People who work in the pharma and biotech industry face a wide range of daily workplace challenges that make choosing the right personal protective equipment (PPE) extremely important. However, PPE is intended not only to protect employees against potential workplace hazards but also to ensure their well-being. In this blog post, we explain the importance of choosing the right PPE for the pharma and biotech industry and outline the advantages of uvex personal protective equipment.
Workplace challenges
Alongside the chemical and biological risks to which employees in the pharma and biotech industry are exposed, additional physical and psychological stresses must also be managed. Working in the pharma and biotech industry requires high levels of concentration, which have to be maintained even during repetitive activities, in constrained postures and while standing for long periods of time.
Personal protective equipment must therefore meet the requirements of employees working in laboratories and many other departments. To find the right PPE for employees in the pharma and biotech industry, the hazards in the working environment need to be considered in more detail.
Hazards in the laboratory
- Fire and explosion hazards
- Damage to health due to toxic substances
- Injury to eyes and skin due to corrosive substances
- Noise pollution and risk of injury from equipment
- Slip and trip hazards in wet conditions
- Poor lighting conditions that impair vision
- Psychological stress due to time pressure and isolation
- Physical stress due to constrained postures and monotonous activities
- Unpleasant room temperature and air quality
- Dangers caused by ionising radiation, electromagnetic fields, optical radiation and biological substances
Another very common source of stress for employees in the pharma and biotech industry is their PPE. Choosing the wrong personal protective equipment affects the wearer’s work and causes them discomfort. Impaired well-being also has a negative effect on the quality of the employee’s performance. And since the impairing of concentration can have serious consequences for the entire workforce, it is essential to ensure that this is prevented. Comfortable-fitting PPE that does not constrict or otherwise irritate the wearer is therefore an important factor in this industry.
uvex PPE products for the pharma and biotech industry
With the right PPE, employers can both minimise workplace accidents and significantly improve employee workplace well-being, which in turn will have a positive effect on performance and productivity. In this blog post, we take a closer look at three important parts of the body that must be protected in laboratories and other departments in the pharma industry: eyes, hands and feet.
Eye protection
Fogged-up spectacles are one of the main reasons for low workplace PPE compliance. In the pharma industry, wearing safety spectacles with an anti-fog coating is especially important in ensuring clear vision that allows employees to carry out their tasks without any problems. However, they are also an important factor in preventing workplace accidents involving hazardous substances.
The uvex supravision plus and supravision excellence coatings offer the perfect solution for spectacles that stay clear all day long. Thanks to the coatings’ unique technology, the anti-fogging properties are retained even after repeated cleaning. The result is highly functional, durable safety spectacles – for clear vision and maximum safety in any situation.
Advantages for use in the pharma industry:
- Clear vision
- Tasks can be performed without distractions
- Increased transparency
- Prevention of workplace accidents
In addition to fogged-up spectacle lenses, employees are also exposed to other hazards – such as blue light.
Due to LED lighting and the use of multiple screens at workstations, employees in the pharma and biotech industry are exposed to an excessive amount of blue light. In addition to its positive effect – controlling human biorhythms – blue light unfortunately also has many negative effects on the human eye. This is because the short-wave, high-energy waves of blue light cause eye fatigue, headaches, impaired concentration, sleep disturbances and, in the worst case scenario, retinopathies (damage to the retina).
To protect the eyes, wearing safety spectacles that absorb harmful blue light (380 and 450 nm) is recommended.
For more information on the dangers of blue light, read our blog post “The dangers of blue light – and how safety spectacles can help”.
The uvex CBR65 tint absorbs around 50% of blue light with maximum absorption at 450 nm, ensuring effective protection against harmful blue light without disrupting the sleep cycle. This means that employees’ concentration is not impaired and they are able to work under blue light even for longer periods of time without any ill effects.
Advantages at work:
- Fatigue-free, comfortable vision
- Improved concentration
- Well-being
- Prevention of long-term health risks
Hand safety
Safety gloves must be worn when handling toxic substances. The biggest challenge in laboratories is ensuring maximum protection against hazardous substances while not impairing employees’ fine motor skills.
The uvex chemical protection gloves are certified to EN ISO 374-1:2016 and offer reliable protection against chemicals. Thanks to their ergonomic fit, the uvex chemical protection gloves offer excellent wearer comfort and do not impair the wearer as they work. In addition, the safety gloves have optimal grip, which significantly reduces the risk of dropped test tubes. The wearer is also not restricted in their activities thanks to the gloves’ increased flexibility.
Benefits of the uvex chemical protection gloves:
- Outstanding tactile feel
- Flexibility
Foot protection
Most work in laboratories is carried out while standing. Standing all day has an impact on your whole body. As well as negatively affecting your feet, long periods of standing can also result in fatigue and reduced concentration. To counteract these issues, uvex has developed ergonomic shoes that support the wearer throughout the day.
The uvex safety shoes uvex 1, uvex 1 sport and uvex 1 sport Hygiene have been created with an ergonomic fit. During their development, particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that the safety shoes could perfectly adapt to every type of foot, helping to improve wearer well-being. The breathable, slip-resistant and metal-free models meet ESD specifications and benefit from superior cushioning.
Benefits for standing work:
- More cushioning than required by the standard
- Stability
- Lightweight, flexible and breathable
- Multiple fit system that helps prevent pressure points
Are you and your employees wearing the optimal PPE? We’re happy to provide detailed advice on choosing the right personal protective equipment for use in the pharma and biotech industry, as well as in any other sectors.
Sources:
https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2015/08/01/Clear-the-Fog-to-Decrease-Eye-Injuries.aspx