Ensuring work place safety with protective clothing in Kenya

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) consists of just about any wearable equipment or clothing that is used to protect workers from injuries in the course of executing their tasks. Protective clothing in Kenya therefore can range from simple things like reflective vest for a bike rider or an apron for a waitress to a full body fire proof suit for a fire fighter.

At Behira Garments, we stock a variety of Personal Protective Equipment that are used depending on the nature of work. Our PPE is inclusive of; spectacles, goggles, sun-visors and eye shields for eye protection; earplugs and muffs for ear protection; gloves and protective cream for hand protection, shoes and boots for foot protection; helmets, head covers and hoods for head protection; lanyards, body harness and fall arrest devices for fall protection; protective clothing such as coveralls, overalls, dungarees, disposable clothing, leather jackets, dust coats and insulating creams for body protection; and masks for respiratory protection.

According to the laws of Kenya; The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2007 states that “Every employer shall provide and maintain for the use of employees in any workplace where employees are employed in any process involving exposure to wet or to any injurious or offensive substance, adequate, effective and suitable protective clothing and appliances, including, where necessary, suitable gloves, footwear, goggles and head coverings.”

For Kenyan industries, construction sites, factories, and manufacturing plants; availability of adequate personal protective equipment and protective clothing is critical to ensure injuries are reduced or prevented in these hazardous environments.

Even simple protective clothing in Kenya such as overalls, aprons, high visibility jackets and dungarees can go a long way in improving safety in the production floor. Behira Garments Ltd, is one of the best manufacturers of quality protective clothing in Kenya besides stocking approved safety equipment.

While it is the employer’s responsibility to provide essential training on proper use of protective clothing and equipment, it is equally the duty of the employee to use the PPE properly and adhere to the training and instructions received.

Care should be taken to ensure that safety clothing and equipment fits properly as loose fitting safety wear is itself a hazard especially when the wearer is working around machines with moving objects and sharp edges.

Proper use of Protective Clothing and Equipment therefore improves safety and reduces workers’ exposure to hazards. Respirators protect the workers from breathing contaminated air in environments with no adequate ventilation.

Different types of gloves, aprons, overalls and coveralls protect against chemical agents, ultra violet, high temperatures, solar radiation, plants, animals, parasites, microorganisms and mechanical caused trauma such as abrasions, contusions, cuts, friction and pressure.

Goggles, face shields protect the eyes against solid particles, chemical burns, thermal agents and biological agents. Ear muffs and ear plugs protect the ears from exposure to damaging noise levels that I typical of many industrial floors.

Protective head gear such as helmets prevents head injuries to construction site workers. Safety boots and safety shoes protects the feet against injuries that occur from lacerations, punctures, sprains, crushing, trips especially on wet / slippery floors.