Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Definition of PPE

  • Any equipment worn or held by a person at work to protect against one or more health or safety risks, plus any accessories serving that purpose (DOSH 20052005).

Principles of PPE Protection

  • Prevent contact between the hazards and the internal or external parts of the body to be protected.

  • PPE is equipment acting as a barrier between the hazard & the part of the body to be protected.

Legislative Framework

  • Occupational Safety & Health Act 19941994 (OSHA 19941994)

    • Sec. 24(1)Sec.\ 24(1) – General duties of employees.

    • Sec. 26Sec.\ 26 – Employer must not charge employees for PPE.

  • OSH (USECHH) Regulations 20002000

    • Reg. 8Reg.\ 8 – Compliance with permissible exposure limits using respirators.

    • Reg. 15(h)Reg.\ 15(h) – Control measures (PPE).

    • Reg. 16Reg.\ 16 – Requirement to use approved PPE.

“Last Resort” Approach to PPE

  • PPE is used when:

    • Hazards have not been adequately controlled by other means.

    • No substitution is possible.

    • As a temporary control while better methods are installed.

    • As a backup to existing controls.

Situations Where PPE Is Indispensable

  • Emergencies, rescue, and fire-fighting.

  • Work requiring close/direct contact with hazards.

  • Potential for heavy or sharp objects to fall or strike.

  • Risk of stepping on sharp objects.

  • Cleaning, maintenance, intermittent, or short-term tasks.

Consequences of Over-Reliance on PPE

  • If PPE is the first option without source reduction:

    • Failure → direct exposure of worker.

    • Workers feel “safe” and may take greater risks.

    • People may forget or refuse to wear PPE.

    • Responsibility shifts from employer to employee.

Key Considerations in PPE Selection

  • Must be approved by the Director General (DOSH) per USECHH.

  • Chosen under a formal PPE programme to avoid false protection.

  • Understand & respect limitations of each device.

Requirements for Approved PPE (USECHH 20002000)

  • PPE shall be used when:

    1. Preferred control measures in 15(1)(a)–(g)15(1)(a)–(g) are impracticable.

    2. As an interim measure while preferred controls are designed/installed.

    3. Preferred controls do not adequately limit exposure.

  • Employer must establish procedures for:

    • Issuance, maintenance, inspection, training.

  • PPE must:

    • Suit the work type.

    • Fit the employee.

    • Not worsen health conditions.

    • Be sufficiently stocked & readily available.

Types of PPE & Exposure Areas

  • Head → Helmets, bump caps.

  • Eyes/Face → Goggles, face shields, safety glasses.

  • Ear → Ear-muffs, ear-plugs.

  • Respiratory → Air-purifying & supplied-air respirators.

  • Body → Chemical suits, aprons, lab coats.

  • Hands → Chemical-resistant gloves.

  • Feet/Legs → Safety boots, antistatic footwear.

  • Fall Protection → Harnesses.

Head Protection

  • Purposes:

    • Impact from falling objects.

    • Electrical shock.

    • Prevent entanglement or chemical splash.

  • Types: Crash helmets, industrial safety helmets, bump caps.

  • Selection:

    • Match anticipated risk.

    • Correct shell size, adjustable, comfortable.

  • Use:

    • Must not hinder work; compatible with other PPE.

  • Maintenance:

    • Store properly, inspect regularly, replace defective parts, clean/replace sweatband, no painting or stickers.

  • Comfort features: Flexible contoured headband, absorbent lining, textile cradle straps, compatible chin strap.

Eye & Face Protection

  • Types: Safety spectacles, goggles, eye shields, face shields.

  • Selection matrix:

    • Chemical splash → Goggles or face shield.

    • Chemical mist → Special goggles.

    • Dust → Spectacles or goggles.

    • Flying objects → Face shield.

  • Use: Personal issue; spectacles w/ side-shields & goggles are “primary” eye protectors.

  • Maintenance:

    • Keep lenses clean; replace scratched/pitted optics.

    • Replace warped/brittle shields.

Respiratory Protection

  • Types:

    • Air-Purifying Respirators (APR)
      • Disposable / “maintenance-free” half masks.
      • Reusable half- & full-face respirators.
      • Powered APR (PAPR).

    • Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR)
      • Airline respirators (half/full face, hoods, helmets).
      • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

  • Selection criteria:

    1. Assigned Protection Factor (APF).

    2. Hazard Ratio=Worker Exposure LevelOccupational Exposure Limit\text{Hazard\ Ratio} = \dfrac{\text{Worker Exposure Level}}{\text{Occupational Exposure Limit}}.

    3. Immediate Dangerous of Life and Health (IDLH).

    4. Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).

  • Use principles:

    • Follow manufacturer instructions & limitations.

    • Must be worn 99%99\% of the time in a hazardous area.

    • Perform seal (fit) check every donning.

  • Seal Check Procedures:

    • Reusable half-face – Cover cartridges (negative) or exhalation valve (positive).

    • Disposable half-face – Cover entire respirator.

    • Indicator: Mask collapses (negative) or bulges (positive).

  • Sealing problems: Facial hair, dentures/orthodontia, weight change, scars, eyewear.

  • Limitations:

    • Hard to test real protection.

    • Comfort & weight issues → compliance drops.

    • Some chemicals cannot be filtered.

    • Field protection factor may differ from rated.

Hand & Arm Protection

  • Selection factors: Chemical type/toxicity, contact frequency, arm coverage, environment (↑ permeation with heat), mechanical hazards.

  • Use:

    • Penetration – through holes.

    • Permeation – molecular migration.

    • Degradation – property change on contact.

  • Type: Gloves, gauntlets, wrist cuffs, armlets.

  • Selection :

    • Leather → Abrasion, heat.

    • PVC → Abrasion, heat, limited chemicals.

    • Rubber → Degreasing, paint.

    • Cloth/Nylon → Grip.

    • Latex → Electrical insulation.

  • Use :

    • checked Regularly and discarded if worn out or deteriorated.

    • fit the wearer properly

    • Prevent contact with skin.

    • wash the hand with soap and running water after gloves removal

  • Maintenance:

    • store the glove in a cool and dry area away from direct sunlight.

  • Detailed glove selection:

    • Butyl → Peroxides, strong acids/bases, ketones, esters.

    • Neoprene → Alcohols, oxidising acids, hydraulic fluids.

    • Nitrile → Oils, greases, aliphatics, xylene.

    • PVC → Strong acids/bases, salts, water solutions.

    • Cryogenic → Liquid nitrogen.

    • Leather → Welding, hot/cold objects.

    • Kevlar® → Extreme temperatures.

    • Mesh → Repeated cutting/slicing.

  • Precaution: Do not wear gloves near moving machinery.

Body Protection

  • Types: Disposable overalls, boiler suits, warehouse/lab coats, donkey jackets, aprons.

  • Selection concerns: Seam/zipper penetration, material degradation (chemicals, heat, sunlight), permeation.

  • Use: Wash contaminated clothing; treat fully contaminated items as scheduled waste.

  • Maintenance: maintained in good condition and checked regularly.

  • Risk-appropriate garments:

    • Low-risk chemicals → Water-repellent cotton/nylon coats.

    • Strong solvents/oils → Neoprene or polyurethane-coated materials.

    • Potent chemicals → Totally encapsulating suits (vapour-proof or liquid-splash-proof, PVC/Viton/Butyl/Teflon) with supplied air.

    • Fibres/dust → Bonded olefin suits.

Feet & Leg Protection

  • Types:

    • Safety boots/shoes → Crushing, anti-slip, steel midsole.

    • Foundry boots → Heat.

    • Wellington boots → Water.

    • Antistatic footwear → Electric shock.

    • Conductive footwear → Discharge static.

  • Selection:

    • PVC → Moisture, traction.

    • Vinyl → Solvents, acids, blood.

    • Nitrile → Animal fats, oils, chemicals.

    • Latex/Rubber → Chemicals, extra traction.

    • Butyl → Ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, acids.

  • Use: Follow maker’s guidance; discard when worn; remove debris from tread.

  • Maintenance: Check stitching, seams, laces; keep in good repair.

  • Safety-boot features (BS EN 345 compliance):

    • 200 J200\ \text{J} steel toe cap; steel midsole; vulcanised nitrile rubber non-slip sole; cushioned insoles; breathable lining; reinforced stitching.

Comprehensive PPE Programme

  • Essential elements:

    1. Proper selection.

    2. Issuance & fit testing.

    3. Worker information, instruction, training.

    4. Supervision & enforcement of correct use.

    5. Inspection, storage, availability, maintenance.

    6. Safe disposal of spent/contaminated PPE.

    7. Detailed record keeping (issue dates, training, inspections).

    8. Periodic programme review & update.

    9. Clear worker responsibilities.