The Importance of PPE for Good Business

 

Personal protective clothing, commonly known as PPE, is essential in care environments for protecting the welfare of staff and service users, as well as complying with health and safety laws. However, investing in PPE and the requisite training can also save your business money and increase productivity. Here’s how and why.

 

Healthy Staff, Happy Staff

 

Studies have shown that a happy workforce can increase productivity by as much as 12%. Companies pay fortunes to consultancy companies to try and make increases a fraction of that size. Yet the answer could be as simple as valuing your workforce more. On the contrary, unhappy staff can reduce output by as much as 12%, so it pays to ensure your staff enjoy coming to work. Of course, in the caring profession, success is not measured in percentage points, profits or output but in the quality of the services you provide. So making sure your staff are content is still an essential business aim.

One way of achieving this is by making them feel valued, and ensuring their physical and emotional well-being. Investing in good quality PPE and making sure staff are sufficiently trained to use it is a sure-fire way of making your workforce feel valued. Underprovide or skimp on the training and you’re sending a negative message.

 

Fewer Sick Days, Less Expense

Nobody should be expected to go to work when not in a condition to do so. Sick days and illnesses are an inevitability for any business but each staff day missed costs money. In the world of care, these expenses are doubled as you often have to find cover or bank staff who will cost in additional salary.

Care environments are, by their very nature, high risk. The amount of bacteria and disease that is spread throughout care homes is higher than the average, with the added danger of high numbers of people in confined spaces. An outbreak of disease or infection can quickly decimate a workforce and end up costing a fortune.By providing the right PPE, such as cleaning gear, face masks and aprons, not only are you helping to control the spread of infection but you are keeping your staff safe. Good quality PPE adds an extra layer of security, keeping both your staff and your bottom line healthy.