Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Course

Lesson 1 • Understanding Workplace Hazard Categories

Covers physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and radiological hazard types. Provides the hazard vocabulary needed for all subsequent PPE selection decisions.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory Framework for PPE Programs

Introduces employer obligations, worker rights, and regulatory inspection concepts without citing specific codes. Connects compliance requirements to program design throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • The Hierarchy of Hazard Controls

Explains elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE in ranked order. Positions PPE correctly as a supplementary, not primary, control measure.

Lesson 1 • Safety Eyewear Selection and Standards

Covers safety glasses, goggles, and face shields matched to impact, chemical splash, and optical radiation hazards. Proper lens marking interpretation ensures correct protection level.

Lesson 2 • Welding and Optical Radiation Protection

Addresses shade number selection for welding helmets and cutting goggles based on process and amperage. Incorrect shade selection causes arc eye and long-term vision damage.

Lesson 3 • Fit, Adjustment, and Compatibility

Teaches proper fitting procedures and compatibility checks between head and eye protection. Incompatible combinations create gaps that expose workers to injury.

Lesson 1 • Hearing Conservation Program Elements

Outlines audiometric testing, noise monitoring, training, and recordkeeping requirements. These program elements protect workers beyond the device itself.

Lesson 2 • Earplugs: Types and Insertion Technique

Covers foam, pre-molded, and custom earplugs with correct insertion methods for each type. Improper insertion reduces real-world attenuation by up to 70 percent.

Lesson 3 • Earmuffs: Selection and Fit Verification

Explains earmuff cup seal, headband tension, and NRR ratings for various noise environments. Correct fit verification ensures rated attenuation is achieved in practice.

Lesson 1 • Respirator Maintenance and Storage

Covers cleaning, inspection, cartridge change-out schedules, and proper storage conditions. Neglected maintenance degrades protection and shortens equipment service life.

Lesson 2 • Supplied-Air and SCBA Respirators

Explains airline respirators and self-contained breathing apparatus for IDLH and oxygen-deficient conditions. These devices are mandatory when air-purifying respirators are insufficient.

Lesson 3 • Medical Clearance and Fit Testing

Details medical evaluation requirements and qualitative versus quantitative fit-test protocols. Fit testing confirms the facepiece seal before any workplace exposure occurs.

Lesson 4 • Air-Purifying Respirator Types

Covers filtering facepieces, half-face, and full-face air-purifying respirators with cartridge selection logic. Correct cartridge color-coding prevents exposure to unfiltered contaminants.

Lesson 1 • Cut and Puncture Resistance Standards

Introduces cut-resistance performance levels and puncture ratings used in glove labeling. Matching the correct level to blade or needle hazards prevents lacerations.

Lesson 2 • Glove Material Performance Properties

Compares nitrile, neoprene, latex, leather, and cut-resistant materials against specific hazard classes. Material selection errors are the leading cause of hand chemical exposure.

Lesson 3 • Electrical and Thermal Glove Classes

Covers rubber insulating glove voltage classes and leather protector requirements for electrical work. Thermal gloves for heat and cold are also matched to temperature exposure ranges.

Lesson 4 • Chemical Permeation and Degradation

Explains breakthrough time, permeation rate, and degradation as glove performance metrics. These metrics determine safe wear duration before chemical exposure risk increases.

Lesson 1 • Slip Resistance and Sole Selection

Explains outsole material, tread pattern, and coefficient of friction for wet, oily, and uneven surfaces. Correct sole selection is the primary defense against slip-and-fall injuries.

Lesson 2 • Leg and Knee Protection Options

Addresses chainsaw chaps, knee pads, and leggings for cutting, kneeling, and chemical splash hazards. Protection type is matched to task duration and exposure intensity.

Lesson 3 • High-Visibility and Thermal Clothing

Explains high-visibility garment performance classes for roadway and low-light environments. Thermal protective clothing for heat and cold stress is also addressed.

Lesson 4 • Safety Footwear Types and Ratings

Covers steel-toe, composite-toe, and metatarsal guard footwear with impact and compression ratings. Electrical hazard and static-dissipative ratings are matched to electrical work environments.

Lesson 1 • Rescue and Post-Fall Procedures

Addresses suspension trauma risk, prompt rescue requirements, and post-fall equipment retirement. Delayed rescue after a fall arrest can cause serious injury or death.

Lesson 2 • Fall Hazard Identification and Triggers

Defines unprotected edges, holes, and elevated platforms that trigger fall protection requirements. Hazard identification is the prerequisite to selecting the correct fall protection system.

Lesson 3 • Harness Fit and Pre-Use Inspection

Covers harness donning sequence, strap adjustment, and pre-use inspection for wear and damage. An improperly fitted harness can fail to arrest a fall or cause suspension trauma.

Lesson 4 • Personal Fall Arrest System Components

Explains harness, lanyard, self-retracting lifeline, and anchorage as an integrated system. Each component must be rated and compatible for the system to function correctly.

Lesson 1 • Procurement, Inventory, and Replacement

Addresses PPE procurement standards, inventory tracking, and replacement cycle management. Systematic procurement prevents use of expired or non-conforming equipment.

Lesson 2 • Designing a Written PPE Program

Outlines required elements of a written PPE program including scope, responsibilities, and procedures. A documented program provides the framework for consistent PPE use across the organization.

Lesson 3 • PPE Training Program Development

Covers training content requirements, delivery methods, and competency verification for each PPE type. Effective training closes the gap between equipment availability and correct use.

Lesson 4 • Continuous Improvement and Hazard Reassessment

Explains change management triggers, periodic hazard reassessment, and incorporating new PPE technologies. Programs that adapt to operational changes maintain effective protection over time.