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2850 Level 2 in Engineering Unit 201 Handout 4

Unit 201: Working in Engineering

Handout 4: Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

The main requirement of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work

Regulations 1992 is that personal protective equipment is to be supplied and used at
work wherever there are risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately
controlled in other ways.

The regulations also require that PPE:

• is properly assessed before use, to

ensure it is suitable
• is maintained and stored properly
• is provided with instructions on how
to use it safely
• is used correctly by employees.

An employer cannot ask an employee to

pay for their own PPE.

The PPE at Work Regulations1992 do not apply where other regulations require the
provision and use of PPE against particular hazards (e.g. COSHH).

Respiratory protection equipment (RPE)

Divided into two groups:

• respirators (or face masks) – filter and clean the air

• breathing apparatus – supplies breathable air (self-contained

breathing, fresh air hose or compressed air line).
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2850 Level 2 in Engineering Unit 201 Handout 4

Body
part / Hazards Options
Function

Chemical or metal splash Safety spectacles

Dust Goggles
Eyes Projectiles Face shields
Gas and vapour Visors
Radiation
Impact from falling or Range of helmets
flying objects Bump caps
Risk of head bumping
Head
Hair entanglement

Dust Disposable filtering

Vapour facepiece or respirator
Gas Half- or full-face
Breathing
Oxygen-deficient respirators
atmospheres Air-fed helmets
Breathing apparatus
Temperature extremes Conventional or
Adverse weather disposable overalls
Chemical or metal splash Boiler suits
Spray from pressure Specialist protective
leaks or spray guns clothing (e.g. chain
Protecting
Impact or penetration mail aprons, high
the body
Contaminated dust visibility clothing)
Excessive wear or
entanglement of own
clothing

Abrasion Gloves
Temperature extremes Gauntlets
Cuts and punctures Mitts
Hands Impact Wrist cuffs
and arms Chemicals Armlets
Electric shock
Skin infection
Disease or contamination
Wet Safety boots and shoes
Electrostatic build-up with protective toe caps
Slipping and penetration-resistant
Feet and Cuts and punctures mid-soles
legs Falling objects Gaiters
Metal and chemical Leggings
splash Spats
Abrasion