Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is equipment worn to minimize a worker's exposure to hazards, including gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, respirators, hearing protection, and protective clothing.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is equipment worn to minimize a worker's exposure to hazards that cause serious injuries and illnesses. It includes eye and face protection, hard hats, gloves, safety footwear, hearing protection, respirators, high-visibility apparel, arc-rated clothing, chemical suits and personal fall protection.
PPE sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls. It protects only the person wearing it, and only when it is the right equipment, fits properly and is worn and maintained correctly. It doesn't remove the hazard, so it is used alongside, or until, more effective controls are in place.
A worker handling corrosive cleaning chemicals wears chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles and a face shield. These are in addition to the room's ventilation system, an engineering control that already reduces fume exposure, and a written procedure that limits how much chemical is decanted at once.
Because it only protects the person wearing it, and only works if selected correctly, worn properly and maintained. Engineering controls reduce the hazard for everyone in the area regardless of individual behavior, which is why the hierarchy of controls prioritizes them first.
Under OSHA's PPE standard, employers are generally required to provide and pay for required PPE at no cost to employees, with limited exceptions such as ordinary safety-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear that workers may wear off the job.
It depends on the type and usage. Disposable respirators and gloves are single-use or shift-use, while hard hats, harnesses and safety glasses are replaced when damaged, worn or past the manufacturer's recommended service life, whichever comes first.
No. PPE only provides its rated protection when it is the correct type for the hazard, properly fitted, used correctly and in good condition. A poorly fitted respirator or a damaged glove can give a false sense of security.
Fit testing verifies that a tight-fitting respirator forms an adequate seal on a worker's face. OSHA requires it before first use, whenever a different respirator is used and at least annually for workers who wear tight-fitting respirators.
Yes. Employers are expected to enforce PPE rules. Effective programs pair enforcement with comfortable, well-fitting equipment and coaching, since PPE that's uncomfortable or interferes with the work is less likely to be worn.
Part of SafetyIQ's EHS glossary: plain-English definitions of workplace health and safety terms.
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