4.6: Personal Protective Equipment

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What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

PPE is the last line of defense in the hierarchy of controls. As previously discussed there are some hazards, physical and chemical, that workers are exposed to despite efforts to either eliminate, substitute, engineer, or work practice control the danger away. The correct application, design, and issuance of the PPE are the employer’s responsibility. The correct wear, care, and use of the required PPE is the employee responsibility.

PPE is a generic term. There are types of PPE designed to protect parts of the human body exposed to hazards and hazardous environments. The typical areas needing protection and the type of PPE are shown below:

Table of Typical PPE

Table of PPE
Body Part	Protection	Image
Head	Hard Hat, Helmet
Hands	Gloves
Feet	Steel Toe Boots
Eyes-Sight	Goggles, Glasses
Ears-Hearing	Ear Plugs, Earmuffs
Nose, Mouth	Respirator, face mask
Face	Face Shield
Body	Coveralls, High Visibility Vest

PPE shall only be specified for use after a job hazard analysis(JHA) or job safety analysis(JSA) has been completed. The PPE shown above are “typical” and not specific for any task. The JHA and site assessment will determine what PPE is necessary, when it is necessary, and why it is necessary.