Personal protective equipment, or PPE, when properly worn, is designed to reduce or eliminate hazards from the work environment that cannot be controlled by other means. It is considered the last barrier of protection for the employee.

Other means of protecting employees such, as Engineering controls or administrative methods must be pursued first.

Companies are required by law (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132) to provide personal protective equipment and to train its employees on its use in the work environment. The training is intended to provide employees with the knowledge on how to select, use and maintain PPE to guard against hazards in the workplace and enhance on-the-job safety

RESPONSIBILITIES

Companies are responsible for ensuring that employee training on PPE and documentation of that training is completed. Companies are also responsible for ensuring that PPE Hazard Assessments are completed prior to beginning work in order to determine the need for PPE.  These assessments should be conducted on each job before any work is done.

Management is responsible for providing assistance in the implementation and enforcement of PPE policies.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition. When necessary, due to hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the functions of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact, PPE shall be worn.

Training – Companies must provide the necessary training regarding all PPE to each employee who is required to use the PPE. Training shall include:

• When PPE is necessary
• What PPE is necessary
• How to properly don & doff, adjust and wear properly.
• PPE Limitations
• Proper care, maintenance

Companies shall also verify that each employee understands the required training through written testing along with documentation showing name of employee, dates of training, and the instructor.

Hazard Assessment – Companies will assess the workplace to ascertain if and where hazards exist or are likely to exist and select the respective PPE to be used, that will protect any affected employee from the hazards identified in the assessment.

PPE Maintenance- Company personnel are responsible for keeping PPE equipment sanitary and properly maintained. Any damaged PPE will be repaired or replaced as soon as it is detected. In the event that the PPE is not repairable it will be replaced. This process will be documented and filed with the safety coordinator.

All personal protective equipment should be cleaned, maintained, and stored in a sanitary and reliable condition, as per manufacturers’ guideline. Periodic inspections of the equipment should also be conducted to identify signs of damage or wear and at no time should PPE be modified or altered in any way that degrades the integrity of the equipment.