How do you know your PPE is reliable?

The world is currently facing one of the worst threat to our mankind. It is the COVID-19 Pandemic. Hospitals are flooded with infected people. They are sick and in need of medical attention from the doctors and nurses. So what can we do to protect the doctors and nurses? They need to be protected or else they would also will fall sick. That is why they need to wear Personal Protecting Equipment (PPE) to face this infectious diseases.

Protective clothing and other items of personal protective equipment (PPE) are used when the exposure to risks cannot be avoided due to the nature of, or the environment around, the work being done. Additionally, strength and durability features of the chemical protective clothing have a significant impact on the performance (and lifespan) of the products. Here are three you may be wish to evaluate when selecting protective clothing.

1. Puncture and Tear Resistance

2. Abrasion and Flex Cracking Resistance

3. Tensile Strength and Seam Strength

Tensile strength is also referred to as ultimate tensile strength or ultimate strength. It measures the amount of force required to cause protective clothing to fail, or break. Seam strength measures the strength of the seam assembly in a piece of protective clothing. Factors that contribute to seam strength include the strength of the thread used to sew the seam, as well as type of seam used in the construction of the clothing. Both of these factors contribute to the overall strength of the garment.

Tensile and seam strength are critical to determining whether the protective clothing you choose has the power to stand up to the conditions in your workplace. Comparative performance data should be included in the user instructions for chemical protective products, in accordance with ISO 16602, an international standard endorsed by most manufacturers.

Beyond looking at the data, make sure that any PPE testing and user training is done under realistic conditions, and includes the actions of donning and doffing, where fabric and seams are often under stress. Seams and closures are particularly important when you are looking for fluid-resistant or impermeable protective clothing. Making sure that the seams and fabric are strong enough and sealed well enough to protect your workers from liquids like blood and body fluids is essential.

PPE with the Strength and Durability to Keep Them Safe

Be sure that puncture and tear resistance, along with abrasion and flex cracking resistance, as well as tensile and seam strength, are part of your evaluations of any new pieces of PPE that you are considering. Giving the frontliners comfortable, effective protective clothing options that are appropriate to the job site and duties will increase compliance and help you achieve your ultimate goal of a safe workplace.