PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDE FOR CONSTRUCTION
WHAT IS PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE)?
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is used to prevent injuries and protect employees from hazards such as
chemicals, electrical, radiological, or other workplace hazards. It’s the gear you and your workers use to prevent injuries
and illnesses from worksite hazards.
PPE is a part of occupational health in many industries — the pandemic, for example, brought its use in medicine
to national attention, with the urgent need for things like face masks, face shields, and gloves.
In construction, the most common example of PPE is probably the classic hard hat and boots, but there are many other
types used to stay safe.
There’s typically a PPE program in place on each worksite that acknowledges and addresses workplace hazards,
ensures maintenance of the PPE, and provides safety training for wearers.
BODY PROTECTION
Application:
Used to prevent cuts, bruises, chemical splashes,
extreme temperatures, and impacts from tools
Equipment:
● Clothing made of leather, wool, or duck woven
fabrics
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
Application:
Used to protect against chemical splashes or flying
debris
Equipment:
● Safety spectacles
● Goggles
FOOT AND LEG PROTECTION
Application:
Used to protect against heavy objects, sharp objects,
and slippery surfaces
Equipment:
● Puncture-resistant shoes
● Impact-resistant shoes
HAND AND ARM PROTECTION
Application:
Used to protect against skin absorption of harmful
chemicals, burns, bruises, and punctures
Equipment:
● Chemical-resistant gloves
● Canvas gloves
● Leather gloves
HEAD PROTECTION
Application:
Used to protect against head damage from flying debris,
falling objects, exposed beams, and other hazards
Equipment:
● Hard hat
● Bump hat
● Safety helmet
HEARING PROTECTION
Application:
Used to protect against exposure to loud machinery or
tools
Equipment:
● Earplugs
● Pre-formed or molded earplugs
● Earmuffs
PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION
Application:
Used to prevent fall injuries when working on rooftops or
high-rise buildings
Equipment:
● Fall arrest system
● Positioning systems
● Travel restraint system
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
Application:
Used to protect against hazardous
fumes, chemicals, mist, or dust at worksites
Equipment:
● Reusable half-masks
● Filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs)
● Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)
Personal Protection Equipment Safety Tips
Using PPE properly is just as important as
having it. Check out the tips below to ensure you’re
using PPE safely on your job site.
● Identify any worksite hazards. In order to
choose the right PPE for your team, you’ll need
to identify what specific hazards you’re
protecting them from. A hazard assessment not
only gives you a better sense of what you’re
dealing with, but also helps ensure that the
protection you provide is comprehensive.
● Create a site-specific safety plan. A
site-specific safety plan (SSSP) helps you
develop a formalized protocol to follow that’s
tailored to your worksite so your employees
know what they need to do to protect
themselves.
● Understand how to use the equipment. To
reiterate, using PPE properly is paramount — in
some cases, using it incorrectly can be just as
dangerous as not using it at all. Make sure to
brief your team members on the proper use with
safety training, and direct them to your protocols
as necessary. Also, make sure the PPE fits
properly and is appropriate for your job tasks.
● Check each protection equipment before
use. Before you or a team member put on a
piece of PPE, ensure it’s in good working
condition, free of damage or excessive wear.
Discard any damaged equipment. • Take proper
care and maintain the equipment. Make sure the
PPE that you and your workers use is stored
properly, inspected before use, and maintained
as necessary.
● Choose the correct PPE clothing or
equipment. The type of PPE you use will
depend on your job tasks, jobsite, and the
specific workplace hazards you’re dealing with.
You and your team should wear the appropriate
PPE for the job at hand.
Staying Safe on the Worksite
No matter the specific situation or environment,
your safety, and your team’s safety, should always be
your number one priority. It’s important to read,
understand, and follow all safety procedures for any PPE
you use and to make sure you’re using it correctly.
Before operating or renting heavy equipment,
have a safety plan in place. Reviewing your worksite
hazards, creating and following safety protocols, and
planning ahead of time can help you avoid serious
injuries
