Personal protective equipment users’ needs

This section includes any special tools or equipment that the procedure user must have in order to perform the procedure. This prevents the procedure users from completing half of a procedure and then finding out that they need a tool to finish. The section can include personal protective equipment such as respirators, tools such as a micrometer, or objects such as spool pieces or chemicals. 

All pesticide users and handlers need to keep abreast of current innovations in personal protective equipment, application technology and disposal techniques. 

Personal protective equipment falls at the bottom of the list of priorities for controlling hazards. It is in the same priority class with procedures. Actually, its use is a procedure. Personal protective equipment is low in the priority list because it does not remove hazards. Personal protective equipment is low in the priority list because it requires user behavior. To be useful, PPE must be in place when needed. 

Users should have involvement in the selection of personal protective equipment to foster acceptance and use. Users need to understand the hazards that create the need for the equipment and the dangers faced when not wearing the equipment. They need to leam the importance of the equipment in protecting them and to understand the rules related to... 

Feedback is knowledge of results. Feedback is an essential ingredient in learning. Instmctors must reinforce correct behavior to greatly enhance knowledge of results. People need to know if they perform tasks correcdy and safely. They also need to know if they perform tasks incorrectly. Safe behavior requires feedback and reinforcement. For example, feedback on wearing of personal protective equipment, a safe behavior, helps gain user cooperation. 

Comfort of the facepiece is also important. If the face-piece does not fit comfortably, the user may resist wearing respiratory protection, may become distracted and less attentive on the job, or may need to take additional breaks to find relief fiom the discomfort. The respirator fit test should always include a comfort assessment, especially when evaluating a facepiece the user has not worn in the past When performing the comfort assessment, consider the use of other personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses to ensure these can be worn properly and effectively with the selected facepiece. 

Inform users of the residual risks due to any shortcomings of the protective measures adopted indicate whether any particular training is required and specify any need to provide personal protective equipment... 

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