Choosing to use personal protective equipment (PPE)

When the application of chemical risk prevention principles has not enabled safe conditions of use to be achieved, and when the implementation of collective protection measures has not made it possible to achieve them either (see Adapting a workstation to reduce chemical risks [FIC 0175] and Collective protection or PPE: protecting personnel from exposure to chemicals [FIC 0178] ), the choice of using personal protective equipment should be considered. This choice may also be based on the precautionary principle (when all available information on the hazardousness of substances is incomplete), or on transitional measures pending the adaptation of workstations.

This sheet provides a step-by-step guide to procuring the right PPE for the job in question:

• How do you draw up specifications?

• How do you validate that PPE is available at the workstation?

The associated tools contain examples to illustrate the method.