Basic Overview of PPE

The following safety huddle topic is an overview of OSHA personal

protective equipment for the construction industry. All information
has been extracted from OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart E. This
information is for informational purposes only. Employers should
always create a written policy that supports a comprehensive PPE
program and conduct regular trainings specific to the safety
equipment used in their workplaces.
The key to selecting the appropriate PPE is the proper identification
of all hazards in a workplace that may cause harm or injury to an
employee. All PPE is listed to protect employees from very specific
hazards. Research the differences between classes of PPE and
make a selection based on their rated capacities. As an example;
an employee works near a furnace operation. You would not want
to just buy shaded safety glasses. By consulting Table E-1, you will
find that the employee needs safety glasses with class 7, 8, or 9
protectors. Always research all forms of PPE before purchasing and
employing for service.

Criteria for personal protective equipment:

 Application- protective equipment including eyes, face, head,
extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and
protective shields and barriers shall be provided, used, and
maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is
necessary by reasons of hazards of processes or environment,
chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants
 encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or
impairment in the function of any part of the body through
absorption, inhalation, or physical contact.
 Employee-owned equipment- where employees provide their own
equipment, the employer shall be responsible to assure its
adequacy, including maintenance, and sanitation.
 Payment for PPE- PPE shall be provided by the employer at no
cost to the employee, except:
o non-specialty safety-toe equipment and non-specialty
prescription safety eyewear
o when an employee provides their own adequate equipment that
the employer permits the employee to use
o when an employee loses or intentionally damages the
equipment
Occupational Foot Protection:
 Safety-toe footwear for employees shall meet the requirements
and specifications in ANSI (American National Standards
Institute) Z41.1-1967.
Head Protection:
 Protective helmets shall be required in areas where employees
are in danger of head injury from impacts, falling or flying
objects, or from electrical shock or burns.
 Helmets shall meet requirements set forth in ANSI Z89.1-1969.
 Helmets for employees exposed to high voltage electrical shock
and shock shall meet ANSI Z89.2-1971.
Hearing Protection:
 Use table D-2 in OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Subpart D for defining
permissible occupational noise levels.
 Always eliminate or mitigate noise hazards and limit duration of
exposure to noise hazards when possible.
 Wherever it is not feasible to reduce the noise levels or duration
of exposures to those specified in Table D-2, ear protective
devices shall be provided and used.
 Ear protective devices inserted in the ear shall be fitted or
determined individually by competent persons.
 Plain cotton is not an acceptable protective device.
Eye and Face Protections:
 Employees shall be provided with eye and face protection
equipment when machines or operations present potential eye
or face injury from physical, chemical, or radiation agents.
 Eye and face protection shall meet ANSI Z87.1-1968.
 Employees whose vision requires the use of corrective lenses in
spectacles shall be protected by goggles or spectacles of the
following types:
o Spectacles whose protective lenses provide optical correction
o Goggles that can be worn over spectacles
o Goggles that incorporate corrective lenses mounted behind the
protective lenses
 Face and eye protection shall be kept clean and in good repair.
 Use Table E-1 in Subpart E as a guide in the selection of face
and eye protection for the hazards and operations noted.
 Protectors shall be comfortable, fit snugly, be durable, be
capable of being disinfected, and easily cleanable.
Protection Against Radiant Energy:
 Use Table E-2 for selection of shade numbers for welding
operations.
 Use Table E-3 for selecting safety glass for laser operations.
Working Over or Near Water:
 Employees working over or near water, where the danger of
drowning exists, shall be provided with U.S. Coast Guard-
approved life jackets or buoyant work vests.
 Prior to and after each use these protective devices will be
inspected for defects.
 Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line shall be provided and
readily available for emergency rescue operations.
 Distance between ring bouys shall not exceed 200 feet.
 At least one lifesaving skiff shall be available for employees
working near or over water.