It is not enough to simply make personal protective equipment available to your staff, you need to have very clear and concise policies surrounding this equipment to ensure it is in good, working order; is properly used; and is properly maintained. Without these policies and procedures in place, your personal protective equipment will potentially be less effective, meaning your employees are exposed to potential hazards, and your company will be exposed to OSHA violations in the event of an audit.

Personal protective equipment protects employees in the most crucial ways. It is the last line of defense for employees, should other safety equipment fail, and it is the only defense for employees in many situations. And since personal protective equipment is on your employees’ bodies, it means that the hazards pose a real and actual threat to your staff. Worn out gloves that have holes will allow employees to burn themselves; damaged masks can blur vision or allow hazards to permeate them. And in situations like these, there is nothing else to protect the employee.

But how do you know what to put in the policies? Well, you can start with OSHA Standard 1910.132. This standard regulates all things personal protective equipment. It regulates how to store, don, doff, and use equipment. It also explains in which situations the equipment is required and in which it is not. It even explains when the equipment is the responsibility of the employer to provide and when the equipment is the responsibility of the employee to purchase. With all of this in mind, you then need to consider your worksite and determine where personal protective equipment is required.

If you have any questions about establishing policies for personal protective equipment. please contact us and we can help you establish your policies. If you have anything to add about establishing policies for personal protective equipment, please leave a comment.