1. Personal Protective Equipment
PPE
Trainer’s Notes
Duration: One Hour
Instructional Aids:
1. Various hard hats.
2. Various examples of eye and face protection.
3. Various examples of hearing protection.
4. Welder’s goggles and face shield.
5. Half face respirator and dust mask.
6. Various gloves.

2. Training Objectives After completing this unit, you will be able to: E
SUBPART E
PPE 1
Training Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be
able to:
Recognize hazards and understand controls, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Understand PPE & the standards it must meet.
Identify requirements for a respirator program and its components.
Define air-purifying & supplied-air respirators.
Perform negative & positive respirator fit checks.
Trainer’s Notes
This training module is designed to help you recognize and control some of the more common hazards construction hazards by using PPE.
If you spot problems on your site, or are unsure of what PPE to use, notify your supervisor.

3. References 29 CFR 1926.95-107; Subpart E, PPE
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) (Various)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Respirator Approval.
Mine Safety and Heath Administration (MSHA); Respirator Approval.
Trainer’s Notes
OSHA requires that you be provided PPE for protection against hazards not otherwise controlled. Your employer is also liable for seeing that you use it and maintain it correctly.
ANSI, NIOSH, and MSHA are PPE-related approving agencies.

4. The Hazards of Construction
SUBPART E
PPE 3
The Hazards of Construction
The tools, materials, and processes of construction create hazards.
Those can affect your safety or health.
Hazards can hurt you if they are not eliminated or controlled.
Your employer must eliminate or control the hazards you are exposed to!
Trainer’s Notes
Remind the participants that the tools they use, the materials they work with and the processes involved with construction work are usually more hazardous then most other industries.
Remind the students how quickly their work place can change from day to day.

5. Construction Hazards Safety-Related Health-Related E Electrocution
SUBPART E
PPE 4
Construction Hazards
Safety-Related
Electrocution
Falls
Falling objects
Flying objects
Lifting
Hot objects
Crushing
Health-Related
Noise
Chemical Vapors
Gases
Lack of oxygen
Asbestos dust
Vibration
Trainer’s Notes
Point out the two different types of hazards they face each day.
Remind the group that health hazards can often be overlooked because they may be less obvious or less painful.

6. How Hazardous is Construction?
SUBPART E
PPE 5
How Hazardous is Construction?
There are more lost-time injuries in construction than in any other industry.
Each year, one in seven workers will miss work because of an injury (most will not be wearing safety gear).
Nearly one in five construction deaths are because of exposure to harmful chemicals.
Trainer’s Notes
Count up the number of people you have in the class. Ask every seventh person to stand up. Point out that according to statistics, those standing represent workers who will be hurt this year and miss work as a result.
Remind them that those that will miss work will probably not have been using their safety gear.

8. Why is PPE Often the Choice?
SUBPART E
PPE 7
Why is PPE Often the Choice?
Construction work is full of hazards.
Safer methods or products don’t exist.
Engineering or administrative controls may not be practical.
PPE is the last line of defense, but common in construction.
Trainer’s Notes
Remind the students that the very nature of construction work often leaves little choice but to use PPE.
Explain that PPE doesn’t eliminate the hazard, it simply protects you from the hazard.

9. Types of Personal Protective Equipment
SUBPART E
PPE 8
Types of Personal Protective Equipment
Most Common
Head Protection
Foot and Leg
Hearing
Eye and Face
Respiratory
Torso Protection
Other Types
Reflective clothes
Life vests
Safety nets
Lifelines
Safety harnesses
Lanyards
Trainer’s Notes
Explain that PPE is usually categorized by the part of the body which it is designed to protect.

10. Who Approves PPE? OSHA does not approve PPE.
SUBPART E
PPE 9
Who Approves PPE?
OSHA does not approve PPE.
OSHA-acceptable PPE will be approved by one of the following agencies:
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health).
ANSI (American National Standards Institute).
MSHA (Mine Safety & Health Administration).
Trainer’s Notes
You may want to pick up various PPE items and point out the approving agencies and the location of the stamped approval.

11. SUBPART E
PPE 10
Protecting Your Head
Each year construction workers have thousands of head injuries.
Hard hats are required in areas where injury from impact, falling objects, or from flying objects is possible.
Hard hats must meet ANSI Z89.1(1969).
Hard hats should be inspected often.
Don’t paint, cover with stickers or wear backwards.
Trainer’s Notes
Explain how common falling objects can be on construction sites.
Explain that an object falling approximately feet will be traveling over 60 MPH when it hits them.
Remind them that even a small tool with a velocity of 60 MPH can be deadly.

12. Use PPE As Intended E What does the manufacturer say? PPE 11
SUBPART E
PPE 11
Use PPE As Intended
Trainer’s Notes:
This may open a valuable discussion about hardhats and how we tend to get complacent about how we wear them.
What does the manufacturer say?

13. Types of Hard Hats Class A: General service
SUBPART E
PPE 12
Types of Hard Hats
Class A: General service
Most construction workers wear this type.
Class B: Electrical service
These protect from high voltage.
Class C: Bump Caps, usually aluminum
These are not acceptable for construction.
Trainer’s Notes

14. How do Hard Hats Work? E Very well, if worn correctly!
SUBPART E
PPE 13
How do Hard Hats Work?
Very well, if worn correctly!
The suspension absorbs shocks and keeps the shell away from your skull.
Make sure you have at least one inch clearance between the suspension and the outer shell.
Trainer’s Notes
Show the class the necessary one inch of clearance.
Ask how the one inch may get reduced.
Demonstrate how to inspect a hardhat.
Meets ANSI Z ;
tested to withstand a 16 ounce hammer dropped 40 feet.

15. Noisy Facts Noise increases your blood pressure and wears you out.
SUBPART E
PPE 14
Noisy Facts
Noise increases your blood pressure and wears you out.
You are naturally going to lose some hearing with age.
Work-related hearing loss plus natural loss will make it hard for you to enjoy retirement.
Hearing loss is sneaky because you can be hurting yourself without pain.
Trainer’s Notes
Point out the less than obvious effect noise has on a person.

16. Protecting Your Hearing
SUBPART E
PPE 18
Protecting Your Hearing
Use plugs or muffs.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
They must fit properly and be maintained.
Remember, they only work
if used.
Do not use cotton or other home-made protection.
Trainer’s Notes
Show the class examples of each type
Choose a set of plugs and point out and read some of the instructions for use.
Explain Noise Reduction Rating.
Demonstrate how to insert a plug.

17. When Do You Need Protection?
SUBPART E
PPE 19
When Do You Need Protection?
OSHA requires protection whenever noise is 90dBA or above for an 8-hour day.
Louder noises for shorter periods and impact noise also require protection.
Remember the 3 foot rule:
If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone 3 feet away, you need hearing protection!
See Table D-2 at
Trainer’s Notes
Explain that 95dBA is twice as loud as 90dBA and therefore OSHA will only permit you to be exposed for 4 hours a day. Have the group look at Table D-1
Ask them how long OSHA would let a worker work with a sound level of 100 dBA. Answer: 2 hours a day.
Stress the practical 3 foot rule.
Explain that the best policy is to protect your hearing.

18. Protecting Your Eyes and Face
SUBPART E
PPE 21
Protecting Your Eyes and Face
Each day 1,000 workers injure their eyes.
Protection is required when machines or tasks present potential eye or face injury.
Hazards can be physical, chemical, or radiation-related.
Protection must meet ANSI Z87.1
Sunglasses with plastic lens don’t meet the requirements unless Z87.1.
Trainer’s Notes
Optional: If you can acquire enough eye patches, have each student wear an eye patch during this section.

19. Types of Eye & Face Protection
SUBPART E
PPE 22
Types of Eye & Face Protection
Safety Glasses-
Protect eyes from front and side hazards as well
as flying particles.
Regular Vented Goggles-
Protect your eyes from dust, sparks,
and flying particles.
Hood Vented Goggles-
Protect your eyes from
chemicals & dust.
Full Face Shield-
Protects face from splashes,
Must be used with safety glasses
or goggles.
Trainer’s Notes
Hold up an example of each type as you discuss each one.
Stress the fact that safety glasses alone will not protect a worker from a hefty chemical splash.
Ask them what protection would be best?

20. SUBPART E
PPE 23
Protecting Your Lungs
A respirator is a device which maintains a supply of breathable air.
There are two types of respirators.
Air-Purifying: filters the air.
Supplied-Air: gives you clean air from another source.
Either must be NIOSH- or MSHA-approved.
Trainer’s Notes
Ask them which offers a greater degree of protection.
Ask for a shoe of hands of how many have used each type.

21. Air-Purifying Respirators
SUBPART E
PPE 24
Air-Purifying Respirators
Use filters which either absorb the chemical or filter out the particulate.
Reusable Type
has a filter, cartridge, or canister
filter, cartridge, or canisters are labeled with the type of contaminant they protect you from.
Disposable Respirator
single or multiple use, usually for dust only.
Trainer’s Notes:
Hold up an example the reusable type. Point out the cartridge and its label.
Hold up an example of a dust mask. Read to them the use limitations found on the box.
Stress the fact that a dust mask does nothing to protect from gases and vapors.

22. Supplied-Air Respirators
SUBPART E
PPE 25
Supplied-Air Respirators
The breathing air comes through a hose from a compressor, or from a tank.
Connections must be tight
and the hose must be
protected from damage.
Breathing is easier & inward leakage is less than when using the air-purifying type.
Must be used in high concentrations or where O2 level is reduced.
Trainer’s Notes
Explain that only grade B breathing air can be used.

23. An Effective Respirator
SUBPART E
PPE 26
An Effective Respirator
To protect you, a respirator must:
Be the correct one for the hazard to which you are exposed.
The “workplace protection factor” must be high enough for the concentration encountered.
Example: Half-mask protection factor = 10
Provides protection up to 10X the PEL
Fit you properly. (Fit testing)
Be inspected and maintained, and
Be used according to the manufacturer.
Trainer’s Notes:
“Fit Factor” or “Workplace Protection Factor” is a means to correctly evaluate how much better the air inside the respirator (the air you breathe) is than the air outside (the work area in general, the air you’d be breathing without the respirator).

24. Facemask Types There are several styles of facemasks. E Half-mask
SUBPART E
PPE 27
Facemask Types
There are several styles of facemasks.
Half-mask
Covers the nose and mouth.
Full Face-mask
Covers nose, mouth, and eyes.
Air-Fed Helmet
Covers the entire head.
Trainer’s Notes
Hold up examples of each.
Explain that in cases of potential eye damage a full face model or an air-fed helmet must be used.

25. The Employer’s Responsibility
SUBPART E
PPE 28
The Employer’s Responsibility
OSHA requires your employer to have a respiratory protection program.
Your employer must:
Provide a medical evaluation to ensure you are okay to use a respirator.
Choose the proper respirator for the hazard.
Train you in the proper use, limitations, and care of the respirator.
Fit test you to find a model that fits your face & has a good face seal.
Trainer’s Notes:
Explain the need for a program.
Explain the components of a good program.
Explain that if the respirator is being used as protection against a contaminant concentration in excess of the PEL, then all requirements are in effect, ie, Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), fit-test, etc.
If the respirator is warn voluntarily, ie, NOT protecting against some contaminant above the PEL, the employee must read and be apprised of the contents of Appendix D of , “Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard”

26. Respirator Program (cont’d) Where Respirator Use is Not Required
Employer may provide respirators at employee’s request or permit employees to use their own respirators, if employer determines that such use in itself will not create a hazard
If voluntary use is permissible, employer must provide users with the information contained in Appendix D
Must establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that employee is medically able to use the respirator and that it is cleaned, stored, and maintained so it does not present a health hazard to the user Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written program employees whose only use of respirators involves voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks).

27. Fit is Important Your respirator must seal tightly against your face.
SUBPART E
PPE 29
Fit is Important
Your respirator must seal tightly against your face.
Things which can prevent a good seal:
beards and sideburns
eyeglasses
the shape of your face; remember; respirators do come in different sizes.
Trainer’s Notes
Stress the fact that respirators, like hats, come in different sizes.
Explain that beards and respirators are not compatible.

28. Fit-Check Your Respirator
SUBPART E
PPE 30
Fit-Check Your Respirator
Perform both types of fit checks every time you put your respirator on.
There are two ways to make sure your respirator fits properly.
Positive fit check
Exhale to check for leaks.
Negative fit check
Inhale to check for leaks.
Trainer’s Notes
Stress the importance of doing this each and every time.
Explain that not checking the fit isn’t worth the risk.

29. Positive Pressure Check
SUBPART E
PPE 31
Positive Pressure Check
Place palm over exhalation valve.
Gently exhale.
If face piece balloons out slightly & you can’t feel leakage, you have a good seal.
Trainer’s Notes
Demonstrate or ask for a volunteer to demonstrate..

30. Negative Pressure Check
SUBPART E
PPE 32
Negative Pressure Check
Block ends of cartridges with hands.
Gently inhale.
If face piece pulls in and you don’t feel a leak, then you have a good seal.
Trainer’s Notes
Demonstrate or ask for a volunteer to demonstrate..

31. Respirator Care Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
SUBPART E
PPE 33
Respirator Care
Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Inspect it before each use.
Repair or discard it if necessary.
Clean it after each use.
Store it in a clean plastic bag.
Replace cartridges/filters if it’s hard to breathe or you can taste/smell the chemical.
Trainer’s Notes
Important note to last bullet: the Respiratory Protection Program must include a cartridge change schedule so we do NOT depend on break-through.
Demonstrate how to inspect a respirator.
Show them how well a zip-lock bag works for storage.

32. Protecting Your Feet and Legs
SUBPART E
PPE 34
Protecting Your Feet and Legs
Every year nearly 200,000 workers injure their feet.
OSHA requires you to wear foot protection where there is a possibility of material falling, crushing or rolling over.
Safety shoes must meet the requirements of ANSI Z41.1
Trainer’s Notes
Point out that steel-toed shoes are a must in construction.
Explain that although employers are required to supply a worker with PPE, foot protection is left up to the worker to supply.
OSHA states that foot protection is up for negotiation between the employer and their employees.

33. Choosing Foot Protection
SUBPART E
PPE 35
Choosing Foot Protection
Wear sturdy shoes with
thick soles, steel toes
& steel shanks.
Look for the ANSI label on the tongue.
Trainer’s Notes:
This is the “cougar paw” work shoe made especially for roofers. Cougar Paws has a web site for these and other roofing specialty items (

34. Protecting Your Hands & Body
SUBPART E
PPE 36
Protecting Your Hands & Body
OSHA has no specific requirements for PPE for hands & body.
Hand/body injury hazards
must still be evaluated.
Handling caustics, acids, solvents, adhesives, rough and hot materials without protection is unsafe.
Trainer’s Notes
Point out that the employer needs to identify the hazard and provide worker protection.

35. Working Over or Near Water
SUBPART E
PPE 37
Working Over or Near Water
Workers near or over water must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or buoyant work vest.
Life jackets must be inspected before each shift and not used if defective.
Ring buoys must be installed with at least 90 feet of line & no more than 200 feet apart.
A skiff must be available.
Trainer’s Notes:
At 30 feet or less only the life vest is required. Above 30 feet, fall protection is also required.

36. Case Study: What went wrong?
SUBPART E
PPE 38
Case Study: What went wrong?
A contract employee was assigned to sandblast the inside of a reactor vessel during turnaround activities at a petrochemical refinery. Instead of relying on the contract company's own air compressors in accordance with the contractor's policy, the contract foreman connected the employee's supplied air respirator to a hose containing what he thought was plant air. It was nitrogen. The employee died.
Trainer’s Notes
Read the following PPE case study to the class.
Ask what kind of hazard caused the fatality?
Ask them to name things that should have been done prior to this worker entering.
Make a list of the student-identified precautions.

37. Is This Adequate Protection?
SUBPART E
PPE 39
Is This Adequate Protection?
Trainer’s Notes

38. SUBPART E
PPE 40
Subpart E - Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment ( )
Head protection required
Eye and face protection
PPE - Provided, used and maintained
Trainer’s Notes
Ask the students how each of the five hazards could be controlled or eliminated.
Review the Top Five Serious Citations
Safety nets for falls over 25 feet
Life jackets/vests

39. Always Inspect Before Use!!!

40. The End