Eighty-two percent of safety professionals report that they saw co-workers who did not to wear the required personal protective equipment during the past year, according to a new Kimberly-Clark Professional survey.
Additionally, respondents say compliance is one of the main workplace safety issues in their facilities.
"High levels of noncompliance have been an issue since we began conducting these surveys in 2007," says David Matela, director, safety product management, Kimberly-Clark Professional. "Even though it is mandated by OSHA, the vast majority of workers who have experienced on-the-job injuries were not wearing (personal protective equipment). Increased compliance is crucial to creating exceptional workplaces that are healthy, safe and productive."
Although safety equipment is important when it comes to protecting employees, more than half of the respondents say noncompliance can be attributed to workers believing safety equipment is unnecessary.
"With increased regulations and heightened awareness, it's disturbing and hard to believe that workers are unaware of the need to protect themselves," Matela says.
Among the reasons respondents say employees fail to comply is the safety equipment is uncomfortable, too hot, decreases productivity, fits poorly and looks unattractive. To improve compliance, 61 percent of respondents say the plan to improve current education and training programs over the next six to 12 months.
While 85 percent of respondents say they already have company-sponsored safety programs in place, 69 percent of respondents say those programs have contributed to fewer reportable incidence rates. Of these respondents, 58 percent say safety incidents have been cut by at least have, and 80 percent of all respondents say implementing or increasing safety practices would positively impact overall productivity.
Regarding hazards that are not addressed by personal protective equipment, 93 percent of respondents say they knew metals retained on clean shop towels could get onto hands, and then transferred to the mouth and swallowed. Another 93 percent of respondents say they would be worried about possible risks if heavy metal residues or other toxic elements exceeding exposure limits were discovered in their laundered shop towels.
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