Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: PPE is the last line of defence

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is equipment a worker wears to reduce exposure to a hazard: hard hats, safety boots, glasses, hearing protectors, gloves, respirators, high-visibility clothing and fall protection. PPE does not remove the hazard. It only works if it is the right type, fits and is worn correctly.

Safety programs use the hierarchy of controls. Start at the top and work down:

1. Elimination: remove the hazard (the most effective control).
2. Substitution: use something less hazardous, such as water-based paint.
3. Engineering controls: guards, ventilation, enclosures, lifting devices.
4. Administrative controls: procedures, training, job rotation, warning signs.
5. PPE: the last line of defence.

CCOHS says PPE is the right main control only when higher controls are not practicable, as a temporary measure while better controls are put in place, during maintenance and clean-up, and in emergencies.

Lesson 2: Who provides PPE and who must wear it

CCOHS says the employer is responsible for making sure workers use the right PPE and for training them to use and care for it. Workers must use PPE when it is required. Who pays for PPE varies by jurisdiction. CCOHS gives Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec and Saskatchewan as examples where the employer must provide PPE free of charge.

Example: British Columbia (OHS Regulation, Part 8)

• The worker provides clothing for the weather, general purpose work gloves, footwear including safety footwear, and safety headgear (s. 8.2).
• The employer provides all other required PPE at no cost to the worker (s. 8.2).
• The worker must use PPE as trained, inspect it before use and report any malfunction to the supervisor or employer (s. 8.9).
• Supervisors must make sure PPE is properly worn when required (s. 8.8).

Training should cover why the PPE is needed, how to fit and adjust it, how to care for it, and when to use it. This course is background knowledge only. Your employer must train you on the PPE used at your site, and respirator users need their employer's respiratory protection program, including fit testing.

Lesson 3: Head and foot protection

Hard hats are covered by CSA Z94.1. A Type 1 hat protects the top of the head; a Type 2 hat also protects the sides and back. The electrical class matters too:

• Replace a hard hat that has been struck, even if you see no damage.
• Do not paint the shell: solvents can weaken it and paint can hide cracks. Use reflective tape instead.
• Do not wear a ball cap under it or drill holes in it.
• Wear it backwards only if the maker says it is designed for that.

Safety footwear is covered by CSA Z195. Look for the marking:

Lesson 4: Eye, face and hearing protection

Many jurisdictions require eye and face protectors that meet CSA Z94.3. Safety glasses should cover from the eyebrow to the cheekbone. The frame should sit as close to the face as possible, with only small gaps. For chemical splashes, CCOHS lists a face shield worn over goggles (with indirect ventilation) as a good choice. Replace scratched, pitted or bent eyewear right away.

In most jurisdictions the noise exposure limit is 85 dBA. Hearing protectors follow CSA Z94.2.

• Earplugs fit in the ear canal. CCOHS says not to use earplugs on their own where noise is above 105 dBA; louder areas need more, such as earplugs worn with earmuffs.
• Earmuffs fit most head sizes and are easy to see, so their use is easy to check, but glasses can break their seal.
• Music earbuds and headsets are not hearing protectors.
• Wear protectors the whole time you are in noise. A 25 dB protector removed for just 5 minutes an hour gives no more than 11 dB of protection.

Lesson 5: Hands, breathing and visibility

Choose gloves for the hazard: cuts, abrasion, heat, cold or chemicals. No one glove material resists all chemicals. The safety data sheet (SDS) should name the right material; if not, ask the supplier. Do not wear gloves with metal parts near electrical equipment.

Respirators only work with a tight seal. Beards, stubble and even glasses can break the seal, so a worker with facial hair may not be able to wear a tight-fitting respirator. In BC, PPE used against a chemical exposure requires an employer protective equipment program (s. 8.5).

High-visibility apparel is covered by CSA Z96. Class 3 gives the most coverage. In BC, workers exposed to vehicles faster than 30 km/h must wear Class 2 or 3 apparel (s. 8.24). Near moving machinery, BC also bans rings, bracelets, watches and dangling neckwear, and long hair must be confined so it cannot get caught (s. 8.10).

Lesson 6: Fit, care and storage

Poorly maintained PPE can be worse than none, because it gives a false sense of security. Inspection is the most important part of maintenance.

PPE care checklist

• Inspect it before and after each use.
• Clean it as the maker says, usually with mild soap and water.
• Store it clean and dry, out of heat and sunlight. Do not carry a hard hat in a vehicle's rear window.
• Replace damaged parts only with matching parts from the maker.
• Never alter PPE, for example by drilling holes in a hard hat.
• Report damage and get a replacement before you go back to the hazard.