Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

General Overview
Assessing Need for PPE
Training Employees to Use PPE
Additional Resources

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General Overview

Employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals need to take every preventative measure to make certain that they are protected all the time. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is equipment worn to minimize exposure to a variety of hazards. PPE is very important in the cleaning industry because a frequent source of hazards is cleaning products. Therefore, OSHA requires the use of PPE to decrease employee exposure to workplace hazards when engineering and administrative controls aren’t possible or successful in reducing their exposure to acceptable levels.

Hazard assessment & equipment selection

• It is the employer’s responsibility to conduct a full workplace hazard assessment to establish whether hazards are present and whether such hazards require PPE.
• Employers must also make sure that the PPE is appropriate to protect those exposed from the recognized hazards, that the PPE is properly fitted and is not flawed or damaged in any way. Types of PPE that may be essential include: eye and face protection, head protection, foot protection, hand protection and respiratory protection.

Employee training

• Employers are accountable for making sure employees are trained to use PPE and must provide written certification. Generally, employers must supply required PPE at no cost to employees.

Assessing Need for PPE

When & what PPE is necessary

• When and what PPE is necessary is determined when conducting the “hazard assessment” or survey of the facility. A list of the potential hazards is developed into the following categories:
  • Impact
  • Penetration
  • Compression (roll over)
  • Chemical
  • Heat/cold
  • Harmful dust
  • Light (optical) radiation
  • Biologic 

When the assessment is completed, the data should be organized and analyzed to determine which types of PPE is required at the workplace. It is definitely a good idea to select PPE that will provide the level of protection greater than the minimum required to protect employees from hazards. The workplace should be reassessed periodically for any changes in conditions, equipment or procedures that could affect occupational hazards.

Training Employees to Use PPE

Employers are required to train each employee who must use PPE. The employees are to know at least the following:

• When PPE is necessary?
• What PPE is necessary?
• How to properly put on, take off, adjust and wear PPE.
• The limitations of PPE. 
• Proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of PPE.

Additional Resources

Personal Protective Equipment Standard

OSHA's Personal Protective Equipment

Hazards and Solutions