How often should PPE be inspected and who is responsible?

How often should PPE be inspected and who is responsible?

• A. Monthly by HR
• B. Before each use; the user or supervisor is responsible, with defects removed from service.
• C. At year-end audit
• D. Weekly by safety officer

Answer: (B)

Inspect PPE before each use to ensure it is clean, undamaged, properly fitted, and functioning. Damage or wear can occur during handling or from prior use, and a pre-use check catches issues before protection is needed. The person who will wear the PPE or the supervisor overseeing the task is responsible for performing this check and for removing any defective items from service or tagging them for repair or replacement. This approach keeps protection at its intended level and aligns with standard PPE programs and safety expectations. Choosing infrequent checks—monthly by HR, weekly by a safety officer, or only at year-end—misses conditions that can change between checks, so pre-use inspection is the reliable, practical practice. While safety staff support training and audits, the day-to-day responsibility lies with the user and the supervisor.

Inspect PPE before each use to ensure it is clean, undamaged, properly fitted, and functioning. Damage or wear can occur during handling or from prior use, and a pre-use check catches issues before protection is needed. The person who will wear the PPE or the supervisor overseeing the task is responsible for performing this check and for removing any defective items from service or tagging them for repair or replacement. This approach keeps protection at its intended level and aligns with standard PPE programs and safety expectations.

Choosing infrequent checks—monthly by HR, weekly by a safety officer, or only at year-end—misses conditions that can change between checks, so pre-use inspection is the reliable, practical practice. While safety staff support training and audits, the day-to-day responsibility lies with the user and the supervisor.