Personal protective equipment (PPE) is regulated by OSHA through Standard 1910.132. This standard covers a wide range of personal protective equipment, “including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers.” (1910.132[a]) The standard explains who is responsible to maintain and replace the equipment, how the equipment must be maintained, and what the employer and employees roles are in personal protective equipment use.

To start, it is important to understand what hazards are present, and which personal protective equipment is required in which situations. There are some very general guidelines in this standard, but it is also important to review the standards relevant to the actions being performed, in order to properly identify the required personal protective equipment. To help you in this capacity, it might make sense to have your facility and procedures audited by a qualified third party auditing firm with a specialty in OSHA standards.

It is also important to note that most personal protective equipment is required to be purchased and maintained by the employer. Additionally, adequate training is required to be provided by the employer. For these reasons, it is important to implement and track training and maintenance policies.

If you have any questions about your personal protective equipment (PPE) policies or procedures, or if you would like your facility audited to ensure you have no hazards which are unaccounted for, please contact us. And if you have anything to add about personal protective equipment, please leave a comment.