Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Author: International Labour Organization
• Pages: 32-37

32 Meetings-MESHA-Final Code-2010-10-0355-1-En.doc/v2

6. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

6.1. General provisions

6.1.1. PPE provides supplementary protection against exposure to hazardous

conditions in agricultural production where the safety of workers cannot be ensured by

other means, such as eliminating the hazard, controlling the risk at source or minimizing

the risk. Suitable and sufficient PPE, having regard to the type of work and risks, and in

consultation with workers and their representatives, should be used by the worker and

provided and maintained by the employer, without cost to the workers. The same level of

protection should also be provided for casual or seasonal workers.

6.1.2. PPE is the last line of defence and the least effective. It should be used

whenever hazards and risks cannot be controlled by collective measures, but should never

be considered as an adequate substitute for higher level control measures.

6.1.3. Items of PPE provided must comply with national law or be in accordance

with criteria approved or recognized by the competent authority and based on national or

international standards.

6.1.4. Those responsible for the management and operation of the personal

protection programme should be trained:

– in the nature of the hazards against which the PPE is intended to provide protection;

– in the selection, storage, testing and replacement of suitable PPE;

– in assuring that it is correctly fitted to the people who use it, and that a range of

equipment is available in order to provide adequate comfort;

– in the consequences of poor performance or equipment failure; and

– to have an understanding of the appropriate action to take.

6.1.5. PPE should be selected considering the characteristics of the wearer and

additional physiological load or other harmful effects caused by the PPE. It should be used,

maintained, stored and replaced in accordance with the standards or guidance for each

hazard identified at the workplace and according to the information given by the

manufacturer. PPE stocks should be managed to ensure that appropriate PPE is always

available.

6.1.6. PPE should be examined periodically in accordance with the manufacturer’s

recommendations, taking into account the amount of use to ensure that it is in good

condition.

6.1.7. Different PPE and their components should be compatible with each other

when they are worn together.

6.1.8. PPE should be personal to the wearer, unless it is properly cleaned after each

use.

6.1.9. PPE should be assessed for ergonomic design and, to the extent practicable,

should not restrict the user’s mobility or field of vision, hearing or other sensory functions.