What is PPE in cleaning?
Personal protective equipment is the gloves, eye protection, aprons and footwear provided to protect cleaners where the risk cannot be controlled by other means.
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<img src="https://cleanoptix.co.uk/glossary/ppe/diagram.svg" alt="personal protective equipment — diagram from CleanOptix" width="880" height="620" loading="lazy">
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<a href="https://cleanoptix.co.uk/glossary/ppe">What is PPE in cleaning?</a> — diagram by
<a href="https://cleanoptix.co.uk">CleanOptix</a>
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</figure>It is the last control in the hierarchy rather than the first. A risk solved by substituting a gentler product or by changing the method is solved; a risk addressed by gloves is only mitigated.
It has to be suitable for the specific chemical. Gloves are rated by the substances they resist, and a general-purpose glove against a strong solvent provides less protection than it appears to.
It must be provided free of charge, and replacement has to be practical. PPE that has to be requested through a manager will not be replaced when it should be.
In practice
Gloves supplied in one size for a team of nine.
Three people cannot work in them, so they do not. The gloves are in the store, the record says they were issued, and the assessment says gloves are worn.
PPE that does not fit is PPE that is not used, and the record will show compliance the whole time.
The check is not whether it was issued but whether it is on people's hands on an ordinary shift.
What goes wrong in practice
- Gloves issued without regard to what they actually resist.
- PPE reached for first rather than after other controls were considered.
- Replacement requiring a request, so damaged items stay in use.