This policy procedure sets out how PPE is selected, issued, used, maintained and reviewed, and points to the issue register and issue sheet that record what each worker receives.

Effective Policy Templates

This policy template is supplied in fully editable MS Word format and can be easily customised and edited. The document uses pre-defined style formatting throughout, with all text in Calibri font for improved readability.
The following document labelling is included in the footer:

• Policy number and title
• Information-classification
• Version
• Page number / total pages

alphaZ documents - beautifully designed, tried and tested policy templates. No junk, jargon or unnecessary content. Simple and usable policy templates developed over 25 years through practical use in the real world.

Further Reading

Further guidance on PPE at work:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work
• Risk Assessment
• Noise at Work
• Health and Safety knowledge base

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Safe Use and Management of PPE Policy Procedure Template

The Safe Use and Management of PPE Policy Procedure is a Word template that sets out how a business provides and manages personal protective equipment. It covers the company responsibility to issue PPE at no cost where risks remain, what counts as PPE, common PPE pictograms, selection and fit, training, maintenance and storage, and logging PPE when it is issued.

Title, File Location, Issue No, Issue Date, Controlled By and Approved By fields and an Amendment Record support document control, and the footer carries a Business Use information classification. Sections marked Guidance are advisory, while the rest must be followed.

What the Policy Covers

• Amendment record, summary, scope and applicability - the purpose of the policy, its scope across all company activities and locations, who it applies to and how guidance sections are marked
• Risk management and company responsibility - risk assessment of PPE use, the injuries PPE protects against where other controls leave a risk, issue at no cost and procurement from approved suppliers
• Definition of PPE - what counts as personal protective equipment, with examples from safety helmets and gloves to high-visibility clothing, and when waterproof or insulated clothing is included
• PPE pictograms - the blue circle PPE pictograms, with guidance on coveralls and aprons, eye and face protection, footwear, hearing protection, gloves and skin care
• Selection and training - selection by size, fit and weight with worker consultation, making sure items work together, and the training given before PPE is first used
• Maintenance, review and documentation - cleaning, storage and replacement parts, regular checks that PPE is used, and logging PPE when it is issued, apart from single-use items

Built for Issuing and Maintaining PPE

• PPE issued at no cost to every worker who needs it, whether or not they are directly employed
• Coverall types matched to the hazard, from heavy splashes to light accidental contact
• A training list covering fitting, limitations, inspection, manufacturer warnings, obtaining and disposing of PPE
• Checks that PPE is used, signs reminding workers to wear it and retraining when PPE or tasks change
• PPE reviewed as part of the annual review held with staff

Who Needs a Safe Use and Management of PPE Policy Procedure?

Any business where some risk remains after engineering controls and safe systems of work, so workers need PPE to do their job safely. It is written for whoever buys, issues and maintains PPE and for the workers who wear it.

How the Policy Fits Together

PPE handed out is logged on the F-HS1 PPE Issue Register or on an individual F-HS2 Employee PPE Issue Sheet, except single-use items such as disposable ear plugs.

Using the Policy

Edit the PPE examples, pictogram guidance and training content to match the hazards in your workplace, and set out who is responsible for maintaining PPE. Name the person in the Controlled By field, give it top level approval and brief workers before they start any work that needs PPE.

Related Documents

The GG-7-01 Safe Use and Management of PPE Guidance and TT-7-01 Safe Use and Management of PPE Training Talk can be used to brief workers on the safe use and care of their PPE.