all been asked to wear masks in our daily lives, the type of PPE required by frontline workers and healthcare professionals is very different. The CDC recommends that the general public wear face coverings that are made from at least two layers of cloth. These masks have been shown to be effective in helping to arrest the spread of the virus during necessary outings such as trips to the grocery store. In fact, masks should be worn in any situation where physical distancing is difficult, such as outdoor dining.
You’ll notice if you’ve visited a restaurant lately, that most of the staff you deal with are wearing face masks. But in many instances you’ll also see them wearing protective gloves and face shields. This is often due to the prolonged time that these workers are in the company of the general public. While you or I may visit a restaurant for only and hour or so, waitstaff may be in close proximity to the public for 8 hours a day or more.
What types of PPE do healthcare workers need?
For healthcare workers, masks are only a part of the total PPE package. OSHA as well as the CDC mandates that face shields or goggles, as well as gowns designed to cover the full body should be employed. These gowns come in 4 different levels of protection, and it’s important to choose the one that fits your work environment. To aid you in selecting the most appropriate one, we’ve put together an easy-to-follow guide to tell you the difference between isolation gown levels.
What types of PPE do people working on film and tv sets need?
Those in the film and television industry have had to approach dealing with this virus differently. N95 masks, regular PCR testing, frequent and thorough hand washing, and social distancing have been the cornerstones in helping this industry prevent the spread of the virus. When social distancing isn’t an easy option, PPE is employed to keep those on the sets safe. Read our resource guide for COVID Compliance Officers to learn more about how to keep film and television sets safe.
Why are there shortages of PPE?
One year on, we still seem to be struggling with the supply of proper PPE. So why are there still shortages of PPE? Complications with supplies coming in from China are chiefly cited as the primary reason. But it also has to do with the United States’ Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). This was put in place by the George W. Bush Administration as a short-term safety net in the event of an attack of bio-terror. It wasn’t, however, designed to handle an event the scale of a nation-wide pandemic. These supplies were depleted in February of 2020 and the country simply hasn’t been able to keep up since.
The approval by the CDC of three different vaccines is welcome news, to say the least. But with the light at the end of the tunnel clearly in view, it’s no time to let your guard down. We must all continue to practice social distancing, proper hand hygiene and mask wearing to help protect ourselves, as well as our loved ones and others in our community.
At Community Attire, we are committed to helping you and those around to stay safe by keeping you informed about the best practices for using PPE.