Sharing PPE & Hygiene
Protective equipment touches your head, face, ears, nose, mouth and hands, and sweat, skin oils, dirt and germs build up on it. Shared or dirty PPE can spread skin infections, lice, eye infections and illness, and dirty gear works worse and gets worn less. Basic hygiene keeps PPE protective and keeps workers healthy.
- All Workers
- Employers
- Safety Managers
What OSHA says
- OSHA’s PPE standards say that PPE must be maintained in a clean and reliable condition. The general industry rule (29 CFR 1910.132(a)) says protective equipment “shall be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition,” and the construction rule has similar language (1926.95(b)). See PPE Inspection & Care.
- Respirator rules call for cleaning, disinfecting and storing respirators properly, and say respirators issued for the exclusive use of one worker must be cleaned as often as needed, and those used by more than one worker must be cleaned and disinfected before use by a different worker (1910.134(h)). See Respiratory Protection.
- Employers must also train workers on how to care for PPE. See PPE Hazard Assessment.
Why sharing is a problem
- Skin infections: ringworm, staph (including MRSA), impetigo and other infections can pass through shared gear, such as hard hat liners, headbands, gloves and sleeves.
- Lice and mites can spread through shared hard hats, hoods and hats.
- Eye infections like pink eye can spread through shared glasses, goggles and face shields, especially when someone has rubbed their eyes.
- Ear infections and skin irritation from shared earplugs and earmuff cushions.
- Respiratory germs spread through shared masks and respirators. A used respirator has moisture and germs inside, and may not seal on a different face.
- Chemical and contamination spread: gloves and clothing may carry lead, asbestos, chemicals or other residues from one person to another. See Take-Home Contamination.
- Poor hygiene makes PPE smell, irritate and fall apart, so workers take it off.
What can and can’t be shared
| PPE | Sharing |
|---|---|
| Respirators (including disposable masks) | Don’t share. Each worker needs their own, fit tested to their face. Reusable respirators shared between workers must be cleaned and disinfected between users, and fit must be checked |
| Earplugs (foam, premolded) | Don’t share. Use disposable plugs, or personal reusable plugs that are cleaned |
| Earmuffs | Can be shared if the cushions are cleaned and disinfected or replaced between users |
| Safety glasses and goggles | Prefer personal glasses. If shared, clean and disinfect them between users and keep them out of eyes, with face shields for splash |
| Hard hats | Prefer personal. If shared, clean the shell, and replace or clean and disinfect the suspension and sweatband for each user |
| Gloves | Prefer personal. Don’t share gloves worn for sweat-prone work or with chemicals |
| Boots and footwear | Don’t share. They carry foot fungus and sweat |
| Clothing, FR coveralls and vests | Prefer personal. Shared items must be laundered between users |
| Face shields, welding helmets | Can be shared if the headgear and sweatbands are cleaned between users |
| Harnesses and lanyards | Often assigned to one worker, for fit and inspection. Clean as the maker says. See Harness Inspection & Fitting |
Where visitors and temps use loaner gear, follow strict cleaning rules. See PPE for Visitors & Short-Term Workers.
Cleaning basics
- Follow the maker’s instructions. Harsh cleaners, solvents or too much heat can damage plastic shells, lenses, straps and fabrics, and reduce protection. Hard hats and lenses can be weakened by some chemicals.
- Hard hats: wash the shell with mild soap and warm water, rinse and air dry, away from heat. Don’t use solvents, paint, adhesives or stickers unless the maker approves. Clean or replace the suspension and sweatband. See hard hat accessories.
- Safety glasses and goggles: rinse off dust, then wash with mild soap and water and dry with a lint-free cloth. Use lens cleaner made for safety eyewear. Disinfect shared glasses with a wipe or solution that is safe for the lens. See Keeping Safety Glasses from Fogging.
- Gloves: wash reusable gloves as the maker recommends and let them dry fully. Replace gloves that are soaked with chemicals or oils, or are torn. See Hand Protection.
- Respirators: clean and disinfect reusable respirators after each use or at the end of the shift, following the maker’s steps. Rinse, dry and store in a clean, sealed bag or container, away from dust and sunlight. Replace filters and cartridges on schedule. See Respirator Filters.
- Earmuffs: wipe the cushions with soap and water or an approved wipe. Replace cushions that crack or harden. See Hearing Protection.
- Clothing and FR gear: launder according to the label. Don’t use fabric softeners or bleach on FR clothing if the maker says not to. See Flame-Resistant Clothing and Chemical-Protective Clothing.
- Boots: let them dry between shifts, use clean socks, and use boot dryers or rotate pairs.
- Don’t clean PPE with gasoline, solvents or strong disinfectants unless the maker says it is safe.
- Don’t use compressed air to blow dust off clothing or PPE. It spreads dust into the air.
- Don’t dry PPE with heat that could damage it, such as in a hot truck cab or an oven.
Personal hygiene
- Wash hands after removing gloves and before eating, drinking, smoking or using the restroom. Don’t eat or drink in contaminated areas. See Sanitation.
- Wash and cover cuts and skin problems. Report skin infections, rashes, lice or pink eye, and stay out of shared gear until treated. See Skin Disease & Dermatitis.
- Don’t touch your face or eyes with dirty gloves or hands.
- Remove contaminated clothing and PPE before going home, and wash it separately from family laundry. See Take-Home Contamination.
- Shower after dusty, dirty or chemical jobs.
Storage and disposal
- Store PPE clean and dry, away from sun, heat, chemicals and dirt, in lockers, bags or hooks. Don’t leave hard hats on the dashboard in the sun.
- Keep clean PPE separate from dirty or contaminated gear.
- Dispose of single-use PPE after use, such as disposable gloves, masks and earplugs, in the right waste container. Contaminated PPE may be hazardous waste.
- Replace PPE that can’t be cleaned or is damaged. See Buying Your Own PPE.
Employer responsibilities
- Provide individual PPE where possible, and enough supplies of spare gear, filters, earplugs, wipes and cleaning materials.
- Set cleaning schedules and procedures for shared PPE, with trained workers and the right disinfectants.
- Provide clean storage, washing facilities and laundering for contaminated clothing as needed.
- Train workers on hygiene and PPE care, and encourage reporting of infections. See Training Requirements.
PPE hygiene checklist
- Respirators, earplugs and boots are not shared
- Shared hard hats, glasses and earmuffs are cleaned and disinfected between users
- Cleaning follows the maker’s instructions, with no solvents or harsh chemicals
- I wash my hands before eating, drinking and smoking, and report skin and eye problems
- Contaminated clothing is removed at work and laundered separately
- PPE is stored clean and dry; damaged PPE is replaced
Standards & references
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