Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE is equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety.’ It includes safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, safety harnesses, hearing protection and respiratory protective equipment.

PPE is at the bottom of the hierarchy of risk control measures. This is because it does not stop someone being exposed to a hazard, just reduces the likelihood of harm. Therefore all other risk control measures must be considered first to reduce exposure to hazards, with PPE being considered as additional protection, or against accidental exposure.

The correct type of PPE needs to be selected according to the hazard, task and characteristics of the person. The following issues need to be considered.

Eyes
Hazards: chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour, radiation.
Options: safety spectacles, goggles, faceshields, visors.
Consider: likelihood of exposure and consequences of contact with eyes and face. Force of impact. People wearing 'normal' glasses. Affecting vision and steaming up.

Head
Hazards: impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair
entanglement.
Options: a range of helmets and bump caps.
Consider: potential of item falling off, restriction of movement and vision.

Breathing
Hazards: dust, vapour, gas, oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
Options: disposable filtering facepiece or respirator, half- or full-face respirators, air-fed helmets, breathing apparatus.
Consider: size of particles, concentration vs. time filter will remain effective, people with beards, potential for air breathed in to bypass the filter (e.g. sucked in around the edge)

Protecting the body
Hazards: temperature extremes, adverse weather, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure leaks or spray guns, impact or penetration, contaminated dust, excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing.
Options: conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, specialist protective clothing, eg chain-mail aprons, high-visibility clothing.
Consider: restriction of movement, flammability of material, cleaning.

Hands and arms
Hazards: abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals, electric shock, skin infection, disease or contamination.
Options: gloves, gauntlets, mitts, wristcuffs, armlets.
Consider: do arms need protection, restriction of movement, resistance to abrasion and cuts, resistance to substances.

Feet and legs
Hazards: wet, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects,
metal and chemical splash, abrasion.
Options: safety boots and shoes with protective toe caps and penetration-resistant
mid-sole, gaiters, leggings, spats.
Consider: need for ankle support.

Hearing
Hazards: noise
Options: ear defenders, ear plugs
Consider: noise levels, duration to be worn, impact on communication, contamination of ear plugs.

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) apply to all PPE except hearing protection and respiratory protective equipment which are covered by other legislation. They require:

* Proper assessment before use
* Provided free of charge
* Maintained and stored properly
* People given instructions on how to use it safely; and
* Used correctly by employees.

Reference