Many people don’t really have to worry about safety while they’re at work. In truth, with quite a few jobs, the most significant hazards are eye strain from staring at a computer screen all day and hand cramps from typing for hours on end. In some workplaces, slips or trips and falls might be an issue to keep in mind and try to avoid as well. For the most part, though, certain jobs are relatively safe. That’s not the case for everyone, though. Several jobs place workers at constant risk from many angles.
For those whose jobs come with safety hazards and health risks, Protective clothing is the key to safety. This is true from both long- and short-term perspectives. Depending on the job in question, danger could be just around every corner. Under circumstances like that, a wide range of accessories may be essential for protecting employees and visitors. From open flames and falling objects to deadly electrical currents and corrosive chemicals, numerous hazards may be present on a job site. If so, it’s best to keep employees and visitors covered for all the possible risks.
For more than 60 years, California Industrial Rubber Company has been providing plastic and rubber products for members of various industries. Companies in the commercial, industrial, agricultural, and mining sectors have been relying on us as their go-to industrial rubber and plastics supplier from the beginning. From conveyor belts and harvester components to protective gear for employees, we’re committed to providing superior products and services to our clients in California and beyond.
Employees may need protective gear and clothing for many reasons. On the most basic level, construction workers and those in other industries may need hard hats, steel-toed boots, and safety glasses to safeguard them against falling objects and flying debris. Without those pieces of equipment, workers are much more likely to be injured at work. Of course, the PPE industry runs much deeper than that.
Power line work is among the world’s most dangerous jobs. Power lines running to homes and businesses carry anywhere from 120 to 440 volts of electricity, which can certainly be deadly. Transmission lines, or those running along power poles from substations, generally carry approximately 14,000 volts. That amount of electricity is incredibly detrimental and responsible for the accidental deaths of numerous power line workers each year.
Because of that, electrical crews need a range of protective equipment and clothing. They’re required to wear fire-retardant clothing that covers their arms and legs. On top of that, they must use protective gloves, boots, and overshoes. They also have to wear special rubber sleeves and other accessories when they’re working with or near live wires. Even their eyeglasses must be made of materials that won’t conduct electricity. All those items and safety measures greatly reduce the risks of being electrocuted or burned though nothing can completely eliminate the dangers.
Workers in many industries are exposed to particles that could potentially be inhaled. Some examples are creating cleaning products and working in the vicinity of fire, smoke, and fumes to name a few. Those workers are in danger of several health-related issues. Some inhaled particles cause immediate problems whereas the dangerous impacts of others develop slowly. Regardless of whether the dangers are immediate or gradual, keeping the nose, mouth, throat, and lungs protected is crucial.
In some instances, standard face masks are enough to protect workers from airborne debris. With many jobs, though, those basic safety precautions just won’t suffice. Some workers may need respirators to keep the dangerous fumes and solid particles out of their lungs. Without the proper respiratory protection, workers may experience nose and throat irritation as well as breathing issues. They may even be at risk of developing lung cancer from breathing in harmful particles in some cases.
In certain industries, workers need to be protected against the dangers of corrosive chemicals and particles that could work their way into the skin. Both liquid corrosives and solid irritants, such as fiberglass, can cause a long list of health problems. They may lead to burns and skin irritation. If exposure to those substances covers a significant portion of the skin, it can be deadly.
Standard clothing won’t protect workers against those types of dangers. In fact, many corrosives and irritants can soak into clothing or even eat away at it to reach the skin underneath. Protective suits and gloves are vital in workplaces where employees may be exposed to those types of substances. Employees most likely need the extra protection that comes from safety glasses, footwear, and other types of gear as well. Those items must be capable of withstanding exposure to harmful substances in their own right to fully protect workers.
Extreme temperatures are yet another potential workplace hazard. Dozens of jobs may expose people to prolonged heat or cold. Those who work with dry ice or in cold storage facilities may face dangerously cold temperatures whereas firefighters, factory workers, and boiler operators could face long stints of threatening heat. In either scenario, those workers must be safeguarded against the extremes.
Different types of PPE are available to protect people against heat and cold. For those who must face extended freezing temperatures, various layers of thermal wear are essential. Ongoing heat may require fire-retardant clothing, moisture-wicking suits, and other measures. Again, protective eyewear, gloves, masks, and additional tools could be necessary as well.
No job is completely safe considering all the potential risks in the world these days. Having said that, some occupations are certainly far more hazardous than others. The more dangerous the job is, the more PPE is likely to be required. From safeguarding against dust and other harmful inhalants to protecting against the dangers of splashing chemicals and subfreezing temperatures, it’s important to ensure employees are covered. Numerous types of PPE are on the market, so keeping your workers as safe as possible is well within reach.
California Industrial Rubber produces and distributes a range of industrial rubber and plastic products. We have seven branch locations as well as a central manufacturing and warehouse facility. We are a family-owned business and have been supplying the industry with these products since 1958.
