Wearing PPE such as gloves, safety glasses, earplugs, and hard hats can help protect employees from workplace hazards. Here are some tips.
1 Examine the environment
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires PPE when engineering or work-practice controls aren’t enough to protect employees. Use job safety analysis or hazard assessment results to select the PPE that best protects employees.
2 Train employees
OSHA requires that employers train employees in the use, care, and limits of PPE before using it.
3 Maintain equipment
It is important to keep PPE properly maintained. If an employee provides their own, then employers need to make sure that workers maintain the equipment properly, so it meets American National Standards Institute safety standards.
4 Consider comfort
Selecting the right size of equipment is important because it can’t be altered or removed while working. Providing properly fitted PPE that is suited for the work conditions encourages employees to wear it.
5 Learn more
Read our free PPE publications, in English or Spanish, or check out OSHA’s topic page on PPE.