Guidelines for Developing a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to protect their employees from workplace hazards such as machines, work procedures, and hazardous substances that can cause injury or illness. When all other means of protection are not effective, the use of PPE is sometimes the preferred means of protection. Any time PPE is used by employees the employer is required to maintain a PPE Program outlining how the use of PPE will protect the employees from the recognized hazards.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) is dedicated to providing a safe and healthful workplace for all employees and students and strives to comply with all governmental regulations. The Center for Environmental Health and Safety (CEHS) facilitates this process by providing developmental guidance and model programs to assist individual units in maintaining the highest level of safety.

The PPE Program consists of three main issues:

1. Hazard assessment of the workplace and procedures (identifying hazards and determining which PPE will protect the employee)
   
    

2. Employee training (when PPE is required, proper use of PPE, limitations, cleaning and storage)
   
    

3. Written verification of hazard assessments and employee training.