Jul

01

2019

The Ultimate Gimmie: PPE in Facility Services & Construction


A few years ago, I wrote an article about the importance of never missing the opportunity for a Gimmie. The article included a reference to my twins heading off to college. Thankfully my twins have concluded their four years of undergraduate studies, on time I might add (Great job, Allison and Nelson!).

I understand some of you might be asking, “what the heck is a Gimmie?” If you’ve ever played golf, I’m sure you’ve heard the term, “That’s a Gimmie.” A Gimmie, in golf, is a shot deemed so easy it’s not worth the time and effort to attempt. In fact, Urban Dictionary (my trusted resource for alternative word definitions) defines Gimmie as this:

“More or less, a freebie that requires some sort of (minimal) effort to obtain. Often used in the context of athletics.”

I was recently reminded of the Gimmie concept while conducting a departmental safety meeting. I work in the facilities/construction business where a focus on safety is critical. In fact, at TDIndustries, safety is one of our core values. All TDPartners pledge to “Fiercely protect the safety of all Partners” (TD is an employee-owned company and all employees are considered Partners).

At TD we teach the importance of personal responsibility regarding safety; personal responsibility both for themselves and for fellow Partners. For instance, all TD Partners have stop work authority if they see something unsafe occurring or about to occur. Individual personal responsibility begins with proper use of PPE (personal protection equipment). What is PPE? According to OSHA PPE could include:


• Eye Protection – Safety glasses, goggles, welding shields
• Head Protection – Hard hats, safety helmet
• Foot Protection – Safety shoes, foot and shin guards, toe guards
• Hand Protection – Protective gloves (various types used according to the task)
• Ear Protection – Ear plugs, ear muffs


You may or may not be surprised that most workplace injuries could be avoided with the proper use of PPE. In fact, according to an EHS Today article nearly 100 percent of eye injuries could be prevented with the use of appropriate eye protection. You’d think slipping on a hard hat or wearing safety glasses would qualify as a Gimmie; however, the results of a Kimberly Clark Professional survey shows 89 percent of safety professionals had observed PPE noncompliance.


So why aren’t workers taking advantage of the Gimmie that is PPE? The same Kimberly Clark Professional survey found 69 percent of noncompliance was because the worker felt the PPE was not needed, other top responses were that equipment was uncomfortable, too hot, or a poor fit.


What can employers do to encourage better usage of PPE?


1. Instruct. Hold training with your teams about the importance of PPE. Here at TD our Safety Professionals do a great job of providing “lessons learned” examples highlighting the importance of PPE use.


2. Provide PPE for the worker. At TD we provide, free of charge, all required safety equipment including steel toed work boots and prescription safety glasses.


3. Make it convenient. The TD Facility Management group has instituted a safety station program at each of its client properties. PPE is stationed throughout the property to make it convenient for workers should they not have brought the right PPE for the task.


4. Get feedback. Include your workers in the selection of the type of PPE available. Let them try out different versions to make sure they’re OK with the fit, functionality, and style.


The great thing about Gimmies is they don’t require an advanced degree, a specialized skill, or any number of years’ experience. A little effort toward the use of PPE can have a big impact on preventing injuries in your workplace or jobsite. On the other hand, ignoring the PPE Gimmies could have a devastating and lifelong impact on your workers’ lives.


So, are you going to take the Gimmie or try your luck? It’s an easy decision for me.

Brian Lillard has 30 years of real-estate and facilities experience in a range of industries including corporate, healthcare, and education. Prior to becoming Vice President and Business Unit Manager of Facilities, he served as Chief Operating Officer from 2009-2018.

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