According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “Employers are required to provide employees with personal protective equipment to minimize hazards in the workplace.”

Are your employees well trained on PPE equipment? Are all employees required to wear PPE equipment who work in hazardous conditions where OSHA requires they wear PPE? “OSHA requires that many categories of this equipment meet standards developed by the American National Standards Institute.”

Personal Protective Equipment Training

Employers must train employees who use PPE on why it’s necessary, what equipment is necessary and the full capabilites of this equipment. Employees in these training programs must learn how to properly use, remove, adjust and wear PPE equipment. They must also be trained on how to correctly care for, maintain, use and dispose of this equipment.

Eyes and Face Protection

1. Some examples of professionals that should be trained for eye protection are carpenter’s, welders, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, construction workers, any employee who runs a danger of getting injured in their eyes or face. They should learn about wearing eye protection like safety goggles, safety glasses, welding shields, and face shields. For those employees who wear prescription glasses they must wear eye protection made to fit and offer additional protection over their lenses. Remember during training it is especially important to talk to your employees about the injuries that may occur if they fail to wear eye and face protection. Remind them that these injuries have the potential to leave them blind.

Head Protection

2. For head protection training should include the use of hard hats and protective helmets. Constantly remind employees that wearing head protection can resist penetration by objects and can absorb the shock of a blow that can potentially save their lives. Those who work in construction sites, mines, log workers should be required to complete personal protective equipment training and wear head protection. An accident can happen at any time while an employee is looking away, by using personal head protection they are protecting their life and own well being.

Protective Clothing

3. Personal protective clothing should cover all those who might work with hazardous materials as well as objects that could cause bodily harm. Workers who are exposed to hot surfaces, poisonous or corrosive materials, sharp objects or electrical hazards should complete this training. Employees in training should learn about protective clothing suites, safety shoes, toe guards, and knee pads.

Hand Protection

4. Employees who work with machinery, dangerous liquids that could burn the skin, hospitals or any type of environment that could cause harms to the hands need hand protection equipment training. Employees should be trained on choosing the correct glove for their industry as well as consider size and comfort.Training should include the different types of glove materials–such as leather and synthetic material–and their effectiveness in different situations. It is important to also address when to use disposable and reusable gloves.

Hearing Protection

5. Hearing protection training should cover the occupational noise exposure levels that require hearing protection for employees. Employees should be shown the variety of different earplugs and earmuffs that are available. Hearing protection training should also cover the variety of uses that each ear plug meets. Remind employees that if they do not wear hearing protection they risk losing their hearing.

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