PPE Training: The Right Gear, Worn the Right Way
5-minute toolbox talk · 2:49 video + discussion, quiz and sign-off · free printable sheet with sign-off table.
Key points
- PPE is chosen from a hazard assessment of the job. Wear what the task requires.
- It must fit. Gloves that are too big and glasses that slip do not protect.
- Check it before each use. Damaged PPE goes out of service.
- Wear it the whole time you are exposed — not just when someone is watching.
- Know its limits: a dust mask is not a respirator, and a cut glove is not a chemical glove.
Step by step
- Check the PPE required for the task (sign, SOP or job hazard analysis).
- Pick the right type and size.
- Inspect it: cracks, holes, worn soles, expired filters.
- Put it on correctly — for example, roll earplugs and hold them in while they expand.
- Keep it on for the whole task.
- Take it off without contaminating yourself, especially gloves.
- Clean, store or dispose of it as instructed. Report anything damaged.
Never
- Never alter PPE — no holes in hard hats, no cutting gloves.
- Never use someone else's respirator or earplugs.
- Never wear damaged PPE "just for this job".
Who needs this training
- Every worker whose job has hazards that PPE protects against.
- Supervisors, who check that the right PPE is worn and replaced.
- Visitors and contractors entering PPE areas.
What the rule says
In US general industry, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 requires the employer to assess the workplace for hazards, choose suitable PPE, and certify the hazard assessment in writing.
Workers must be trained before they use PPE: when it is needed, what kind, how to put it on, take it off, adjust and wear it, its limits, and how to care for, maintain and dispose of it. They must show they understand before doing the work, and be retrained when things change.
In most cases the employer pays for required PPE. Specific rules cover eye and face (1910.133), respiratory (1910.134), head (1910.135), foot (1910.136) and hand protection (1910.138), and hearing protection under the noise rule (1910.95).
Common mistakes
- Safety glasses pushed up on the hard hat.
- Earplugs only half inserted.
- Wrong glove for the job — a cut-resistant glove does not stop chemicals.
- Respirators with beards or stubble under the seal.
- Keeping PPE past its replacement date.
Talk about it
- Which PPE in our area is hardest to wear all shift, and why?
- Do we have the right sizes for everyone?
- Where do we get replacement PPE when ours is damaged?
Quick check
1. Your safety glasses have a deep scratch across the lens. What do you do?
2. Is a simple dust mask the same as a respirator?
3. When do you wear the required PPE?
Questions people ask
What are the main types of PPE?
Eye and face protection, hearing protection, head protection (hard hats), hand protection (gloves), foot protection (safety shoes), respiratory protection, high-visibility clothing, and fall protection harnesses.
Who pays for PPE?
In the US, the employer pays for most required PPE. Some exceptions apply, such as ordinary safety-toe shoes that the worker may wear off the job. Rules differ by country.
Is PPE the best way to protect workers?
No. PPE is the last line of defence. First try to remove the hazard, replace it, or guard it. Use PPE for the risk that remains.
How often should PPE be inspected?
Before each use, by the person wearing it, plus any regular checks the manufacturer or your site requires — for example harnesses and respirators.
Based on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 (general PPE requirements) and 1910.133–1910.138 (eye, face, respiratory, head, foot and hand protection); 1910.95 (noise). This talk is a summary for training. Your site's written procedure and your supervisor's instructions come first.
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