Nuclear power plants are among the fields and industries where the concentration and use of chemical substances are higher. The use of highly radioactive substances results in a number of health issues for the people within the plant if they are not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Apart from wearables, these nuclear plants must have some safety systems installed to monitor any threat associated with these emissions on radioactive elements in the air.

Human exposure to these radioactive substances results in severe health issues, and some of the very common issues are skin allergies, cancer, cellular damages, and abnormalities. The nuclear authorities must define some set of preventive measures to avoid the dispersion of radioactive substances out of the reactor. They should also define some rules for the people working in the plants to ensure they are wearing the protective equipment for higher safety.

Dig deeper into this article to explore what personal protective equipment (PPE) you will need in a nuclear power plant to avoid health problems.

Top PPE You Must Have in A Nuclear Power Plant

Every industry is immune to threats and safety issues, and among various industries, nuclear power plants are considered to be more at risk. The intensive use of chemical substances in these plants makes them riskier places, and working in such places without any safety equipment is even riskier.

Following are some of the personal protective equipment every person within the nuclear power plant must-have.

Head protective equipment

The possibility of falling objects is also very higher in these nuclear power plants; it is obvious that with huge machinery, these risks are also very higher.  The plant authorities must provide heat protective equipment to the workers to avoid any serious injuries are head injuries could lead to on-spot deaths. Wearing helmets and safety caps will keep you safe from any falling object damaging your head.

Ear protection

Nuclear power plants are among the industries that use a higher number of machinery and chemical reactors. These reactors and machines produce great noise, which could damage your ears. Working in such environments without wearing ear protectors or any headphones could result in occupational hearing loss.

Respiratory protection

Respiratory issues occur when the workers do not get sufficient oxygen levels to breathe or if there is an increase in the concentration of toxic gas, making it difficult to breathe. That is why the workers must have respirators wearing most of the time. It is also very important to install systems to detect these increasing levels of oxygen or increasing levels of toxic gases in the plant. You can hire the services of safety equipment suppliers in UAE to get the best detection system and ensure the safety of the workers working in threat-prone areas.

Eye protective equipment

The escape of chemical substances from the nuclear reactor into the air is the major reason for eye irritations and allergies. That is why wearing transparent glass shields or goggles is very important in such areas. It is also important to clean and sterilize the goggles before using them because without sterilization; you will not be able to avoid these allergies.

Body protection

Exposure to extreme heat and fire are the two riskier tasks we expect to witness in nuclear power plants. In such situations, a single body part is not at risk; rather, your whole body may get injured or affected. That is why wearing a body protective suit is a must before entering the power plant.  Following are some of the wearables that will help protect your body against radioactive and chemical substances.

• Aprons
• Jackets
• Heat to toe protective suit

Hand protection

Handling sharp objects, tools, and machines is the more likely element to cause damages to your hands and arms. Moreover, chemical spills on your hands while handling them could also cause damages to your hands. Depending upon the portion of the hand exposed to these damages needs to be covered and protected. Some of the PPE for hand and arm safety are as follows.

• Gloves
• Thumb and finger guards
• Hand pads

Foot protection

The feet are equally prone to risks as hands are, and the chemical spills on feet could result in impairments and skin allergies. That is why specially designed and manufactured shoes are a must to wear while working in these plants. Depending upon the need for safety, there are some classifications of shoes which are as follows.

• Safety-toe shoes
• Conductive shoes
• Molder shoes
• Non-sparking shoes
• Electrical hazard shoes

Do you have safety measures in place?

No matter what industry you are working in, the possibility of getting affected by pollutants, impurities, and gaseous elements is always higher. You must make sure that there are safety measures and tools in place to improve the safety of your lives and assets. So, ensure you are consulting the right safety suppliers to make sure the safety of your workplace and home.