Counterfeit PPE and the Illusion of Safety
When your team puts on their safety glasses, hardhats, protective gloves, respirators, or any other safety gear, they do so with certain expectations. They expect cut-resistant gloves to protect their hands from sharp edges, their helmets to offer protection for their heads, and their safety glasses to keep their eyes safe from flying particles or debris.
But what happens when that PPE is counterfeit?
The cost of using counterfeit PPE extends far beyond the brief, initial financial savings. It not only jeopardizes worker safety and health, but can also lead to severe implications for employers in the form of increased medical expenses, fines, legal liabilities, and lost productivity.
Counterfeit PPE is a growing problem today, with fake respirators, gloves, hard hats, and other safety gear flooding the market. These products are often made with substandard materials and don’t meet the approved safety requirements. Using these substandard PPE puts workers at serious risk of injury or illness.
In this article, we’ll show you why using counterfeit PPE is so dangerous, and how you can protect your workers by using only approved PPE.
Let’s break it down.
Related Article: Why OSHA Seeks to Update Its PPE Standard.
Related Article: The Dangers of Counterfeit Respirators.
Counterfeit PPE Gives a False Sense of Security
One of the major dangers of using counterfeit PPE is that it can give employees a false sense of security at work.
Respirators, for example, may claim to filter out harmful particles, but actually let many pass through, exposing workers to hazardous conditions. Workers believe think their PPE will protect them, while in reality, they remain at risk.
This false sense of security can lead to risky behavior in dangerous environments. A worker using a defective or counterfeit respirator might feel safe entering an area with toxic fumes or dangerous particles. But, without proper filtration, they remain unprotected, and could suffer severe respiratory damage or even death.
Using Unapproved PPE Doesn’t Guarantee Adequate Protection
Counterfeit PPE really doesn’t provide the same level of protection as the approved ones. For example, counterfeit respirators may have faulty valves or poor fit, allowing contaminants to get through. Gloves may be made with thin, weak materials that tear or corrode easily. Hard hats might not withstand the impact they’re supposed to.
Unfortunately, this inadequate protection leaves workers vulnerable to the very hazards they’re supposed to be protected from.
A worker wearing a counterfeit hard hat could suffer a serious head injury or skull fracture from a falling object. Electrocution, burns, or severe cuts can occur without proper gloves. Lungs and airways of workers can become damaged by inhaling toxic substances through a counterfeit respirator.
Counterfeit PPE Lacks Proper Certification
One important way to identify counterfeit PPE is often the lack of proper certification or label. Or, if a label exists, it appears suspiciously ‘off’.
Genuine or approved PPE typically display a ‘NIOSH’ label, indicating it meets necessary safety standards. Counterfeit PPE often lack this label, or have one that’s been forged or misspelled.
Without this certification, there’s no guarantee the PPE will work as intended. It may also not have been tested for effectiveness or safety. Although these products typically sport a lower initial cost, buying and using uncertified PPE creates an expensive gamble that’s not worth taking.
Not only does it place your employees at dangerous health risks, it can also affect your business’s productivity, while opening the door for future medical expenses or legal battles.
The Dangers of Unapproved Manufacturers and Vendors
To keep workers safe and healthy, you need to pay attention to the PPE you provide. Always buy from authorized and reputable distributors, and check for proper certification. And, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is – and you should avoid it.
You should also train your workers to spot counterfeit PPE, by looking out for the following:
- clear brand names and NIOSH label,
- model numbers, and
- relevant information surrounding the PPE’s effectiveness (like filtration information.)
Any packaging should be tamper-proof and undamaged. If anything seems off, do not purchase or use such PPE, and look elsewhere for more reputable products.
Ultimately, using counterfeit PPE proves a dangerous risk that no employer or worker should take. The risks to health and safety that exist simply remain too high. By staying informed, and buying from approved manufacturers and reputable retailers, you can keep workers protected from the hazards of the jobsite.
- See the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) article on NIOSH- Certified Equipment List.
- See OSHA’s General Requirements for Personal Protective Equipment. (1910.132).
Bringing It Together
The threat posed by counterfeit PPE is one you cannot overlook. As highlighted, these fraudulent products not only fail to provide adequate protection, but also create a dangerous illusion of safety that can lead to severe consequences. Employers and workers alike must remain vigilant and proactive in their approach to PPE usage.
By prioritizing the purchase of certified, original PPE from reputable vendors, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with counterfeit equipment at work. Education and awareness are key; training workers to recognize counterfeit products empowers them to take control of their safety.
In a world where workplace hazards are everywhere, the importance of using the right PPE cannot be overstated. As such, ensure that the equipment you and our workers rely on remains genuine, effective, and up to required standards.
Of course, one of the best ways to ensure you’re providing your team the right equipment is to work with trusted vendors and suppliers. At Worksite Medical, we never cut corners, providing only genuine and quality equipment every step of the way.
You and your team can breathe easy knowing you’ll have the most effective protection possible, all while remaining-OSHA compliant.
We’ll even bring the clinic right to your jobsite with our fleet of mobile medical teams, quickly, conveniently, and effectively. Let us come to you and keep your team working safe and sound!
About Worksite Medical
To protect your team and remain in compliance with OSHA , you need to find a medical provider in your area that specializes in occupational health.
In the case of Worksite Medical, we make that easier with mobile medical testing that reaches across the US.
With Worksite Medical, you can get all the resources of a lab brought directly to your worksite, minimizing your workers’ downtime.
We’ll tailor a comprehensive medical surveillance program to your specific needs. Our services include respirator fit-testing & respirator equipment, silica exams, general physicals, heavy metal labs, x-rays, audiometric exams, and much more. We safely maintain all of your team’s medical records, and provide you with quick access.
You’ll keep your employees at work, and stay ahead of OSHA inspections.
Protect your team and your workplace now with Worksite Medical. Not sure what you need? Try our medical testing wizard here.
Give us a call at 1-844-622-8633, or complete the form below to schedule an on-site visit or to get your free quote.
Convenient, Compliant Occupational Medicine. Worksite Medical – Let Us Come to You!
