Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

Module 1- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Definition:

• Protective equipment meant to be worn as protection against specific or multiple HS

risks.

• Employer duties: providing and maintaining (contractors), select, ensure correct use,
information and training of workers, regular inspections

• Employee: Use the PPE, correct use, frequent inspection, good maintenance and safe
storage.

Requirements:

• Operating requirements: suitable for the existing risks, adjusted to the circumstances of
the workplace and the user, ergonomic, no increasing other risks.

• Quality requirements: Manufactures: Reliable protection, tested, effective, ergonomic,

comfortable, provide instructions and adequate labelling.

TYPES

Depending on the risk, there exist three categories:

• protection against simple risks,

• significant risks

• life-threating risks

Classification

• Eyes and face, hearing, respiration, hands, head, body, feet, falls (not universal
classification)

EYE & FACE PROTECTION

Types:

• Safety glasses: Protection against flying particles and splashes.

• Wide vision goggles: Protection against flying particles, chemical splashes and a dusty
environment.

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 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

• Face shield requirements: Protection against flying particles, liquid splashes, dusty
environment, working above head height and working with high pressure cleaners.

• Welding goggles/mask: Protects eyes and face from flying sparks, heat and UV rays.
Mostly used for electric welding.

HEARING PROTECTION

Types: wadding or pods, plugs, universal ear plugs, osteoplastic and earmuffs, ear buds. Also
available integrated in other PPE

• Wadding or pods: provide a limited protection, maximum attenuation from 5 to 15db.

Cannot be cleaned or reused.

• Plugs: Maximum attenuation factor 20 dB

• Universal ear plugs: Attenuation from 15 to 30 dB

• Osteoplastic: Tailor-made. The attenuation factor depends on the kind of filter.

• Earmuffs: Close off the ears to the sounds of the environment. The attenuation factor
depends on the type of earmuffs.

• Noises level as of 80 dB can cause hearing loss: information, training and PPE, hearing
checks.

• Noises level as of 85 dB: noise reduction measures and ensuring employees wear
hearing protection.

• Insert correctly, PPE clean, clean hands, check regularly, not shared.

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 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

• Hazards: dust, particulates, fumes, vapours, gases, and oxygen deficient atmospheres.

• Two main categories: self-contained respiratory protective equipment (provides a

supply of air suitable for breathing) and filtering equipment (air purifying, removes
particles from atmosphere).

HEAD PROTECTION

Risks: impacts from flying or falling objects, bumps and hard blows, hair entanglement.

Different types: safety helmet more common.

• Safety helmet protects the head adequately against falling materials or impact.

• A faulty safety helmet offers no protection.

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 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

• Requirements: check frequently, replace in case of damage, do not decorate, metal

helmets are prohibited, well maintained. Fit properly.

HAND AND ARM PROTECTION

Common injuries: cuts and punctures, impact blows, burns, skin infection and contamination.

• Do not wear gloves near rotating parts. Do not wear textile or leather gloves when
handling chemicals.

• Replace in case of contact with toxic materials. Always dry.

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 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

FOOT PROTECTION

A different kind of protection for every risk.

Different types (boots: more common).

• Characteristics: steel tip, steel midsole and a non-slip sole.

• Requirements: well-maintained (soles), dry and cleaned. Replace in case of contact with
toxic materials.

BODY PROTECTION

Different types. Different models and materials depending on the risk.

• Special protective clothing provides additional and often necessary protection.

• Requirements: Do not clean with compressed air, protective clothing well-maintained

and cleaned. Replace in case of damage.

• Avoid wide sleeves or loose flaps, proper size, risk of fire: fire resistant (no polyester).

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 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

FALL PROTECTION

• Collective fall protection consists of edge protection or guardrails.

• PPE consist of a body harness that carries the employee, a lanyard that absorbs the
shock and an anchoring system.

• Lanyard must be attached to a self-retracting lifeline or a rope grab.

• All PPE must be inspected by qualified personnel at least once a year.

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