One of the ways your employer is supposed to help keep you safe is by giving you personal protective equipment, or PPE. Examples include hard hats, gloves, eye protection, masks, ear muffs or ear plugs, and much more. It often depends on the specifics of the job being carried out. Someone who works in welding needs a very specific type of welding mass to protect their eyes, for instance.
But even if your employer gives you PPE, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is sufficient for the task at hand. This could potentially expose you to injury, even though you believe you have the equipment necessary to stay safe.
Asbestos masks
One example of this is if you are working around asbestos. To keep from inhaling the particles, which can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, you need to wear a mask.
But asbestos particles are microscopic, so you must have a mask with a 100 rating. Typically, this means it will be a P-100 or N-100 mask, although it could also be an R-100. The number simply signifies how effective the mask is at blocking small particles. A mask without the proper rating – like the common N-95 mask – can’t stop microscopic particles, so you would still be breathing them even with the PPE.
For instance, say that your employer does not want to pay for expensive N-100 masks. Instead, they just buy cheap dust masks at the hardware store. Even if they tell you that it will keep you safe, you are still being exposed to asbestos and could suffer serious harm. It’s essentially the same as not having PPE at all.
Seeking workers’ compensation
This is just one example of how workplace injuries occur. If you have suffered harm, make sure you know how to seek proper workers’ comp benefits.
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