PPE Safety Series

Watch this series of safety video shorts packed with practical personal protective equipment tips, compliance information, and best practices.

PPE is frontline defense

Personal protective equipment is a frontline defense against workplace injuries. It’s a great way to keep your workforce safe and liability costs down. These short PPE safety training videos for employees give expert guidance on workplace injury prevention, hazard assessment, and safety compliance training. Our PPE Safety Series will help keep you safe, protected, and prepared for whatever the job may bring.  

OSHA assessment requirements

OSHA doesn’t just recommend PPE, it requires it–employers are legally responsible for making sure their workers are protected. Watch this short video to learn about OSHA PPE requirements and standards. Learn what you need to know when considering how to choose PPE.

Eye protection

You only get one pair of eyes and accidents happen fast. That’s why eye protection is so essential. Get practical tips on ensuring a secure fit for eye and face protection, maintaining clear vision, and knowing when to replace damaged equipment.

Hand protection

Hand injuries are common but preventable with the right hand protection PPE. Watch this short video for guidance on the proper selection of safety gloves, ensuring the right fit, and inspecting hand protection for wear and tear. Learn how consistent use of safety gloves for work improves hand safety in the workplace and protects your ability to do your job, and everything you love outside of work. Our online learning system, Safety OnDemand® has a multitude of trainings and other resources on hand protection. To access these modules, just be sure to be signed into your myResource account.

Foot protection

Safe and sturdy footwear isn’t just about comfort, it’s about walking out of work safely, on your own two feet.  Watch this short video to find out how to choose the right foot protection PPE and get tips on proper fit, daily inspection, and maintenance. You’ll learn about workplace foot injury prevention as well as how to meet protective footwear safety standards.

Hearing protection

You can’t see it, but noise can be just as dangerous as any other workplace hazard. Watch this short video to learn how workplace noise safety can impact hearing and how to choose the right hearing protection PPE. Get guidance on proper fit for earplugs and earmuffs, and equipment inspection.

Frequently asked questions

PPE stands for personal protective equipment—wearable gear designed to help protect workers from hazards that can cause injury or illness when engineering controls (like machine guards or ventilation) and safe work practices can’t eliminate risk entirely. It is important because it reduces exposure to workplace hazards and helps prevent injuries and illnesses. It also supports safety compliance and can be a major source of cost control by lowering incident-related downtime and costs.

When workplace hazards can’t be fully removed through safer equipment, processes, or procedures, OSHA requires employers to provide and pay for the proper PPE. Employers are also responsible for evaluating workplace risks, making sure PPE fits employees correctly, and training workers on how to use and care for it. In addition, PPE must meet applicable ANSI safety standards.

Start with a workplace hazard assessment, then choose PPE that’s designed to protect against the specific hazards you identify (for example: impact, chemicals, noise, or airborne particles) and make sure it fits each worker properly. PPE also needs to be worn correctly and work with any other required gear—because if it’s uncomfortable or incompatible, it may not protect as intended (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132).
Replace PPE as soon as it’s damaged or defective, no longer fits properly, or can’t be kept in a sanitary and reliable condition. For items with a defined service life (like some respirator filters/cartridges), follow the manufacturer’s replacement guidance and your workplace’s program requirements (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132).
In most cases, the employer provides required PPE—and OSHA generally requires the employer to pay for it as well, with a few limited exceptions. See OSHA’s “Employers Must Provide and Pay for PPE” handout for more information on this.
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