Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Complete Selection, Use and Care

OSHA's PPE rules, hazard assessment, and how to choose, fit, use, inspect and care for head, eye and face, hearing, respiratory, hand, foot, body, high-visibility, flame-resistant, electrical, chemical and fall protection equipment.

Personal protective equipment is the last line of defense between a worker and a hazard, and it only works when it is the right equipment, properly fitted, worn consistently and kept in good condition. This in-depth course covers OSHA's PPE standards (29 CFR 1910 Subpart I and 1926 Subpart E), the employer's duty to assess hazards, select and pay for PPE and train workers, and the worker's duty to use it correctly. You will learn how the hierarchy of controls fits with PPE, how to choose and use hard hats, safety glasses, goggles and face shields, hearing protection, respirators, gloves, safety footwear, high-visibility garments, flame-resistant clothing, electrical protective equipment, chemical protective clothing and fall protection equipment, how to match ANSI and ASTM ratings to the hazard, how to inspect, clean, store and replace PPE, and how to deal with comfort, fit and compliance problems. It is an awareness-level course and does not replace the site-specific hazard assessment, training and fit testing that your employer must provide.

What you’ll learn

  • Explain OSHA's PPE requirements and the roles of employers and workers
  • Perform or review a PPE hazard assessment and apply the hierarchy of controls
  • Select head, eye, face and hearing protection based on hazard and ratings
  • Select gloves, footwear, body protection, high-visibility and flame-resistant clothing
  • Understand respirator, electrical, chemical and fall protection PPE at an awareness level
  • Fit, use, inspect, clean, store and replace PPE correctly

Who it’s for

Construction and industrial workers, tradespeople, maintenance and warehouse staff, farm and landscape workers, supervisors, safety coordinators, purchasers of PPE and anyone who needs to choose or wear protective equipment. No experience is needed.

Course outline

Module 1: PPE Rules and Hazard Assessment 3 lessons · quiz

What PPE is, where it fits in the hierarchy of controls, OSHA's requirements, the hazard assessment and who pays.

  • What PPE is and when it is needed 12 min Free preview
  • OSHA's PPE requirements 15 min
  • The PPE hazard assessment 14 min
Module 2: Head, Eye and Face Protection 2 lessons · quiz

Hard hat types and classes, bump caps, safety glasses, goggles, face shields, welding helmets and ratings.

  • Head protection 15 min Free preview
  • Eye and face protection 16 min
Module 3: Hearing, Respiratory and Hand Protection 3 lessons · quiz

Choosing and using earplugs and earmuffs, an overview of respirators, and the right gloves for cuts, chemicals, heat and electricity.

  • Hearing protection 14 min Free preview
  • Respiratory protection overview 14 min
  • Hand protection 15 min
Module 4: Foot, Body, High-Visibility and Flame-Resistant Protection 3 lessons · quiz

Safety footwear ratings, leg and metatarsal protection, body protection, high-visibility garments and flame-resistant clothing.

  • Foot and leg protection 14 min Free preview
  • Body protection and high-visibility clothing 14 min
  • Flame-resistant clothing and arc-rated PPE 15 min
Module 5: Fall, Electrical and Chemical Protective Equipment 3 lessons · quiz

Awareness-level overview of personal fall arrest equipment, electrical insulating PPE and chemical protective clothing.

  • Fall protection equipment 15 min Free preview
  • Electrical protective equipment 14 min
  • Chemical protective clothing 14 min
Module 6: Fit, Care, Training and PPE Programs 3 lessons · quiz

Making PPE work: fit and compatibility, inspection and maintenance, comfort and compliance, training and a PPE program.

  • Fit, comfort and compatibility 14 min Free preview
  • Inspection, cleaning, storage and replacement 14 min
  • Training and a PPE program 14 min

What’s included

  • 17 lessons you can read at your own pace, on a phone or a computer
  • A short quiz after every module, with the correct answer shown for any you miss
  • A final exam of 25 questions (pass at 80% or higher)
  • A numbered certificate of completion with a QR code anyone can scan to verify it
  • Your progress saved to your account, with access that doesn’t expire

Please read: this is a self-paced online learning course. It is not an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card, a license, or a government certification, and it does not by itself meet any training requirement in OSHA or state standards. Employers must still provide required, site-specific training and decide who is a competent or qualified person. See the full disclaimer.

Questions

Can an employer check my certificate? Yes. Each certificate has a number and a QR code that opens a public verification page on this site.

Can I get a refund? Yes, within 7 days of purchase if you have completed less than 25% of the course and haven’t earned its certificate. Email support@toddallynmedia.com. Details are in section 13 of the Terms of Use. Payment is handled by PayPal; we never see your card details.

What do I need? A free account and any phone, tablet or computer. Questions or problems? Email support@toddallynmedia.com.

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