Welcome to a special edition of “Think About This” – brought to you from CORESafety TV and the National Mining Association.

In this episode, we’re talking about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and reminding you to take a close look at your gear each time you go on a mine site.

This is important, mainly because it’s often so easy to forget.

If you’re a miner, safety really starts with awareness…and making use of the right PPE can protect you from injuries in SO many ways.

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To watch the Spanish version of this CORESafety TV episode, click here.

Personal protective equipment for mining is usually considered to fall into these categories:

1. Hard hats
2. Eye protection
3. Hearing protection
4. Respiratory devices and self-contained self-rescue (SCSR) equipment
5. Hand protection
6. Protective clothing from irritants and hot work
7. High visibility vests and clothing
8. Life jackets and belts
9. Safety belts and lines
10. Protective footwear
11. Flashlights and headlamps
12. First aid material

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) takes an active role in testing, approving and certifying certain types of mining equipment. But personal protective equipment (PPE) generally falls outside of those regulatory efforts.

However, in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR), you’ll find MSHA makes certain requirements for the use and maintenance of PPE in support of its mission “to prevent death, illness, and injury from mining and promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners.”

MSHA does require use of a complete scope of PPE as a last line of defense to protect workers from physical and chemical hazards.

Each time you arrive at a mine site, you should —

• Check the PPE that you’ll be wearing or using that day. Take a close look at the equipment and determine if it’s in acceptable condition for use. If it’s not, replace it immediately with gear that is appropriate.
   
• Talk about safety frequently with your fellow miners. Help each other to confirm that you are all wearing the right PPE for the job and that it will provide the protection it’s intended to provide.