8 Tips to Encourage PPE Compliance

Maintaining a safe and healthy work environment is crucial, particularly in industries where Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential to mitigate risks. PPE compliance not only safeguards employees from potential hazards but also plays a vital role in preventing the spread of viruses and diseases, (this can be particularly in workplaces that interact with customers).

In this article, we will share eight practical tips to help organizations encourage PPE compliance. By implementing these strategies, employers can enhance safety measures, protect their employees, and contribute to public health by preventing the transmission of infectious illnesses. Together, we can create a workplace culture that prioritizes responsible PPE usage, promoting both employee well-being and customer safety.

  1. If you have not already, establish a clear policy requiring the use of PPE. Ensure all employees (and customers if applicable) are aware of the policy.
  2. Make sure your policy stipulates who will be responsible for monitoring PPE use and how to handle non-compliance.
  3. Put up signs indicating what type of PPE is needed in each area.
  4. Discuss the PPE policy in meetings, enforce that it was put in place to ensure the safety of everyone. If you are operating a commerce give your employees instructions on how to convey the policy to customers.
  5. Ask for feedback concerning the PPE policy and listen to reasons for non-compliance. Solving noncompliance can be as simple as offering more comfortable options.
  6. Provide statistics that reinforce the benefits of PPE. For example: a study in Germany found that 20 days after becoming mandatory, face masks reduced the number of new COVID-19 infections by about 45%!
  7. Ask employees or patrons to give their own personal reasons for wearing PPE – for example, keeping their families safe, stopping the spread of disease, etc. Posting these messages in public spaces can help humanize the reasons for strict PPE policies. Though some individuals may not care about getting infections, their actions are putting others  at risk and may be making other co-workers or patrons uncomfortable.
  8. If you have established a policy but noncompliance is still a problem it may be time to introduce more serious consequences. Employees or patrons who do not respect the policy are a liability and pose a serious danger to yourself, your staff and your clients.

With PPE, it’s better to be safe than to be sorry. Make sure you are achieving your goal of 100% compliance, nothing less is acceptable.