| Every day, thousands of workers face potential | | | | capable of causing injury or impairment in the |
| death as they are not wearing or using personal | | | | function of any part of the body through |
| protective equipment (PPE). To reduce the | | | | absorption, inhalation, or physical contact." |
| number of fatalities and to protect workers from | | | | Employer's Responsibility |
| injuries, the occupational safety and health | | | | Employers are responsible for providing PPE to |
| administration (OSHA) has created a regulation | | | | workers. In addition, proper training programs |
| that states that every worker should wear | | | | should be arranged to train the employees. If an |
| proper PPE whenever he/she is likely to be | | | | employee is using his/her own equipment, t it is |
| exposed to a hazard. | | | | also the employer's responsibility to ensure its |
| What is PPE? | | | | adequacy - its maintenance and sanitation is also |
| Personal protective equipment can be clothing or | | | | an employer's responsibility. |
| any other equipment which is designed to protect | | | | Personal Protective Equipment Program - Training |
| workers from workplace hazards. Some of the | | | | If a workplace condition requires the use of PPE, |
| most common exposed areas of a human body | | | | then the implementation of a Personal Protective |
| are: the head, eyes, hands, legs; lungs, and ears. | | | | Equipment Program is essential, and the |
| OSHA Regulation | | | | responsibility of the employer. Personal protective |
| According to OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.132 to .138, | | | | equipment training is vital to obtain the desired |
| "Protective equipment, including personal | | | | results. It is significant that employees must be |
| protective equipment for eyes, face, head and | | | | aware of the intended use of the selected |
| extremities, protective clothing, respiratory | | | | equipment. Further, all the PPE must be |
| devices and protective shields and barriers, shall | | | | maintained, tested, and worn. |
| be provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and | | | | A truly safe work environment can only be |
| reliable condition wherever it is necessary by | | | | obtained by the help of competent management |
| reasons of hazards of processes or environment, | | | | and by taking safety measures specified by |
| chemical hazards, radiological hazards or | | | | OSHA and other authorities. |
| mechanical irritants encountered in a manner | | | | |