PERSONAL

PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
GUIDE
 PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 2
1. ENGINEERING CONTROLS .................................................................................. 2
2. WORK PRACTICES................................................................................................... 2
3. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS .............................................................................. 2
SELECTION OF APROPRIATE AND USEFUL PPE ............................................. 2
1. HANDS PROTECTION ........................................................................................... 3
3. FOOT PROTECTION .............................................................................................. 4
2. PROTECTION OF THE EYES AND FACE ............................................................. 4
4. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION ................................................................................ 5
5. HEAD PROTECTION .............................................................................................. 5
6. BODY PROTECTION .............................................................................................. 6
7. HEARING PROTECTION ........................................................................................ 6
CARE AND MAINTAINANCE OF YOUR PPE ..................................................... 7
KEY MESSAGES .......................................................................................................... 7
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE

INTRODUCTION
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are protective clothing, goggles,
helmets, and other equipment designed to protect the workers from
workplace hazards.

Using personal protective equipment is often essential, but it is generally

the last line of defense after:

1. ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Engineering controls involve physically changing a machine or work
environment

2. WORK PRACTICES
Work practices involve training workers how to perform tasks in ways that
reduce their exposure to workplace hazards.

3. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
Administrative controls involve changing how or when workers do their
jobs, such as scheduling work and rotating workers to reduce exposures.

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires

employers to;
1. Identify the hazard by carrying out a workplace risk assessment
2. Select appropriate PPE
3. Educate and train workers on proper use and maintenance of PPE
4. Ensure adherence of workers to PPE, and apply strict conditions in case
of non compliance.

SELECTION OF APROPRIATE AND USEFUL PPE:

PPE are used to protect the workers from any harm that may be inflicted
to their head, eyes, face, hands, feet, respiratory system, and other parts
of their body. The hazards addressed by the PPE include physical, heat,
chemicals, electrical, airborne matter, and biohazards.

Ensure the following when using PPE:

• PPE properly and comfortably fits the worker during each wear so that
he/she can move freely while performing their job.
• PPE provides the worker with right protection he/she needs.

2
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE

1. HANDS PROTECTION:
GLOVES are the best PPE for hands which can protect them from most
types of hazards. The hands are exposed to a wide range of hazards such as
abrasions, cuts, extremely hot/cold temperatures, chemicals, infection, and
other potential risks. There are many gloves available which serve different
functions based on these potential hazards. The safety officer should be
consulted prior to choosing the appropriate type of gloves to wear based
on each task.

• Cotton fabric gloves protects

against abrasions.
• Leather gloves protects against
burns.
• Rubber or vinyl gloves protects
against contact with hazardous
chemicals.
• Insulated gloves protects against
electrical shock.

THESE GLOVES PROTECT YOU AGAINST THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS:

Cotton Leather

Abrasions Burns

Rubber, Neoprene, Vinyl or

Latexpathogens
Contact with Neoprene,
hazardous chemical pathogens

Specially
Metal Mesh insulated

Cuts Electrical
Shock

3
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE

2. PROTECTION OF THE EYES AND FACE:

The eyes and face can be injured while performing different jobs such as
cutting, drilling, breaking, chipping, brickwork, grinding, welding, leakage,
splashing etc, as a result of flying materials or radiation.

SAFETY GLASSES, GOGGLES and FACE SHIELDS can be used to protect

the eyes and face from multiple hazards. Make sure to maintain the
cleanliness of the eye wear and to replace it if scratched, uncomfortable,
twisted, worn out or if the sidepieces are damaged.

3. FOOT PROTECTION:
Different foot injuries can occur as a result of slipping or penetration of
sharp objects such as nails, wires, chemicals etc.

SAFETY BOOTS or SHOES can give maximum protection for the worker’s
feet depending on the nature of work and can provide safety against
impact, compression, heat, wet areas, electrical shocks etc.

ANTI-SLIP ANTI-STATIC
SOLE SHOES

Be aware of the injuries that

could occur and use the right
foot protection for the
hazards you face on the job!
COLD PENETRATION
INSULATION RESISTANT
MID-SOLE

4
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE

4. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION:
Equipment which protect respiratory system
are called RESPIRATORS.

Hazards such as dust, fumes, gases, smoke,

sprays, vapours etc. can damage the
respiratory system, thus respirators thus
respirators are crucial to protect against
these hazards.

The safety officer should be consulted

to choose the appropriate respirator
depending on the potential hazard in that
particular working condition.

Basic respirators are;

1. Air – Purifying Respirators, should be used when the air has sufficient
oxygen levels but is contaminated. Disposable filters, paper masks, etc.
are examples of air purifying respirators.

2. Atmosphere – Supplying Respirators, should be used when there is

insufficient oxygen levels to breathe. Respirators should be comfortable
and fit properly in order to protect the worker and must meet the OSHA or
local requirements.

5. HEAD PROTECTION:
A HARD HAT HELMET should be
worn to protect the head from
injuries.

There are different types of

helmets classified into class A,
B, C which protects the worker
against blows, penetration of
sharp objects, electrical shocks,
etc. All forms of head protection
should be inspected to correctly fit
and can be easily adjusted by the
worker before each use.

5
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE

6. BODY PROTECTION:
Proper and appropriate clothing is required to
protect the worker from potential hazards arising at
the workplace, such as heat, radiation, hot metals,
scalding liquids, body fluids, and hazardous materials
or waste.

Materials used in whole-body personal protective

equipment include rubber, leather, synthetics, and
plastic.

The different protective clothing

used based on potential hazards
are;

• Leather Clothing protects from

electrical hazards.

• An encapsulated suit protects

against toxic substances.

• Disposable suit protects from

dust, splashes, oils etc.

• Vinyl or rubber clothing protects from chemicals.

• Heat – Resistant clothes protect from fire and flames.

Other PPE such as vests, aprons, boots fall under this category.

7. HEARING PROTECTION:
PPE for ear protection are used in workplaces
where there is noise pollution or the noise
level reaches up to 80 - 85 decibels.

Ears can be protected by using EARMUFFS

which cover the entire ear and provide
maximum protection, followed by
EARPLUGS which seal your ear canal and
CANAL CAPS which are soft pads on a
headband.

6
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE

The above hearing protective equipment depend on the nature of work

and intensity of noise.

CARE AND MAINTAINANCE OF YOUR PPE:

To ensure effectiveness and proper function, the PPE should be maintained
and kept in good condition. The following are some general tips to
guarantee proper maintenance of the PPE;

• Always inspect PPE for damage before and after each use.

• Clean PPE after each use.

• Dispose of single use PPE.

• Store PPE in its allocated place.

• Keep PPE away from conditions which can damage it like heat, fire,
moisture etc.

KEY MESSAGES:
• PPE should always be selected properly based on the worker’s job and
nature of work.

• PPE must be cleaned after each use.

• PPE should always be examined before and after each wear to ensure
proper maintenance.

• Make sure all workers are complying with these guidelines to ensure their
protection and safety.

7
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE

ty
Safe
First