Youmustalsotrainworkerswhoarerequiredtowearpersonalprotectiveequipmentonhowtodothefollowing:•Useprotectiveequipmentproperly,•Beawareofwhenpersonalprotectiveequip-mentisnecessary,•Knowwhatkindofprotectiveequipmentisnecessary,•Understandthelimitationsofpersonalprotec-tiveequipmentinprotectingworkersfrominjury,•Puton,adjust,wear,andtakeoffpersonalpro-tectiveequipment,and•Maintainprotectiveequipmentproperly.ProtectionfromHeadInjuriesHardhatscanprotectyourworkersfromheadimpact,penetrationinjuries,andelectricalinjuriessuchasthosecausedbyfallingorflyingobjects,fixedobjects,orcontactwithelectricalconductors.Also,OSHAregulationsrequireemployerstoensurethatworkerscoverandprotectlonghairtopreventitfromgettingcaughtinmachinepartssuchasbeltsandchains.ProtectionfromFootandLegInjuriesInadditiontofootguardsandsafetyshoes,leggings(e.g.,leather,aluminizedrayon,orotherappropriatematerial)canhelppreventinjuriesbyprotectingworkersfromhazardssuchasfallingorrollingobjects,sharpobjects,wetandslipperysurfaces,moltenmetals,hotsurfaces,andelectricalhazards.ProtectionfromEyeandFaceInjuriesBesidesspectaclesandgoggles,personalprotectiveequipmentsuchasspecialhelmetsorshields,spectacleswithsideshields,andfaceshieldscanprotectworkersfromthehaz-ardsofflyingfragments,largechips,hotsparks,EmployerResponsibilitiesOSHA’sprimarypersonalprotectiveequip-mentstandardsareinTitle29oftheCodeofFederalRegulations(CFR),Part1910SubpartI,andequivalentregulationsinstateswithOSHA-approvedstateplans,butyoucanfindprotec-tiveequipmentrequirementselsewhereintheGeneralIndustryStandards.Forexample,29CFR1910.156,OSHA’sFireBrigadesStandard,hasrequirementsforfirefightinggear.Inaddi-tion,29CFR1926.95-106coverstheconstruc-tionindustry.OSHA’sgeneralpersonalprotec-tiveequipmentrequirementsmandatethatemployersconductahazardassessmentoftheirworkplacestodeterminewhathazardsarepresentthatrequiretheuseofprotectiveequipment,provideworkerswithappropriateprotectiveequipment,andrequirethemtouseandmaintainitinsanitaryandreliablecondition.Usingpersonalprotectiveequipmentisoftenessential,butitisgenerallythelastlineofdefenseafterengineeringcontrols,workprac-tices,andadministrativecontrols.Engineeringcontrolsinvolvephysicallychangingamachineorworkenvironment.Administrativecontrolsinvolvechanginghoworwhenworkersdotheirjobs,suchasschedulingworkandrotat-ingworkerstoreduceexposures.Workprac-ticesinvolvetrainingworkershowtoperformtasksinwaysthatreducetheirexposuretoworkplacehazards.Asanemployer,youmustassessyourwork-placetodetermineifhazardsarepresentthatrequiretheuseofpersonalprotectiveequipment.Ifsuchhazardsarepresent,youmustselectprotectiveequipmentandrequireworkerstouseit,communicateyourprotectiveequipmentselectiondecisionstoyourworkers,andselectpersonalprotectiveequipmentthatproperlyfitsyourworkers.FactSheetPersonalProtectiveEquipmentPersonalprotectiveequipment,orPPE,isdesignedtoprotectworkersfromseriousworkplaceinjuriesorillnessesresultingfromcontactwithchemical,radiological,physi-cal,electrical,mechanical,orotherworkplacehazards.Besidesfaceshields,safetyglasses,hardhats,andsafetyshoes,protectiveequipmentincludesavarietyofdevicesandgarmentssuchasgoggles,coveralls,gloves,vests,earplugs,andrespirators.ThisisoneinaseriesofinformationalfactsheetshighlightingOSHAprograms,policiesorstandards.Itdoesnotimposeanynewcompliancerequirements.Foracomp...
