PPE Examples

OSHA and other federal agencies outline PPE minimum requirements in the standards.

Our first example of PPE is in response to occupational noise exposure. You can find the regulation in 29 CFR 1910.95.

Requirements for noise exposure are based on A-weighted decibels, which are abbreviated as dBA, and are measured by relative loudness of a sound as it is perceived by the human ear. In the standard referenced above, when sound levels exceed the amounts outlined, OSHA requires that PPE be used to reduce sound levels to an acceptable level. Using the table in the regulation, we can see that if exposed to a constant noise exceeding 97 dBA for 3 hours in a given day, PPE is required.

Our second example of PPE use is in response to the permissible exposure limit (PEL), which is the limit of hazardous materials exposure, inhalation, or skin contact permissible by OSHA. OSHA provides a table of substances with their corresponding OSHA PELs. When applicable, OSHA lists the PEL amount in ppm (parts per million) or in mg/m^³ (milligrams of substance per cubic meter of air).

The OSHA list of PELs is included in 29 CFR Part 1910, Subparts G and Z, which also include the PELs of the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and the NIOSH recommended exposure limits (RELs).

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