March 14, 2007—Eighty-five percent of the safety professionals surveyed by Kimberly-Clark Professional at the National Safety Council (NSC) Congress in November 2006 said they had observed people in their organizations failing to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when they should have been.
Nearly half said this had happened on numerous occasions, while 38 percent described these occurrences as infrequent.
Survey respondents were also asked about the most important criteria for selecting PPE for workers. The number one response was comfort. This was followed by quality, availability and fit. Price and size selection came in last.
Providing solutions to their problems and meeting their needs were the chief reasons for choosing a company to supply PPE products, according to more than three quarters of respondents. Offering a product bundle for a one-stop shopping experience and delivering head-to-toe protection took second and third place. They were followed by carrying well-known brand name products, just-in-time delivery, and selling specific niche items. The most important feature in glove selection was “the ability to conduct tasks involving dexterity and/or fine motor skills,” according to nearly one third of respondents. However, 43 percent said all the choices in a list provided to them were equally important. These included “dexterity and/or fine motor skills” as well as fit, cut-resistance, chemical-resistance, working as well in wet conditions as dry, and resistance to pathogens.
The survey also polled safety professionals about safety issues. The top three workplace issues, selected from a list of choices, were: insufficient management support and/or resources for health and safety functions; under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses; and worker compliance with safety protocols.
The survey questionnaires were filled out by 158 safety professionals who reported being responsible for purchasing, selecting or influencing the purchase or selection of, or compliance with, PPE. Respondents were from the following fields: industrial manufacturing, construction, hazmat, emergency response, clean manufacturing, laboratories, medical, health care, military and law enforcement. For full survey results, visit the Kimberly-Clark Professional Web site.
