Article - Protective Clothing in the Workplace | XCO Group
31 Jul 2019
The Importance of Wearing Protective Clothing in the Workplace
Workplace hazards are something that cannot be avoided, especially in the construction, mining, and manufacturing industries. Yet, many organisations have not fully grasped the importance of having a PPE-centric environment. What they do not realise is that not only does negligence compromise the very backbone of our country’s economy, but failing to achieve compliance will have a direct impact on their ROI. Here is why you should dress your workers in the right protective clothing.
Your Workers Each Only Have One Pair of Eyes, Hands, and Feet
Each year in South Africa, hundreds of workers sustain severe eye, hand, and foot injuries. Sadly, these injuries could have been prevented by wearing the right protective clothing. Since many eye injuries happen in the manufacturing and construction industries, it is important to invest in safety spectacles, goggles, face screens, face shields, or visors. Many accidents in the workplace are also caused by slipping and impact, resulting in amputations, breaks, burns, deep cuts, electrical shocks, or puncture wounds. For effective protection, choose insulated, waterproof safety boots. Then there are the hands. Hundreds of workers catch skin cancers and other hand and skin infections through the use of chemicals, electricity, and hot and cold materials. But employers can take preventative measures with rubber gloves, cut-resistant gloves, chainsaw gloves, or heat-resistant gloves.
The Right Protective Clothing Will Increase Workplace Productivity
Unsafe work environments pose serious challenges that hinder productivity and morale. Unlike office jobs, the manufacturing, building, and mining industries are dangerous and physically demanding, but when you wear the right protective clothing, you protect your workers from strained muscles, burnt hands, and painful feet. This prevents businesses from lost man hours, which can slow down productivity, impacting delivery schedules and production and sales targets.
You Can Lose Your Business
80% of all worksite-related accidents and fatalities are caused by poor worker safety practices, costing the economy a lot of money each year. While these statistics are only growing, many employers still refuse to acknowledge the necessary PPE requirements set out by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. But the government is clamping down heavily on businesses that are non-compliant.
By law, it is the responsibility of the employer to obey health and safety rules and procedures. In addition, the employer may not permit any worker to work unless they are dressed in the right clothes or use the correct safety equipment. If the employer fails to comply with this regulation, they will be liable to pay a fine of up to R100 000. Should a worker lose their life, the employer can be found guilty of culpable homicide and face a lengthy prison sentence.
We Can Help You Create a Culture of Safety with PPE in the Workplace
The South African Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that employers protect their workers from worksite hazards that could cause injury or death. It also states that employers must provide protective clothing at their expense and not the workers. At XCO Group, we take Occupational Health and Safety seriously and have, for many years, supplied South Africa’s industrial sectors with the best, superior quality protective clothing brands. Keeping up to date with PPE technologies and Occupational Health and Safety rules and regulations, you can trust XCO Group to produce and deliver quality protective clothing at affordable prices.
As one of the leading sports, corporate and protective clothing, we provide heavily regulated industries with clothing that meets the Occupational Health and Safety standards and regulations. Addressing electrical, heat, chemical, biohazard, and airborne particulate matter, our protective clothing range covers everything you need to keep your workers safe and your business compliant.