Personal protective equipment is an important element of job safety and failing to wear it appropriately can contribute to workplace injuries. This can turn into a health concern and financial mess, potentially needed the help of an Iowa workers compensation attorney to help navigate. Many concerns can be mitigated by simply wearing the right PPE, especially if you work in a hazardous environment. Here are a few reasons why PPE is important.

1. Personal Liabilities

Your attorney is going to have a harder time negotiating a workers’ compensation deal if your situation occurred through a failure to wear the appropriate or mandated PPE. Employers are required to provide the equipment, but they aren’t required to make you wear it. This turns into a legal gray area, and it doesn’t look favorably on those who chose not to wear the protective gear.

2. Long-Term Disability

The primary goal of PPE is to protect the body from hazards the exist in the work zone. Chemical or radiation exposure, debris, burn, scrapes, or falls are possible injuries that certain equipment is designed to protect against. It isn’t always about the visible dangers of falling off a ladder or getting an arm caught in equipment. Though these do create disabilities, there is a concern of cancers or diseases that can ruin your quality of life if you suffer enough exposure. Asbestos and radiation are two key examples.

3. Irreplaceable Body Parts

Safety glasses, hard hats, and gloves are just a few of the more crucial elements of PPE. These are body parts that cannot be replaced. While technology has come a long way in creating robotic elements for replacement parts, you can’t just go to the store and get a new pair of eyes.

Not only does PPE make you safer in the workplace, but it can also create more engagement and satisfaction with your job. When you aren’t worried about being injured, it is a lot easier to do your job and do it well.