PPE has come a long way in recent years. Today’s products are lighter, more comfortable and more technically advanced than ever before, yet many maintenance and manufacturing businesses still make decisions based on outdated assumptions.
Here, Clair Weston, Head of Marketing at uvex, highlights five common health and safety myths that could be putting maintenance teams at unnecessary risk.
“The more hearing protection, the better.”
Many people assume that choosing hearing protection with the highest attenuation offers the greatest level of safety. However, overprotection can create its own risks.
If hearing protection reduces noise too much, workers may struggle to communicate with colleagues, hear warning alarms or approaching vehicles. In busy maintenance environments, where communication is essential, this can increase the risk of accidents.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises employers to select hearing protection that reduces noise to a safe level while avoiding unnecessary overprotection.
Best practice: Carry out suitable noise assessments and choose hearing protection that matches the actual noise exposure rather than simply selecting the highest SNR rating.
“Impact protection gloves are too bulky for maintenance work.”
Impact-resistant gloves have traditionally been associated with reduced dexterity, but glove technology has advanced significantly.
Modern impact gloves combine lightweight liners, flexible impact protection and excellent grip with high levels of cut resistance, allowing technicians to protect against knocks and crush injuries while maintaining precision.
Best practice: Choose gloves such as the new uvex Hexarmor Helix® 3014IMP that balance protection with flexibility and dexterity. PPE only protects workers if they’re willing to wear it consistently.
“Clear lenses are suitable for every job.”
Many organisations issue clear safety spectacles as standard without considering whether they’re the best option for different environments.
Lens colour can greatly affect visibility, comfort and fatigue. Grey lenses help reduce glare outdoors, amber lenses improve contrast in lower-light conditions, while indoor/outdoor lenses suit employees regularly moving between inside and outside.
Best practice: Match lens technology to the working environment rather than automatically specifying clear lenses for every application. For more information, see uvex’s lens tinting advisor.
“Safety footwear has to be uncomfortable.”
Many workers still accept sore feet and fatigue as simply part of wearing safety boots, but modern safety footwear has changed dramatically.
Lightweight materials, ergonomic sole designs and cushioning technologies help reduce fatigue throughout the working day, improving both comfort and performance.
Best practice: Treat safety footwear as performance equipment as well as protective equipment, considering comfort and support alongside safety certification.
“One size fits all.”
One of the most overlooked aspects of PPE is achieving the correct fit. Equipment that is too loose, too tight or poorly adjusted is less likely to provide the protection it was designed to deliver.
Poorly fitting gloves reduce dexterity, eyewear that slips is often removed, and hearing protection that doesn’t seal correctly may not provide adequate protection. As today’s workforce becomes increasingly diverse, a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer appropriate.
Best practice: Offer PPE in a range of sizes and ensure workers are properly fitted. Well-fitting equipment is more likely to be worn correctly, improving both protection and compliance.
Rethinking PPE selection
Maintenance professionals encounter a wide range of hazards throughout the working day. Selecting the right PPE isn’t simply about meeting legislative requirements, it’s about providing equipment that workers will wear correctly and consistently.
By challenging outdated assumptions around hearing protection, hand protection, eyewear, safety footwear and PPE fit, organisations can improve compliance while helping to create safer, more productive workplaces
