Sound Awareness Stations Solve Key PPE Problems
Seton Sound Awareness Stations solve the key Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issues identified by customers, according to a recent Hearing Protection Survey* conducted in the UK.
Focusing on customers who actively manage PPE, the Hearing Protection Survey revealed that managing PPE stock was an issue for around half (49%), as often no monitoring system exists. A third of respondents said that operators struggle to identify the correct PPE for the process at hand (33%), and do not always know who to ask for advice about this (34%). Ensuring that PPE is correctly worn for the activity being undertaken is another key concern, with nearly 27% identifying this as a major unmet need. Interestingly, respondents revealed that operators sometimes choose not to wear PPE correctly due to the belief that it hinders productivity, with 42% agreeing that this is a problem in their workplace.
In response to these customer concerns, Seton has designed Sound Awareness Stations to increase operator awareness and provide guidance on the dangers of sound at work. Stations offer clear instructions of how to correctly fit ear plugs, a mirror to assist with the fitting, and information on the consequences of not fitting as instructed. The station also assists in managing PPE stock – reorder levels indicate when ear plugs are running low, and the update signs identify who to contact for stock replenishment. Paul Ingleby, Director of Product Marketing and Innovation at Seton said: “Many customers come to us to buy ear plugs and a dispenser, but merely buying and supplying this to the workforce is evidently not enough to ensure the workforce is properly protected. These exclusive stations are designed to have a positive effect on awareness, knowledge and attitude around the importance of noise protection”.
Using these stations helps to ensure PPE is always available and worn correctly, and provides an easy system for monitoring stock levels.
*Source: Hearing Protection Survey (2013) conducted by Seton UK with 106 respondents were from Construction, Education, Manufacturing and Facilities Management sectors.