Personal protective equipment is the last line of defence, used when hazards cannot be eliminated or controlled well enough by other means. Choosing it well means matching it to the specific hazard found in your hazard assessment, making sure it meets the relevant standard, fitting it to the worker, and keeping it inspected and maintained. PPE that does not fit or is not worn protects nobody.
Start with the hazard assessment
PPE selection follows from hazard assessment. Before choosing equipment, work through the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering and administrative controls first. Then ask what risk remains, to which part of the body, and for how long. The answer determines the type and level of protection needed.
Common PPE and the standards behind it
Provincial OHS rules often require PPE to meet a named CSA standard (or an equivalent recognized by the rules). The common ones:
| Protection | Standard often referenced | Selection points |
|---|---|---|
| Head | CSA Z94.1 | Type of impact (top only or top and lateral), electrical class, use in cold weather with liners |
| Eye and face | CSA Z94.3 | Impact, splash, dust, radiation; safety glasses vs goggles vs face shield over eyewear |
| Foot | CSA Z195 | Toe protection, puncture-resistant sole, metatarsal guard, electrical shock resistance, slip resistance |
| Hearing | CSA Z94.2 | Noise levels, class of protector, comfort with other PPE |
| Respiratory | CSA Z94.4 | Contaminant, concentration, oxygen level; needs a full program and fit testing |
| High-visibility | CSA Z96 | Traffic and equipment exposure, day and night conditions |
| Fall protection | CSA Z259 series | Harness class, connecting means, anchor, rescue plan |
Standards are revised over time and provinces reference particular editions. Check what your provincial rules require and buy from suppliers who can show the equipment is certified to the right standard.
Other types to consider
- Hand protection. No single glove does everything. Choose by hazard: cut resistance, chemical resistance for the specific chemical (check the manufacturer's permeation data), heat, cold, vibration or electrical. Electrical insulating gloves are a separate category with their own testing requirements.
- Protective clothing. Chemical-resistant suits, flame-resistant clothing, and arc-rated clothing for electrical work assessed under CSA Z462. See arc flash basics.
- Cold and heat. Layered clothing for cold work, cooling garments in some hot environments.
Fit and comfort
Equipment that does not fit gets adjusted, loosened or taken off. Offer a range of sizes and models, including sizes that fit smaller workers properly rather than defaulting to standard men's sizing. Involve workers in trials. Check that items work together: safety glasses that break the seal of a respirator, or earmuffs that will not sit under a hard hat, create new gaps.
Some PPE must be individually fitted. Tight-fitting respirators require fit testing; see respiratory protection programs. Harnesses must be adjusted to each wearer.
A worked example: a grinding station
A fabrication shop has workers using angle grinders on steel parts for a few hours each shift. The shop has already done what it can higher up the hierarchy: a grinding booth with local exhaust, guards kept on the tools, and screens to protect people walking past. The hazard assessment then asks what is left.
- Eyes and face: flying particles and the chance of a disc breaking. Safety glasses alone are not enough for this task; a face shield worn over safety glasses or goggles suits it better.
- Hearing: the noise survey shows levels that call for hearing protection. Earmuffs that clash with the face shield headgear get swapped for earplugs or a compatible mounted muff.
- Hands: gloves with cut and heat resistance, snug enough not to catch in the tool.
- Lungs: if exposure monitoring shows the exhaust is not keeping metal dust low enough, respirators come in, with a full program behind them.
- Feet and body: safety footwear, and clothing that does not easily catch sparks.
The shop then gets sample sets from suppliers, has workers wear them for a full shift, and asks what got in the way. The final choice is the combination people will actually keep on.
Common mismatches
| Mismatch | Result |
|---|---|
| General-purpose gloves for chemical handling | The chemical passes through the glove material without visible damage |
| Safety glasses where splash is the hazard | Liquid reaches the eye around the lenses |
| Hearing protection chosen without noise data | Too little protection, or so much that warnings cannot be heard |
| One size of harness or coverall for everyone | Poor fit for smaller or larger workers, and gear gets loosened or left off |
Questions to ask a supplier
- What standard is this certified to, and where is that marked on the product?
- What are its limits: which hazards, concentrations, temperatures or impacts?
- What sizes are available, and can we trial samples?
- What is the inspection procedure and service life?
- Is it compatible with the other PPE our workers wear?
Training
Workers need to know why the PPE is required, how to put it on, adjust and remove it, its limits, how to inspect it, and how to clean, store and replace it. Supervisors need to know enough to spot equipment that is damaged, wrong for the task or worn incorrectly.
Inspection, maintenance and replacement
- Workers inspect their PPE before each use
- Damaged or expired equipment is removed from service immediately
- Manufacturer's service life and replacement guidance is followed
- Equipment is cleaned and stored away from heat, sunlight and chemicals
- Shared equipment is cleaned between users
- Inspection records are kept where the rules or manufacturer require them
PPE has limits that are easy to forget. A hard hat is designed for certain impacts, not for every falling object. A respirator cartridge stops some contaminants and not others. Make sure workers know what their equipment will and will not do.
Who pays
Provincial rules set out who must provide and pay for PPE, and they differ. In many cases employers must provide required PPE at no cost, with some items, such as safety footwear or prescription eyewear, treated differently depending on the province and the type of work. Check your provincial requirements and any collective agreement.
How ehZee can help
ehZee reviews hazard assessments and PPE programs to check that equipment matches hazards, meets the referenced standards and is supported by training and inspection. See safety program development and review.
Common questions
Can workers bring their own PPE?
Sometimes, if it meets the required standard and is in good condition. The employer is still responsible for making sure it is suitable, so check it the same way you would company-issued equipment.
How do I know if a hard hat or harness is too old?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions, which give service life and inspection criteria. Remove anything that has taken an impact or a fall, or shows damage, regardless of age.
What if a worker refuses to wear PPE?
Start by asking why. Discomfort, poor fit, fogging and clashes with other gear are common reasons, and most can be fixed by trying another model. Where the PPE is required, workers must use it, and supervisors must enforce that, but enforcement works far better once the equipment is right.