PPE - Emergency Response Guidelines

The following are some of the important steps employers with emergency response and recovery workers need to take with respect to PPE. You will note that these are very similar to the selection and training for non-emergency response:

• Conduct a hazard assessment (this determines the potential safety and health hazards that workers may face).
• Follow the established hierarchy of controls (including elimination/substitution and engineering, work practice, and administrative controls) before using PPE.
• Determine the PPE workers' needs.
• Provide the proper PPE to workers.
• Train workers to properly use PPE.
• Ensure PPE is used in the correct manner and in the appropriate situations.
• Provide medical exams and fit testing (when required by OSHA standards) before use of PPE that require these exams (like respirators).
• Regularly review and update the PPE program when hazards change.

Proper planning for PPE needs in advance of an emergency is crucial.

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