Free written program · 29 CFR 1910.132-138
PPE Program Template: Assess Hazards and Choose Equipment
A PPE program records how you assess hazards, choose protective equipment, teach its use, and keep it serviceable. This template gives supervisors a structure for those decisions, including head, eye, hand, foot, hearing, and respiratory protection. Treat its equipment examples as prompts, not a purchase list: your actual tasks, exposure levels, fit needs, and other controls determine what workers need.
The full PPE program template
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program. Blanks in [brackets] are for your own details.
The printable copy downloads as a web page file: open it in your browser, then print it or save it as a PDF.
Comprehensive PPE program covering hazard assessment, selection, training, and maintenance requirements.
1. Purpose & Scope
This PPE Program establishes requirements for assessing workplace hazards, selecting appropriate PPE, training employees, and maintaining PPE at [Company Name]. PPE is the last line of defense in the Hierarchy of Controls and is used when engineering and administrative controls cannot adequately reduce hazards. This program complies with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.132 through 1910.138.
2. Hazard Assessment
The Safety Manager conducts a workplace hazard assessment for each job and work area. The assessment:
- Surveys the workplace for potential hazards (impact, penetration, compression, chemical, heat, harmful dust, light radiation).
- Identifies sources of hazards.
- Documents findings on the PPE Hazard Assessment Certification form.
- Is updated when processes, equipment, or materials change.
- Results are communicated to affected employees.
3. PPE Selection
Based on the hazard assessment, appropriate PPE is selected: HEAD — Hard hats (ANSI Z89.1) for impact/penetration hazards, bump caps for limited clearance areas. EYES/FACE — Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), goggles for splash/dust, face shields for grinding/chemical splash. HANDS — Chemical-resistant gloves matched to specific chemicals (check SDS Section 8), cut-resistant gloves for sharp materials, insulated gloves for electrical work. FEET — Safety-toe footwear (ASTM F2413) for impact/compression, metatarsal guards if required. HEARING — Plugs or muffs when noise exceeds 85 dBA (8-hr TWA). RESPIRATORY — Per separate Respiratory Protection Program (29 CFR 1910.134).
4. Employee Training
All employees using PPE are trained on:
- When PPE is necessary.
- What PPE is required for their job.
- How to properly don, adjust, wear, and remove PPE.
- Limitations of the PPE.
- Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal.
- Employees must demonstrate understanding before being allowed to work. Retraining when: new PPE is issued, hazard assessment changes, or employee demonstrates lack of understanding.
5. Employer Responsibilities
The employer shall:
- Provide all required PPE at no cost to employees (exception: safety-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear in some cases).
- Ensure PPE fits properly — including availability of various sizes and gender-specific options.
- Replace damaged or worn PPE at no cost.
- Enforce PPE use through progressive discipline.
- Maintain training records and hazard assessment documentation.
The printable copy adds effective and review dates and approval signature lines for management and the safety manager.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a qualified person check it against your site, your state's rules and the standard before you rely on it.
PPE program: when it’s needed
A written PPE program is a practical organizing document, not a general federal requirement by that name. General industry employers must assess workplace hazards and certify that assessment in writing under 29 CFR 1910.132(d). The certification identifies the workplace evaluated, the certifying person, and assessment dates. Section 1910.132(f) addresses employee training, while 1910.132(h) governs payment with listed exceptions. Use the program to coordinate these duties, and keep the assessment certification and records of instruction alongside it rather than relying on policy statements alone.
How to use this PPE program template
- Survey each job for impact, splash, cutting, heat, dust, and other hazards before selecting protective equipment.
- Document the assessment certification with the evaluated workplace, assessment dates, and the person certifying the completed evaluation.
- Build a task-specific selection table using manufacturer performance information, chemical compatibility data, sizing, and any separate protection programs.
- Have employees demonstrate proper fitting, adjustment, removal, and care before assigning tasks that require the selected protection.
- Set replacement, cleaning, storage, and purchasing responsibilities so worn equipment does not stay in service awaiting approval.
Before you use this PPE program template: what to fill in and check
- Jobs and work areas evaluated, assessment dates, and the certifying person’s identity.
- Chemical-specific glove suitability, impact ratings, equipment compatibility, and available sizes for your crew.
- Payment exceptions that actually apply, rather than a blanket employee-purchase rule.
- Noise and airborne exposure findings requiring separate hearing or respiratory protection arrangements.
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PPE program questions
Does OSHA require a written PPE program?
The general industry PPE rule does not require a standalone document called a written PPE program. It does require a written certification of the hazard assessment under 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2), along with equipment selection and training duties. A program document helps you assign those responsibilities. It cannot replace the assessment of actual work or the employee’s demonstrated ability to use protection correctly.
Who pays for required personal protective equipment?
Employers generally pay for required PPE under 29 CFR 1910.132(h), but the rule includes exceptions. For example, certain non-specialty safety-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear may be excepted when employees may wear them away from the job. Check the exact exception before assigning a cost to workers. Explain replacement arrangements as well, including how employees obtain serviceable equipment during a shift.
Can one type of glove protect against every chemical?
No. Glove materials resist different substances for different periods, and a glove suited to one product may fail with another. Use the chemical’s safety data sheet together with the glove manufacturer’s compatibility and breakthrough information. Consider concentration, contact duration, temperature, and dexterity. Record the selected glove for each task so workers do not substitute whatever happens to be available.