PPE Use

When engineering and administrative or work practice controls for hazards are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection for workers, then the use of PPE is required. However, PPE is the last level of control.

Employers are required to perform a workplace assessment to determine if hazards are present, or likely to be present, which will require the use of PPE.

This assessment must conclude with a written certification must identify the workplace evaluated, the person certifying the evaluation and the dates performed.

If hazards are present that necessitate the use of PPE, employers must create a PPE Program that establishes general procedures.

The employer must select and have each affected employee use the types of PPE that will protect them from the hazards identified in the assessment.

All PPE must be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed.

The employer must then communicate the PPE selections to each affected employee and make sure that PPE properly fits them.

As discussed previously, there are a wide variety of hazards to which a worker could be exposed. So, there are almost as many types of PPE.

However, PPE can be broken down into the following categories, based on the body part it protects:

• Eyes and face
• Head
• Respiration
• Hearing
• Hands and arms
• Bodies
• Legs and feet

This course will discuss each category, the general types of PPE available for each, and the hazards that PPE protects against.

To learn more about PPE visit our Personal Protective Equipment Online Training web page.