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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect individuals from the risk of injury or exposure when the hazard can’t be eliminated by engineering or other controls. In order to be effective, PPE must be appropriate for the hazard, properly sized and correctly used and maintained.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides detailed regulations regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The following information outlined by EHS is meant to help individuals understand those requirements and how to select the right PPE depending on the hazard, task, or location.

Assessing Your PPE Needs

When PPE is needed, regulations require that a hazard assessment be performed to identify the specific hazards of concern and the PPE required for protection from those hazards. This hazard assessment may be done for a work area, or for a specific experiment, job, or task. PPE is selected based on the hazard assessment.

Reach out to your Department, Lab, or Center’s (DLCI) EHS Coordinator for a PPE hazard assessment form and DLCI-specific PPE requirements, then use the information below to select appropriate PPE and clothing. DLCIs may choose to have groups use the basic PPE Hazard Assessment Form or the more comprehensive PPE Hazard Assessment Fillable Form to meet this requirement.

All individuals who use PPE must be provided specific training by their supervisor or area safety representatives about:

  • Hazards
  • PPE to be used
  • Correct use and care of the PPE
  • Limitations of the PPE

Using and Caring for Your PPE

Once appropriate PPE is determined, be sure it fits properly and you are trained on how to use and maintain it. Check reusable PPE both before and after use for damage. Do not use if damaged.

After use, reusable PPE should be cleaned if appropriate and stored in a manner that will keep it clean. Refer to the Guidelines for the Use and Disinfection of Shared PPE document for more details. Disposable PPE, especially gloves, should not be reused and must be disposed of in the appropriate waste stream.

Understanding the Limitations

PPE should not be used as a substitute for engineering controls such as fume hoods, glove boxes, biosafety cabinets, process enclosures, etc., or as a substitute for good work practices and personal hygiene. Conversely, use of engineering controls such as fume hoods does not preclude the need for wearing the proper PPE.

All PPE has limitations in terms of the type and magnitude of exposure they will protect against and this must also be taken into consideration during the hazard assessment process. Be sure to review any information related to the limitations of the specific PPE you are using.

Types of PPE

Additional Resources

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides detailed regulations regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The following information outlined by EHS is meant to help individuals understand those requirements and how to select the right PPE depending on the hazard, task, or location.

Assessing Your PPE Needs

When PPE is needed, regulations require that a hazard assessment be performed to identify the specific hazards of concern and the PPE required for protection from those hazards. This hazard assessment may be done for a work area, or for a specific experiment, job, or task. PPE is selected based on the hazard assessment.

Reach out to your Department, Lab, or Center’s (DLCI) EHS Coordinator for a PPE hazard assessment form and DLCI-specific PPE requirements, then use the information below to select appropriate PPE and clothing. DLCIs may choose to have groups use the basic PPE Hazard Assessment Form or the more comprehensive PPE Hazard Assessment Fillable Form to meet this requirement.

All individuals who use PPE must be provided specific training by their supervisor or area safety representatives about:

  • Hazards
  • PPE to be used
  • Correct use and care of the PPE
  • Limitations of the PPE

Using and Caring for Your PPE

Once appropriate PPE is determined, be sure it fits properly and you are trained on how to use and maintain it. Check reusable PPE both before and after use for damage. Do not use if damaged.

After use, reusable PPE should be cleaned if appropriate and stored in a manner that will keep it clean. Refer to the Guidelines for the Use and Disinfection of Shared PPE document for more details. Disposable PPE, especially gloves, should not be reused and must be disposed of in the appropriate waste stream.

Understanding the Limitations

PPE should not be used as a substitute for engineering controls such as fume hoods, glove boxes, biosafety cabinets, process enclosures, etc., or as a substitute for good work practices and personal hygiene. Conversely, use of engineering controls such as fume hoods does not preclude the need for wearing the proper PPE.

All PPE has limitations in terms of the type and magnitude of exposure they will protect against and this must also be taken into consideration during the hazard assessment process. Be sure to review any information related to the limitations of the specific PPE you are using.

Types of PPE

Additional Resources