PPE is protective equipment meant to protect against workplace hazards and risks. It includes equipment for the eyes and face, hearing, respiration, hands, head, body, and feet. While PPE reduces risk, general safety measures and collective protection are preferred when possible. Employers must provide appropriate PPE to employees, ensure its proper use, and provide training on PPE requirements. Employees must correctly use and maintain assigned PPE.
2. PPE
Definition: Protective equipment meant to be worn as protection
against specific or multiple HS risks.
• 90% of the accidents at work could have been prevented with PPEs
• It does not avoid the risk. Reduces the consequences. Only when
there is no other way of limiting the risks.
• Last resort. 1/ General measures, 2/ Collective protection, 3/ PPE.
• Employer duties: providing and maintaining (contractors), select,
ensure correct use, information and training of workers, regular
inspections.
3. PPE II
• 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.
4. 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)
5. EYE & FACE PROTECTION I
Types: safety glasses, wide vision goggles, face shields, welding
goggles and welding masks.
• Common causes of eyes injuries: flying objects, chemicals, harmful
radiation.
• Other classifications include prescription and non-prescription safety
lenses and full-face respirators.
• Contact lenses are not a PPE
• Requirements: well maintained, cleaned and stored, replacement in
case of damage.
6. EYE & FACE PROTECTION II
Types:
• Safety glasses: Protection against flying particles and splashes.
• Wide vision goggles: Protection against flying particles, chemical
splashes and a dusty environment.
• Face shield requirements: Protection against: flying particles, liquid
splashes, dusty environment, working above head height and
working with high pressure cleaners.
7. EYE & FACE PROTECTION III
• Welding goggles: Suited for autogenously welding and activities
involved limited sparking.
• Welding mask: Protects eyes and face from flying sparks, heat and
UV rays. Mostly used for electric welding.
• Prescription glasses or contact lenses: PPE compatible and fit
properly. (specific PPE)
8. HEARING PROTECTION
• Types: wadding or pods, plugs, universal ear plugs, osteoplastic
and ear muffs, 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.
9. HEARING PROTECTION II
• Ear muffs: 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.
10. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
Hazards: dust, particulates, fumes, vapors, 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).
• Filtering equipment: not capable of supplying oxygen themselves,
only used if the air contains small concentrations . Only a limited
time (max.8 hours). A gas or vapor filter can only be used once
11. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
II
• Self-contained respiratory protective equipment: highly toxic
substances, high concentrations of hazardous substances and in
oxygen deficient environments.
Special training and medical tests are required for users. Masks must
be well-maintained and cleaned. Close-fitting.
12. 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.
• Requirements: check frequently, replace in case of damage, do not
decorate, metal helmets are prohibited, well maintained. Fit properly.
13. HAND AND ARM
PROTECTION
Common injuries: cuts and punctures, impact blows, burns, skin
infection and contamination.
Different types: gloves (more common).
• Important to select the right material for each job. Depending on the
task. Expert advice.
• 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.
14. 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.
15. 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).
16. FALL PROTECTION
Collective fall protection is preferred to personal protective equipment.
• 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.
