Personal Protective Equipment - Public Health Command

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Industrial Hygiene

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects workers from injuries or illnesses from workplace hazards.
PPE includes face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, safety shoes, goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.
When engineering or administrative controls are not feasible, PPE can be used to protect workers.

DoD Live: The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment external link
A Soldier who was wounded in Iraq talks about the importance of personal protective equipment, and how it helped to save his eyesight.

General

OSHA Standards: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) external link
OSHA standards, preambles to final rules, Federal Registers, directives, standard interpretations, and national consensus standards related to PPE.

OSHA 3151-12R 2003: Personal Protective Equipment external link
This guide will help both employers and employees understand the types of PPE, know the basics of conducting a "hazard assessment" of the workplace, select appropriate PPE for a variety of circumstances and understand what kind of training is needed in the proper use and care of PPE.

OSHA: Personal Protective Equipment Fact Sheet external link
This fact sheet outlines employer responsibilities and the protection for various body parts and functions.

Eye Protection

USAPHC: Vision Conservation and Readiness web page

USAPHC: TG 006: Vision and Safety Eyewear Guide for U.S. Army Civilian and Military Job Series

Hearing Protection

USAPHC: TG 041: Personal Hearing Protective Devices - Their Fitting, Care and Use

Respiratory Protection

USAPHC: Respiratory Protection web page

Pest Management Protection

Armed Forces Pest Management Board: Technical Guide No. 14 - Personal Protective Equipment for Pest Management Personnel external link

USAPHC: Technical Information Paper No. 18-001-1110 - Hantavirus Prevention – Cleanup of Rodent Contamination

Mortuary Affairs

USAPHC: TG 195 Safety and Health Guidance for Mortuary Affairs Operations: Infectious Materials and CBRN Handling external link (Password protected - AKO)

CBRN Protection

USAPHC: TG 244 The Medical CBRN Battlebook external link (Password protected - AKO)
This technical guide addresses operational health concerns in environments where chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats exist.

NIOSH: Guidance on Emergency Responder Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Response to CBRN Terrorism Incidents external link

Head Protection

U.S. Army Safety Center: Helmets external link
This website includes information on motorcycle, bicycle and equestrian helmets.