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  • 1.  Everybody's Talking about PPE

    Posted 04-07-2020 10:27 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 05-04-2020 07:09 PM
    For better or worse, Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is currently a term and concept being accepted and implemented by the general public for medical purposes.  Many of us in the construction industry are very familiar with the term and recognize it as a vital component of safety culture.

    Please share an experience when wearing PPE was effective in preventing an injury.

    What is your favorite article of PPE?

    Or do you have any tips on staying comfortable in your PPE?



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    Chad Morrison P.E., M.ASCE
    Professional Engineer
    Greenville RI
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  • 2.  RE: Everybody's Talking about PPE

    Posted 04-09-2020 08:09 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 05-04-2020 07:08 PM
    Hi Chad,

    Great topic!

    I am happy to share my experience of wearing PPE on construction jobsites. I will answer all the questions in your thread.

    Please share an experience when wearing PPE was effective in preventing an injury.
    Most of the time wearing a hard hat helps me avoid being hit while inspecting formworks and shoring systems. I would often thank my hard hat for preventing an object-hitting injury. Fortunately, falling objects never happened to me in my previous projects as hard hat would be of its greatest use.

    What is your favorite article of PPE?
    Safety shoes can prevent me from being injured by nails left on plywood, and protect my toes when inadvertently kicking a hard object like tube, concrete, etc. I would not rule out the importance of a hard hat either.

    Do you have any tips on staying comfortable in your PPE?
    When wearing hard hat, I would make the tie suitable to my head size. In hot summer days, using a towel or handkerchief with a safety helmet can absorb sweat and make me comfortable working on the jobsite.

    This is my experience. And I hope to hear more from other members.

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    James Wang, M.ASCE
    Senior Cost Estimator
    Turner & Townsend
    Shenzhen, China
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  • 3.  RE: Everybody's Talking about PPE

    Posted 04-13-2020 10:25 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 04-13-2020 10:25 AM
    Wearing hat and shoes on site make a difference. A piece of broken stone falling may cause head injury it's having acceleration in gravity. Shoes protect feet. 

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    Alex Thomas R.Eng, M.ASCE
    CochinAlexThomasR.Eng, M.ASCEIndia
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  • 4.  RE: Everybody's Talking about PPE

    Posted 04-16-2020 06:19 PM
    Thanks @Chad Morrison for starting a great thread! 

    @Jiqiu Wang 's tip about using a towel or handkerchief with a hardhat is spot-on. I use this one especially during the summer as that is when most of my bridge inspections are scheduled.  

    My favorite article of PPE is my hardhat. In the honor of #ThrowbackThursday I found the following photo of me from many years ago - it looks like I knew the importance of PPE from a young age! 



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    Danielle Schroeder EIT, A.M.ASCE
    Associate Engineer
    Pennoni Associates
    Philadelphia PA
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  • 5.  RE: Everybody's Talking about PPE

    Posted 11-20-2020 12:09 PM
    The pandemic has highlighted the need for PPE across the general public.  The role of PPE in saving lives and preventing injury has been known and promoted in construction for decades.  Is PPE being taxed in your state?   Should it be tax-free?  Perhaps this issue can be addressed to benefit the construction and healthcare industries now and after the pandemic.  Are there any current initiatives that advocate for tax-free PPE? 

    https://www.golocalprov.com/news/in-rhode-island-pantyhose-and-ties-arent-taxed-but-masks-are

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    Chad Morrison P.E., M.ASCE
    Professional Engineer
    Greenville RI
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