PPE

You will need to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect yourself from the hazards of the confined space that cannot be controlled or eliminated. Depending on the type of rescue you will be performing or the nature of the hazards you may encounter, different types of PPE may be required.

PPE can protect your:

• Head - from falling objects or hitting your head
• Hands - from cuts, punctures, chemical burns, or thermal extremes
• Ears - from dangerous noise levels
• Body - from chemical exposure, temperature extremes, cuts, or biological hazards
• Feet - from falling objects, sharp objects, slip hazards, or electrical shock hazards

OSHA requires that employers provide the PPE necessary for the workplace environment. It is also the employer's responsibility to train employees (both workers and rescuers) on the following:

• Using the protective equipment properly
• Knowing when the use of PPE is necessary
• Knowing what types of PPE are necessary
• Understanding the limitations of the PPE
• Putting on, adjusting, wearing, and removing the PPE
• Maintaining the PPE

To learn more about Firefighter Confined Space visit our Firefighter Confined Space Entry & Rescue Online Training web page.