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Personal Protective Equipment

Mintra 8 questions

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PPE is the last line of defence between a hazard and a person. It only works if it is the right kit, correctly fitted, properly maintained and actually used. This guide covers the definition, the responsibilities and the requirements.[1]

Definition

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is defined as "all equipment which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects them against one or more risks to their health or safety, and any additional or accessory designed to meet that objective".

Employee responsibilities

Employees must use PPE in accordance with the employer's and manufacturer's instructions, return PPE after use to an appropriate storage location, and report any loss of, or damage to, PPE.

Training

PPE users must receive training in how to correctly fit and wear PPE, the limitations of the equipment, and the proper use of PPE.

Selecting PPE

Effective protection is only achieved by suitable PPE that is correctly fitted and maintained, and used properly. When assessing the suitability of PPE, consider the length of time the PPE must be worn, the hazards of the job, and the health of individual employees. If more than one item of PPE is worn, the items must be compatible with each other: when used together, all items must adequately control the risks against which they are provided to protect.

Regulatory requirements

Under Flag State regulations, PPE must be maintained and stored correctly, must be properly assessed before use to ensure it is suitable, and must be used correctly. "Core" PPE includes a hard hat, fire-resistant coveralls, eye protection, safety footwear, gloves and hearing protection.

Key facts to remember

  • PPE = equipment worn or held at work that protects against risks to health or safety.
  • Employee: use per employer/manufacturer instructions, return to storage, report loss/damage.
  • Training: correct fit and wear, limitations, proper use.
  • Suitability: duration of wear, hazards of the job, individual employee's health.
  • Multiple items must be compatible and together must control the risks.
  • Flag State: maintain/store correctly, assess suitability before use, use correctly.
  • "Core" PPE: hard hat, fire-resistant coveralls, eye protection, safety footwear, gloves, hearing protection.

Sources

  1. Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) — Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) (personal protective equipment).
  2. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended) — provision of personal protective equipment and a safe working environment.

Compiled from the sources above and cross-checked against the official documents. Published by the MaritimeTest editorial team.

First 5 of 8 questions — with answers

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  1. Question 1

    Which of the following are the responsibilities of employees?
    • Testing PPE.
    • Use PPE in accordance with the employer's and manufacturer's instructions.
    • Return PPE after use to an appropriate storage location.
    • Report any loss of, or damage to, PPE.
    • Assess the suitability of PPE.

  2. Question 2

    PPE users must receive training in which of the following?
    • How to correctly fit and wear PPE.
    • The validity periods of PPE.
    • Limitations of the equipment.
    • The proper use of PPE.
    • The costs of PPE.

  3. Question 3

    If more than one item of PPE is being worn, the different items of PPE must be compatible with each other; in such cases, when selecting PPE, it should be ensured that all items, when used together, would adequately control the risks against which they are provided to protect.
    • True.
    • False.

  4. Question 4

    Effective protection is only achieved by suitable PPE which is correctly fitted and maintained, and used properly.
    • True.
    • False.

  5. Question 5

    Which of the following factors should be considered when assessing the suitability of PPE?
    • Length of time that PPE must be worn.
    • Hazards of the job.
    • Health of individual employees.
    • Shift changes.
    • Number of personnel.

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