Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Types of personal protective equipment
There are several types of personal protective equip-
ment, such as footwear, hearing protectors and hard 
hats, which are not primarily concerned with protection 
from hazardous substances; those which are used for 
such protection, include:
➤
respiratory 
protection
➤
hand and skin protection
➤
eye 
protection
➤
protective 
clothing.
For all types of personal protective equipment, there are 
some basic standards that should be reached. The per-
sonal protective equipment should fi t well, be comfortable 
to wear and not interfere either with other equipment 
being worn or present the user with additional hazards 
(e.g. impaired vision due to scratched eye goggles). 
Training in the use of particular personal protective equip-
ment is essential, so that it is not only used correctly, but 
the user knows when to change an air fi lter or to change 
a type of glove. Supervision is essential with disciplinary 
procedures invoked for noncompliance with personal pro-
tective equipment rules.
It is also essential that everyone who enters the 
proscribed area, particular senior managers, wear the 
specifi ed personal protective equipment.
Respiratory protection equipment
Respiratory protection equipment can be sub-divided 
into two categories – respirators (or face masks), which 
fi lter and clean the air, and breathing apparatus which 
supplies breathable air.
Respirators should not be worn in air which is danger-
ous to health, including oxygen defi cient atmospheres. 
They are available in several different forms but the 
common ones are:
➤
a 
fi ltering half mask
often called disposable respir-
ator – made of the fi ltering material. It covers the 
nose and mouth and removes respirable size dust