In this module
Objectives covered: LO 1.1.1, LO 1.1.2. By the end you will be able to:
- Explain what PPE is and why it is called the last line of defence.
- Put the five levels of the hierarchy of controls in the right order.
- List the duties of the employer, the supervisor and the worker for PPE.
- Recognise the main OSHA, international and Bangladesh rules that apply to PPE.
1.1 What is PPE?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is anything a worker wears or holds to protect their body from a workplace hazard. A safety helmet, safety glasses, gloves, safety shoes, earplugs, a respirator, a full-body harness and high-visibility clothing are all PPE.
PPE does not remove the hazard. The hazard is still there; PPE only puts a barrier between the hazard and the person. If the barrier is the wrong type, does not fit, is damaged or is not worn, the worker is exposed. That is why PPE is called the last line of defence.
PPE protects one person, only while they are wearing it, and only if it is the right PPE in good condition. Other controls protect everybody, all the time.
1.2 The hierarchy of controls
OSHA, ISO 45001 (clause 8.1.2) and the ILO all say the same thing: first try to remove or reduce the hazard at its source. Use PPE when other controls are not possible, while they are being put in place, or as extra protection on top of them.
| Level | What it means | Example in a dyeing and finishing unit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Elimination | Remove the hazard completely | Automatic chemical dosing so no one carries open buckets of caustic soda |
| 2. Substitution | Replace with something less hazardous | Use a dye auxiliary with a lower hazard rating, or liquid dye instead of dusty powder |
| 3. Engineering controls | Isolate people from the hazard | Local exhaust hood over the dye kitchen weighing table; machine guards |
| 4. Administrative controls | Change the way people work | Written procedure, work permit, signs, job rotation, training |
| 5. PPE | Protect the individual worker | Chemical goggles, nitrile gloves, apron and gumboots in the dye kitchen |
Most real workplaces use a mix of these levels. PPE is almost always part of the mix, but it should never be the only control when a better one is reasonably possible.
1.3 Who is responsible for what?
The employer must
- Assess the workplace to find hazards that need PPE, and record the assessment (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132(d)).
- Select and provide suitable PPE that fits each worker, free of charge (1910.132(h)). Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, Section 78A, also requires the employer to supply personal safety equipment.
- Train every worker who must use PPE, and keep a record of the training (1910.132(f)).
- Make sure damaged or defective PPE is not used (1910.132(e)).
- Not allow anyone to work without the required PPE.
The supervisor must
- Know what PPE each task needs and check it at the start of the shift.
- Stop work when PPE is missing or damaged, and arrange replacement.
- Set the example by wearing PPE themselves.
The worker must
- Wear the PPE provided, correctly, for the whole task.
- Inspect it before use and report any damage or loss at once.
- Look after it, store it properly, and not alter it (for example drilling holes in a helmet).
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I (1910.132 to 1910.140): PPE for general industry. 1926 Subpart E covers construction.
- ISO 45001:2018: occupational health and safety management systems, including the hierarchy of controls.
- ILO Convention 155: employers must provide protective clothing and equipment where risks cannot be prevented by other means.
- Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (amended 2013 and 2018) and Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015: duties on safety, PPE and safety committees.
- Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2020: safety during construction work.
- Product standards: ANSI/ISEA (USA), EN and ISO (Europe and international). PPE should carry the marking of a recognised standard.
A knit composite factory in Gazipur had frequent eye injuries in its dye kitchen. Workers were given goggles, but injuries continued because the goggles fogged and were pushed up on the forehead. The safety team installed an automatic dosing line (elimination), added a fume hood (engineering), wrote a Bangla procedure (administrative), and switched to anti-fog indirect-vent goggles that workers chose after a trial (PPE). Eye injuries in the kitchen dropped to zero the next year. Using all levels together worked better than PPE alone.
Learning Check
Answer these two questions to check your understanding. You can try again as many times as you like.