Personal Protective Equipment Flashcards

What does PPE stand for?

Answer: Personal Protective Equipment

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment — equipment worn or held by a worker to protect against one or more health and safety risks.

Under Irish law, when should PPE be used?

Answer: As a last resort when risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means

PPE should be used as a last resort, after all other control measures (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative) have been considered and implemented.

Who is responsible for providing PPE on a construction site in Ireland?

Answer: The employer, free of charge

Under Irish law, the employer is responsible for providing appropriate PPE to employees free of charge where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.

What is the minimum PPE required on most Irish construction sites?

Answer: Hard hat, high-visibility vest, and safety boots

As a minimum, most Irish construction sites require workers to wear a safety helmet (hard hat), high-visibility vest or jacket, and safety boots with steel toe caps.

What standard should safety helmets conform to on Irish construction sites?

Answer: EN 397

Safety helmets used on construction sites should conform to EN 397, which specifies the physical and performance requirements for industrial safety helmets.

When should a safety helmet be replaced?

Answer: After any significant impact, visible damage, or according to manufacturer guidelines (typically 3-5 years)

A safety helmet should be replaced after any significant impact, when visibly damaged, when the suspension system is worn, or at the interval recommended by the manufacturer.