Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect workers from hazards that cannot be controlled through other means. PPE includes equipment that protects the head, eyes, face, hearing, respiratory system, arms, hands, feet, and legs. The type of PPE used depends on the hazards present and each situation must be evaluated individually. PPE is meant to be used as a last resort when hazards cannot be eliminated through methods like engineering or administrative controls. Common examples of PPE include hard hats to protect the head from falling objects, safety glasses to protect the eyes, and respirators to protect the respiratory system from airborne hazards. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring appropriate PPE is available and worn by employees.

1. Personal Protective Equipment
Presented by
Mohammad Ashfaqur Rahman
Compliance Professional
www.linkedin.com/in/ashfaqsaphal
ashfaq.saphal@gmail.com

2. Definition

Devices used to protect an employees from injury
or illness resulting from contact with chemical,
radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or
other workplace hazards (OSHA)

The need for PPE and the type of PPE used is
based on hazard present; each situation must be
evaluated independently

3. Caveats

PPE is used as a last resort

The use of PPE signifies that the hazard could not
be controlled by other methods, such as
– administrative controls (i.e., shift rotation)
– engineering or industrial hygiene controls

4. A Simple View

5. PPE – Some Uses

Head protection

Eye and Face protection

Hearing protection

Respiratory protection

Arm and Hand protection

Foot and Leg protection

Protective clothing

6. PPE – Head Protection

Falling objects

Bumping head
against fixed objects

such as exposed
pipes or beams

Contact with
exposed electrical
conductors

7. PPE – Head Protection

Class A

General service

e.g., mining, building
construction,
shipbuilding, lumbering,
and manufacturing

Good impact protection
but limited voltage
protection

8. PPE – Head Protection

Class B

Electrical work

Protect against falling objects and high-voltage shock
and burns

9. PPE – Head Protection

Class C

Designed for comfort, offer limited protection

Protects heads that may bump against fixed objects,
but do not protect against falling objects or electrical
shock

10. PPE – Eye Protection

11. Eye Protection - Selection

Safety glasses are used to protect the eyes from flying

objects (no face protection)

Made with metal/plastic safety frames

Used for moderate impact from particles produced
by such

jobs as carpentry, woodworking, grinding, and
scaling

12. Eye Protection - Selection

Chemical splash goggles

Chemical splash goggles protect against fluids by sealing

tightly against the face

Protect eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area
immediately

surrounding the eyes from impact, dust, and splashes

13. Eye Protection - Selection

Welding Shields:

Protect eyes from burns caused by infrared or intense
radiant

light, and protect face and eyes from flying sparks, metal

spatter, and slag chips produced during welding, brazing,

soldering, and cutting.

14. Face Shield

the highest level of face
protection

Protect the face

from nuisance dusts

and potential splashes
or sprays of hazardous
liquids

15. Hearing Protection Basics

Noise induced hearing loss can occur with exposures >90
dBA

A hearing conservation program becomes a requirement at
exposures >85dBA

Higher levels of noise exposure have shorter allowable
exposure times

16. Noise levels versus Duration

Sound Level (dBA)

90

92

95

100

105

110

115

Exposure (hours)

8

6

4

2

1

0.5

0.25

17. Hearing Protection

Rule of Thumb

if you cannot carry on a conversation in a normal tone
of voice with someone at arm’s length, you are likely
near 90dBA

All hearing protection devices should have a Noise
Reduction Rating (NRR) = # of decibels they will
reduce noise levels

Be conservative when using NRRs

18. Hearing Accident

Example 1

Ear plugs with NRR of 25 dBA

exposure = 105 dBA

105 minus 25 = 80 dB therefore okay

Example 2

same plugs

exposure = 125 dBA

125 minus 25 = 100 dB not acceptable; must be below
90 dB

19. Arm and Hand Protection

Burns

Bruises

Abrasions

Cuts

Punctures

Fractures

Amputations

Chemical Exposures

20. Types of Gloves

Norfoil laminate resists

permeation and breakthrough

by an array of toxic/hazardous
Chemicals.

Butyl provides the highest

permeation resistance to gas or

water vapors; frequently used
for ketones (M.E.K., Acetone)

and esters (Amyl Acetate, Ethyl
Acetate etc.).

21. Types of Gloves

Viton is highly

resistant to permeation by
chlorinated and aromatic
solvents.

Nitrile

provides protection against a
wide variety of solvents, harsh
chemicals, fats and petroleum
products and also provides
excellent resistance to cuts,
snags, punctures and abrasions.

22. Types of Gloves

Kevlar

protects against cuts, slashes,
and abrasion.

Stainless steel mesh

Protects against cuts and
lacerations.

23. Foot and Leg Protection

24. Foot Injury - Cause

Heavy objects

such as barrels or tools that might roll onto or fall on
employees’ feet

Sharp objects

such as nails or spikes that might pierce the soles or uppers of
ordinary shoes

Molten metal that might splash on feet

Hot or wet surfaces

Slippery surfaces

25. Protective Footwear

Have impact-resistant toes and heat-resistant soles

that protect against hot surfaces common in roofing, paving,
and hot metal industries

Some have metal insoles to protect against puncture wounds

May be designed to be nonconductive to protect from workplace
electrical hazards

26. Other Protective Clothing

27. body injuries - causes

Intense heat

Splashes of hot metals and other hot liquids

Impacts from tools, machinery, and materials

Cuts

Hazardous chemicals

Contact with potentially infectious materials, like blood

Radiation

28. Body Protection

29. Respiratory Protection

Protects users

by removing harmful materials that may enter the body via
the lungs

Inhalation is one of the

Quickest

most efficient ways to introduce lethal levels of hazardous
materials into the body

30. Respirators - types

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Advantages

Provides highest level of protection against airborne
contaminants and oxygen deficiency

Limitations

Bulky and heavy

Limited air supply limits work duration

May impair movement in confined space

31. Respirators - types

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Advantages:

Provides highest level of protection against airborne
contaminates and oxygen deficiency

Limitations:

Bulky and heavy

Limited air supply limits work duration

May impair movement in confined space

32. Recap

PPE is hazard specific; the hazards of each
workplace and task must be evaluated

PPE is used as a last resort when the hazard cannot
be controlled by other methods

Supervisors are responsible to ensure it is available
and worn; Employees must wear and maintain their
PPE