Standing between you and danger.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment – like hard hats, safety goggles, hearing protection, gloves, work boots, high-visibility vests and other equipment – does more than just make it look like you mean business. PPE can also keep you from experiencing painful and debilitating on-the-job injuries.
PPE is mandated under state and federal law. Wearing proper PPE for the job and the hazards present is mandatory, not optional, for all employees in the United States. You must know when to use it, be properly trained and check with your supervisor if you have questions.
General PPE Requirements
Personal protective equipment must be used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards or processes or environment.
The workplace must be assessed to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which make it necessary to use personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be, it is necessary to:
- Select the types of PPE that will protect those in the area from the hazards identified
- Help each affected person understand what equipment is to be used and why
- Select equipment that properly fits each affected person
Each person who has to use personal protective equipment must know at least the following:
- When it is necessary to wear the equipment
- Exactly what equipment is necessary
- How to properly wear the equipment
- The limitations of the equipment, to prevent a false sense of security
- The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the equipment
Each affected person must understand the training above and show the ability to use the equipment properly before they are exposed to the job hazards. Retraining may be required if:
- Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete
- Changes in the types of equipment to be used render previous training obsolete
- A worker does not use the equipment when required or uses it incorrectly