PPE – Gloves, Eye Protection, and Body Positioning

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a critical part of offshore safety, especially during mechanical tasks involving hand tools. Correct glove selection, eye protection, and proper body positioning significantly reduce injury risk.

1. Gloves: Your First Line of Defense

Offshore tasks expose hands to:

• Cuts and abrasions
• Impact from tools and moving parts
• Heat or friction
• Oil, grease, and chemicals

Types of gloves and when to use them:

• Impact Protection Gloves

Use during heavy mechanical work, hammering, moving equipment, or lifting.

• Cut-Resistant Gloves

Use when handling metal edges, tools with sharp surfaces, wire ropes, or cutting tools.

• Oil-Resistant / Nitrile Gloves

Use during hydraulic work, hose handling, and exposure to oil or grease.

• When not to wear gloves

• While operating rotating equipment
• When gloves may get caught on moving machinery
• When performing precision tasks that require feel and dexterity

2. Eye Protection

Eye injuries offshore often occur from:

• Flying particles during hammer work
• Rust flakes
• Metal fragments
• Chemical splashes
• Pressurized leaks from hoses

Always wear:

• Safety glasses (minimum)
• Goggles when handling chemicals or grinding
• Face shield for high-risk impact tasks

A split-second without eye protection can cause permanent vision loss.

3. Body Positioning

Correct body positioning is essential for preventing:

• Tool slippage injuries
• Back strain
• Loss of balance
• Line-of-fire impact injuries

Best practices:

• Keep hands outside the line-of-fire
• Maintain stable footing, especially on wet decks
• Use your body weight, not just arm strength
• Never place your face or torso behind a tool that could slip
• Keep elbows close to the body for stability

4. Line-of-Fire Awareness

This means recognizing:

• Where the tool will go if it slips
• Where your hands will go if the load shifts
• Where moving components may strike

If your hands or body are in the potential path of movement, reposition before continuing.

Key Learning Points

At the end of this lesson, the trainee should understand:

• Correct glove selection
• When gloves are a hazard
• Proper eye protection for different tasks
• How to position the body safely
• How to avoid line-of-fire injuries