Personal protective equipment

Overview

Personal protective equipment protects workers from hazards such as chemicals, electricity, fumes, sharp objects, and noise. Personal protective equipment - usually called PPE - includes items such as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, respirators, and personal fall-arrest gear. PPE, when used properly, protects against hazards, but does not eliminate them.

If you are a general industry, construction, or agricultural employer, you must do a hazard assessment to determine if your workplace has hazards that you cannot eliminate or control without PPE. A hazard assessment is an evaluation of your workplace that helps you determine what hazards your employees are exposed to and what PPE they need to protect themselves.

All available content

Publications

Apps-mobile/online
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals - mobile version
  Helps workers understand how to reduce the dangers from pesticides.
  English 07/17/2015
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals - mobile version
  Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals: mobile version
  Ayuda a los trabajadores entender como reducir los peligros de los pesticidas.
  Spanish 07/17/2015
Brochures/Guides
- Hearing protection guide
  Describes how to lessen the impact of hearing loss on the job.
  English Order printed copy 03/13/2023
- Occupational safety for the death care industry
  Developed in partnership with the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board to emphasize industry hazards, provide recommendations, and highlight related Oregon OSHA standards.
  English 09/23/2014
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessment
  Explains how to conduct a PPE hazard assessment and when employees should use PPE.
  English Order printed copy 06/30/2023
- Personal protective equipment: Selecting the right PPE for pesticide use
  Helps employers and employees understand the requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) that are listed on pesticide product labels. Gives general advice about best practices for cleaning, maintaining, and storing PPE along with guidelines for choosing the most effective PPE from head to toe.
  English Order printed copy 06/10/2025
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals | Prácticas de seguridad cuando se trabaja con químicos agrícolas peligrosos
  Covers safe practices for employees who work around hazardous chemicals and pesticides. Ayuda a los trabajadores entender como reducir los peligros de los pesticidas.
  English / Spanish Order printed copy 04/13/2023
Checklists
- Environmental controls
  Checklist for environmental controls.
  English
Fact sheets
- Alturas de activación para la protección contra caídas en actividades de la construcción
  Fall protection trigger heights for the construction industry
  Proporciona alturas de activación para la protección contra caídas en los trabajos relacionado con la construcción.
  Spanish 02/09/2024
- Fall protection trigger heights for the construction industry
  Provides specific fall protection trigger heights for construction work, particularly on unprotected walking or working surfaces.
  English 07/12/2024
- Hearing protection
  Explains when employers must provide hearing protection and how to choose the right hearing protection for employees.
  English 04/14/2018
- High-visibility safety apparel
  Offers guidelines for those who work in street or highway right-of-way and are exposed to traffic or construction equipment.
  English 04/12/2023
- Isocyanates
  Describes what isocyanates are, why they're extreme health hazards, and how employees can protect themselves.
  English 12/08/2014
- Lo que los empleadores necesitan saber sobre los peligros asociados con la falta de Vivienda
  What employers need to know about hazards associated with houselessness
  Oregón tiene una alta tasa de personas sin hogar y los empleadores deben seguir las reglas de OSHA de Oregón para proteger a sus empleados de los peligros relacionados.
  Spanish 02/15/2024
- Noise exposure
  Gives a summary of the major requirements of the Occupational Noise Exposure rules.
  English 05/14/2024
- Personal protective equipment
  Details when employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers, with an example of a hazard assessment, and descriptions of appropriate PPE for various tasks.
  English 08/24/2023
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Who Pays?
  Explains Oregon OSHA's personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements including who pays for PPE.
  English 10/18/2022
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for agriculture
  Outlines Oregon OSHA's PPE requirements for agricultural employers, including examples of hazards with the appropriate PPE.
  English 10/10/2022
- Safety for bicycle couriers
  This fact sheet provides hazard assessment and reporting requirements for employers of bicycle couriers as well as safety tips for the couriers.
  English 04/06/2017
- What employers need to know about hazards associated with houselessness
  Employers must follow certain rules to protect their employees from exposure hazards such as bloodborne pathogens, needles, and human waste.
  English 02/01/2024
Forms
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessment tool and lists
  This comprehensive document has lists for PPE Hazard Assessment. Use when completing an assessment of your workplace. Lists included are examples for protection for: falls, torso, eye/face, head, feet, legs, hands, hearing, and respiratory.
  English 07/17/2023
- PPE Hazard Assessment Workbook
  Conduct a PPE Hazard Assessment when hazards are present, or are likely to be present, that would require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). This PPE Hazard Assessment form can be used to determine the required PPE by identifying the hazards and selecting appropriate PPE. The form is grouped according to the body part protected by specific types of PPE, and can serve as a written certification of the PPE Hazard Assessment.
  English 07/17/2023
Quick facts
- Equipo de protección personal (EPP)
  Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  Explica el equipo y la capacitación que su empleador debe brindarle para protegerlo de los peligros en el trabajo. - | - Explains the equipment and training your employer must provide to protect you from hazards at work.
  English / Spanish 09/26/2022
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

Online course
- Fundamentals of Fall Protection online course
  This course is designed to assist you as an employer or employee to meet the requirements of the Oregon OSHA Fall Protection Standards. This is the first course in the fall protection suite.
  English Online course
- Personal Protective Equipment online course
  This PDF course covers the essential elements to properly understanding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  English Online course
- Principios fundamentales de la protección contra caídas
  Fall protection fundamentals online course
  Este curso está diseñado para ayudar a los empleadores y empleados a cumplir con los requisitos de los estándares de Protección contra Caídas de Oregon OSHA.
  Spanish Online course

PESO
- La Construcción Residencial: Techado
  Residential Construction: Roofing
  Del programa PESO para la seguridad en la construcción residencial - PESO English-Spanish residential construction safety training
  Training program English Spanish 10/14/2020
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Soldadura
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Welding
  Common terms used by Oregon OSHA for welding PPE, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes utilizados por Oregon OSHA para EPP de soldadura, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Respiradores
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Respirators
  Common terms used by Oregon OSHA for respirator PPE, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes utilizados por la OSHA de Oregon para los EPP para respiradores, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Protección Contra Caídas
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Fall Protection
  Common terms used by Oregon OSHA for fall protection PPE, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes utilizados por la OSHA de Oregón para los EPP de protección contra caídas, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Protección Auditiva
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Hearing Protection
  Common PPE hearing protection terms used by Oregon OSHA, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes de protección auditiva EPP utilizados por OSHA de Oregon, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Ojos y Cara
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Eyes and Face
  Common terms used by Oregon OSHA for PPE that protects the eyes and face, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes utilizados por Oregon OSHA para el EPP que protege los ojos y la cara, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Manos
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Hands
  Common terms used by Oregon OSHA for PPE that protects the hands, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes utilizados por Oregon OSHA para el EPP que protege las manos, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Cabeza
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Head
  Common terms used by Oregon OSHA for PPE that protects the head, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes utilizados por Oregon OSHA para el EPP que protege la cabeza, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024

Rules and rule-related

Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision I, Personal Protective Equipment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision E, Personal Protective & Life Saving Equipment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision I, Protective Equipment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version of Div. 4/I
- Division 4, Subdivision W, Worker Protection Standard
  2-2018 Word version
- Division 7, Subdivision D, Personal Protective Equipment and Programs
  2-2010
- Division 7, Subdivision N, Fire Protection/Suppression and Prescribed Burning
  2-2005
Interpretations
- Clarification of high visibility safety garments in construction
  04/19/2012
- Eye and face protection when using a chainsaw
  03/29/2013
- Fall protection from ladders, vehicles, or trailers during construction activities
  04/18/2018
- Fire code interpretations, personal protective equipment requirements of the 2 in 2 out rule
  03/26/2003
- High visibility safety garments
  08/03/2016
- Ladders using hoisting devices
  01/23/2008
- Leg protection for firefighters using chain saws
  08/16/2016
- Powerline tree trimmers wearing chaps
  03/19/2018
- Protective Coats
  01/12/2012
- Required use of eye protection
  04/21/1997
- Rubber goods use and testing
  03/19/2018
- Using latex gloves around moving machinery
  01/12/2012
- Working on or over water
  04/30/2014
Program Directives
- Citations: Paperwork and Written Program Violations
  Purpose: The purpose of this instruction is to revise and clarify Oregon OSHA's policy regarding issuance of citations for violation of "paperwork" and "written program" requirements.
  A-216 05/06/2016
- Maritime Guidelines for Enforcing Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
  Purpose: Federal OSHA’s CPL 02-01-049 provides current policy, procedures, information and guidance to ensure uniform enforcement of 1915, Subpart I, personal protective equipment in shipyard employment. This directive informs Oregon-OSHA staff of the existence of a federal compliance directive.
  A-281 11/21/2019
- PPE: Foundries
  Purpose: Provide guidelines for the interpretation, application and compliance evaluation of Division 2/I, OAR 437-002-0134 Personal Protective Equipment.
  A-113 01/25/2012
- PPE: General Industry
  Purpose: This directive provides policy guidance related to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards in Division 2, Subdivision I. The standards address the selection, use and maintenance of PPE as well as the obligation to pay for PPE.
  A-211 11/27/2012
- PPE: Head Protection
  Purpose: To provide guidelines for the interpretation and application of OAR 437-002-0134(9).
  A-098 01/25/2012
- PPE: Laundering Fire-Resistive Coats (Turnouts)
  Purpose: This directive recognizes the variation to the washing cycle requirements referenced in OAR 437-02-1910.156(e)(3)(ii).
  A-137 06/29/2000
- PPE: Meat Cutters in Food Stores
  Purpose: The purpose of this directive is to clarify the application of the personal protective equipment standard to cutting hazards found in meat departments in retail food stores.
  A-036 01/25/2012
Summary of comments and decisions

Video Resources

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Hard hats
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Personal Protective Equipment
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Borrow DVDs about Personal Protective Equipment from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- Hearing Conservation for At-Risk Workers grant project video
  Geared especially to construction and trades workers who may already have some hearing loss, this comprehensive training package covers: The nature of sound and how the ear processes sound; the causes and types of hearing loss; the importance of identifying noise hazards; and the use of the proper hearing protection for the work setting.
  Language: English Length: 15:16 minutes
- N95 Respirator - How to Put on and Use | Mask, OSHA, Smoke, Respiratory Protection
  Employers must implement a comprehensive written respiratory program when employees are exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous gases or vapors, dust, fumes, mists, other airborne particles and infectious agents, or insufﬁcient levels of oxygen. Respiratory protection is required when control of the hazard is not feasible through engineering controls or while controls are being instituted.
  Language: English Length: 3 minutes
- Respirator Safety
  When you must wear a respirator to protect yourself against airborne contaminants in your workplace, it is very important to follow proper procedures for putting it on and taking it off.
  Language: English Length: 9:16 minutes
- To The Point About Personal Protective Equipment (Safety Source)
  When our body parts are exposed to certain hazards there is a potential for bodily harm to occur. Properly selecting and wearing personal protective equipment can reduce or eliminate this exposure, prevent injuries and save lives.
  Language: English Length: 13 minutes
- To The Point About Personal Protective Equipment (TrainingVideoNow)
  When our body parts are exposed to certain hazards there is a potential for bodily harm to occur. Properly selecting and wearing personal protective equipment can reduce or eliminate this exposure, prevent injuries and save lives.
  Language: English Length: 13 minutes
Spanish
- Al Punto Sobre Equipo De Protección Personal (Safety Source)
  To The Point About Personal Protective Equipment (Safety Source)
  When our body parts are exposed to certain hazards there is a potential for bodily harm to occur. Properly selecting and wearing personal protective equipment can reduce or eliminate this exposure, prevent injuries and save lives.
  Language: Spanish Length: 13 minutes
- Al Punto Sobre Equipo De Protección Personal (TrainingVideoNow)
  To The Point About Personal Protective Equipment (TrainingVideoNow)
  When our body parts are exposed to certain hazards there is a potential for bodily harm to occur. Properly selecting and wearing personal protective equipment can reduce or eliminate this exposure, prevent injuries and save lives.
  Language: Spanish Length: 13 minutes

Additional Resources

Technical Manual, Section VII: Protective Equipment,

Chapter 1: Chemical Protective Clothing

Highlights

publication cover
Oregon OSHA’s quick guide to the PPE hazard assessment