A Guide to Personal Protective Equipment

Checklist

To help you make sure that you don't miss anything in your PPE procedures we have compiled the following checklist. Whilst it is by no means exhaustive it does take you through the process stage by stage so that you can quickly see where you might need to do more.

Maintain PPE performance

11 Plan proper storage for the PPE taking into account:
- security
- protection from contamination/degradation
- storage on any mobile units
- separation of dirty/damaged PPE from ready
to wear
- segregation from any other PPE containing hazardous materials.

12 Organise a regular cleaning and maintenance regime for all your PPE so that it is always 'fit for purpose' and keep records of this programme.

13 Work with your suppliers to assess whether certain PPE will need re-treating (eg. chemical resistant finishes etc.) and when and how this will be carried out to the required standards.

14 Put in place a system which ensures each wearer - including visitors and contractors - gets the right PPE.

15 Make sure this system also enables wearers to report PPE faults, any damage or other problems as quickly as possible.

16 Now consider how you will deal with these problems effectively so that PPE is repaired to the right standards, and wearers continue to have correct PPE while any problems are dealt with.

Inform the wearers

17 Create a training programme which instructs wearers about the risks they are dealing with, how to use their PPE and the limitations of that PPE. Ensure that refresher training is given when appropriate.

18 As back-up to the the training ensure that wearers receive with their PPE clear and easy to understand written instructions in a language they can read.

19 Make sure that operating procedures specify when, where and under what conditions PPE must be worn.

20 Check that your supplier has access to a proper technical file about the PPE supplied to you.

21 Also check with your supplier about any design changes you may have made to your PPE to make sure it still complies with the relevant regulations (eg adding a new pocket may require a repeat test or may not be permissible).

22 Finally, make sure you put into place a system which alerts you to any changes in PPE requirements so
that you can carry out a re-assessment of your
needs if required.