PPE Is the Last Line, Not the First
The course starts with the hierarchy of controls: eliminate the hazard, substitute something safer, engineer it out, change how the work is done — and only then rely on PPE. On a crane job that means barricading the swing radius and keeping people out from under loads before anyone counts on a hard hat to protect them.
Protection by Body Zone
Head
Hard hat types and classes, suspension adjustment, and when chin straps make sense working at height.
Eyes and face
Safety glasses, goggles and face shields matched to impact, splash and grinding hazards.
Hands
Cut, abrasion and chemical-resistant gloves — and why gloves can be a hazard near rotating parts.
Feet
Protective-toe footwear, puncture resistance and slip-resistant soles.
Hearing and breathing
When plugs, muffs and respirators come in — each with its own program.
Body and visibility
High-visibility garments around moving equipment and flame-resistant clothing where required.
Course Objectives
Match PPE to hazards for head, eyes, hearing, hands, feet and body
Fit and wear each type so it actually protects
Inspect, clean and store PPE, and replace it on schedule
Explain PPE's limits and why it never replaces other controls
What OSHA Expects
Under 29 CFR 1910.132, employers must assess the workplace for hazards, certify that assessment in writing, select appropriate PPE, and train each employee who must use it. Training covers when PPE is needed, what kind, how to put it on and take it off, its limitations, and its care and disposal. Workers must show they understand it before working with PPE. Construction has parallel rules starting at 1926.95.
With limited exceptions, employers pay for required PPE. Retraining is required when the workplace or PPE changes, or when an employee's use shows they didn't retain the training.
The care lesson is where many programs fall short. Hard hat shells degrade in sunlight, glove coatings wear through, safety glasses get scratched until people take them off to see, and boot soles lose grip. Workers learn simple inspection cues and a habit of asking for replacements instead of making do.
Rigging crews have one more PPE concern: gloves and hand placement around loads, slings and tag lines. Our Rigger Level I prep and signal person course cover keeping hands out of pinch points during a lift.
Who Needs PPE Training
- Every new field hire
- Riggers and signal persons
- Crane operators and oilers
- Shop and maintenance workers
- Supervisors who enforce PPE rules
The employer's hazard assessment comes first
This course teaches general principles. Your employer's written hazard assessment decides what you must wear for each task, and the employer must provide fitting and site-specific instruction.