U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

Personal Protective Equipment

Guidelines for Assessment, Selection, and Training

Shipyard employment is dangerous work. As a result, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) 

in conjunction with engineering controls, work practices, and administrative controls is necessary for 

most operations. Typical PPE for shipyard work may include protection for the eyes, face, feet and head, 

knees and elbows, protective clothing and gloves, respiratory and hearing protection, and fall protection. 

Employers must assess work activities to determine hazards and identify the appropriate controls. 

Conducting a Hazard Assessment

A hazard assessment identifies hazards that require the use of PPE. 

To adequately protect workers, OSHA recommends that employers: 

1. Collect, organize, and analyze information on workplace 

hazards that may already be available through operating manuals, 

safety data sheets (SDS), previous injury and illness records, 

safety committee findings, and workers’ compensation reports.

2. Inspect the workplace and observe workplace operations 

to identify hazards such as falling objects, harmful chemicals, 

dust accumulation, radiation exposures (ionizing and non-ionizing), 

noise, drowning, and hazardous energy. Inspections should be 

conducted regularly and include all operations, equipment, work 

areas, and facilities during each shift. 

3. Identify control options for identified hazards. Each hazard 

should be classified by type, level of risk, and the seriousness 

of any potential injury. Use input from workers, OSHA standards 

and guidance, industry consensus standards, National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) publications, and 

manufacturers’ literature to determine potential control measures.

4. Select and implement the control measures determined to 

be the most effective and feasible, making sure not to introduce 

new hazards (e.g., exhaust of contaminated air into occupied 

work spaces). The use of engineering controls, safe work 

practices, and administrative controls should be explored first, 

followed by PPE. 

5. Follow up to confirm that the control measures implemented are 

effective. All PPE must be kept clean and in good working order. 

Any defective or damaged protective equipment must be replaced 

and reissued PPE must be cleaned and sanitized before reuse.

Selection of Personal Protective Equipment

When the use of PPE is necessary, employers should select PPE 

that provides protection greater than the minimum required. 

Where an assessment identifies exposures to multiple hazards, 

PPE that protects workers from those hazards, with emphasis 

on the most severe hazard, should be provided (such as when 

selecting welding gloves).

PPE must fit properly and should be sufficiently comfortable to 

encourage use. During selection, employers need to:

• Be familiar with all potential hazards and the types of 

PPE available;

• Evaluate the hazards associated with the work environment and 

the capabilities of the available PPE;

• Choose the PPE that ensures an adequate level of protection 

without presenting other risks for workers; and

Shipyard

Employment Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

• Fit workers with the appropriate protective device(s) and provide 

training for its use and care. Workers should be made aware of 

all warning labels and limitations of their PPE. 

Appendix A of 29 CFR part 1915, subpart I provides recommended 

PPE for common work activities conducted in shipyard employment. 

Supplemental protective equipment may be required, such as using 

chemical-resistant boots during work in tanks or voids.

Payment for Personal Protective Equipment

Employers must provide workers with appropriate PPE required by 

OSHA standards at no cost to the workers (29 CFR 1915.152) — 

except: 

• Shoes or boots with built-in metatarsal protection that 

employees ask to use instead of metatarsal guards that are 

provided by the employer at no cost to employees;

• Everyday clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, street 

shoes, and normal work boots; or ordinary clothing, skin creams, 

or other items used solely for protection from weather — such 

as winter coats, jackets, gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, 

raincoats, ordinary sunglasses, and sunscreen;

• Non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe 

shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety 

eyewear, provided that the employer permits these items to be 

worn off the jobsite;

• Replacement PPE when the employee has lost or intentionally 

damaged the PPE; and

• Employee-owned PPE where the worker volunteers to use the 

PPE they already own. Employers must ensure that the workerowned PPE fits properly and provides adequate protection.

Eye and Face Protection

Shipyard workers can have their eyes and faces exposed to 

numerous hazards, including flying particles, light radiation, and 

acids or caustic liquids. The necessary eye and face protection 

will vary depending on the work activity. Employers must supply 

appropriate PPE for the work being done, and make sure it is worn. 

Where workers require corrective lenses, the prescription lenses 

should be incorporated into the design of the eye protection when 

possible. While it is acceptable to wear additional eye protection 

over their prescription lenses, it is important that the protective eye 

wear does not inhibit or limit the worker’s vision, nor interfere with 

the protective eyewear fitting properly. 

Foot Protection

Many occupations in shipyard employment require the use of safety 

shoes. Safety shoes, including boots, must meet the specifications 

contained in any of the following consensus standards — ASTM 

F-2412-2005 and ASTM F-2413-2005, ANSI Z41-1999, or ANSI 

Z41-1991 — and provide impact and compression protection for 

the foot.

Metatarsal guards, made of aluminum, steel, fiber, or plastic, are 

effective in limiting injury caused by the impact of heavy objects 

on the instep (or top portion) of the foot. Electrical workers must 

wear safety shoes that are non-conductive. Safety shoes or boots 

with rubber or synthetic material are used for protection against 

acids, caustics, and other solvents. When necessary, safety shoes 

or boots can be obtained that provide puncture protection. As 

with all protective equipment, safety footwear should be inspected 

before each use for cracks, holes, separation of materials, and 

broken buckles or laces. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s 

cleaning and maintenance recommendations, as well as to check 

soles for embedded items (e.g., metal fragments).

Head Protection

Head protection is required if there is the potential for objects to 

strike and penetrate workers on their heads, or workers’ heads 

to come into contact with electrical hazards. Hard hats must 

meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z89.1 

standard, which defines the types and classes of hard hats for 

specific hazards; design and performance requirements for impact, 

penetration, and electrical shock; and testing requirements. 

Although manufacturers typically test and certify their products, 

employers must verify that their hard hats meet OSHA standards. 

Hard hats must be replaced if they show signs of damage (dents, 

cracks, penetration, or fatigue due to rough treatment). Hard hats 

should be inspected for damage and signs of fatigue each time 

they are used. Labels or paints should not be applied to hard hats. 

These materials have the potential to conceal defects or damage 

that would compromise its effectiveness, and may also eliminate 

electrical resistance. The life span of hard hats will vary depending 

on the work environments. Many hard hat manufacturers 

recommend that they be replaced every five years, as well as 

support straps annually, regardless of their appearance. Exposure 

to high temperatures, chemicals, or sunlight may accelerate 

deterioration; in such situations, hard hats should be replaced 

more frequently.

Protective Clothing and Gloves

Employers are responsible for supplying and ensuring that workers 

use the appropriate protective clothing, including flame-resistant, 

high-voltage, and utility coveralls; and gloves or other hand protection 

to prevent skin absorption of harmful substances, thermal burns, and 

cuts or scrapes from sharp objects. When selecting the appropriate 

protective clothing, employers should take into account the reason 

for use, the duration and frequency it will be worn, the degree of 

dexterity needed, and whether disposable or reusable clothing is 

appropriate. PPE intended to protect workers from exposure to toxic 

substances or harmful physical agents should be inspected before 

each use for damage that could compromise safety.
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

Knee and Elbow Protection

Shipyard work activities, such as welding or grinding, often put 

workers in awkward and prolonged static postures, such as 

kneeling or leaning on their elbows. Whenever possible, changes to 

equipment, work practices, and procedures should be implemented 

to minimize these risk factors. For example, long extension handles 

for hand tools enable operators to work from a standing position, 

instead of kneeling or crouching for extended periods. Knee and 

elbow pads (or similar supports) help distribute weight evenly and 

reduce contact stress. 

Respiratory Protection

Respirators effectively protect workers from occupational diseases 

caused by contaminated breathing air; their use is encouraged even 

when exposures are below the exposure limit. However, the control 

of contaminants, such as from harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, etc., 

should first be attempted through the use of engineering control 

measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, 

general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). 

When such controls are determined infeasible, or while they are 

being installed, employers must provide workers with adequate 

respiratory protection equipment, training, and medical evaluations 

as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.134. Before initial use of respirators, 

and at least annually, workers must be trained on: 

• Why the respirator is necessary and how proper fit, usage, or 

maintenance can increase its effectiveness;

• The limitations and capabilities of the respirator;

• How to use the respirator in emergency situations, including 

situations in which the respirator malfunctions;

• How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of 

the respirator;

• Procedures for maintenance and storage; and

• How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or 

prevent the effective use of respirators.

The voluntary use of respirators is permitted to offer an added level 

of comfort and protection for workers, but should be monitored 

closely. Paragraph (c) of 29 CFR 1910.134 provides requirements 

where respirator use is not required, but worn voluntarily. If a 

respirator is used improperly or not kept clean, the respirator 

can become a hazard to the worker. Whether employers provide 

workers with respirators, or workers use their own respirators 

voluntarily, the employer must ensure that the equipment fits 

properly, is certified to protect workers from the contaminant of 

concern, and manufacturer’s instructions are followed. 

Fall Protection

In shipyards, workers have the potential to fall from overhead 

platforms or other elevated locations. Employers must identify and 

provide fall protection devices as outlined in 29 CFR 1915.159 and 

1915.160 to protect workers from such fall hazards. Workers must 

be trained to understand the application limits of the equipment 

and proper hook-up, anchoring, and tie-off techniques. Training 

must also ensure that workers can demonstrate the proper use, 

inspection, and storage of their equipment. 

Hearing Protection

Noise at excessive levels in the workplace can lead to hearing 

loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), stress, anxiety, high blood 

pressure, gastrointestinal problems, and chronic fatigue. OSHA’s 

permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise, as outlined in 29 CFR 

1910.95, is 90 decibel (dB) for an 8-hour time-weighted average 

(TWA), using an exchange rate 5 dB. This means that when the 

noise level is increased by 5 dB, the amount of time a person 

can be exposed to that noise level without hearing protection 

is cut in half (e.g., 95 dB = 4 hours of maximum exposure). In 

cases where workplace sound levels exceed the PEL, employers 

must implement administrative and/or engineering controls to 

protect workers. When engineering or administrative controls fail 

to reduce the noise level to within the permissible levels, hearing 

protection (ear plugs or earmuffs) must be provided and used to 

reduce the noise to an acceptable level.

Implementation of a hearing conservation program is required 

when workers are exposed to a TWA noise level of 85 dB or higher 

over an 8-hour work shift. This means employers must measure 

noise levels and supply workers with the appropriate level of 

hearing protection. Workers must be trained in the use and care of 

the hearing protection.

Repeat sampling of noise levels must be conducted whenever a 

change in production, process, equipment, or controls has the 

potential for an increase in noise exposures. This will help to evaluate 

the adequacy of the hearing protection in use, as well as identify 

other workers that may be exposed at or above the action level. 

Performance of a 6-month baseline and annual hearing exams, 

which must be provided to workers at no cost, is required.

Training

Training workers about hazards and controls is an important part 

of workplace safety. Where hazards or the potential for hazards 

are identified that require the use of PPE, employers must provide 

and ensure that each affected worker is trained in and uses the 

appropriate PPE (29 CFR 1915.152). This includes protective 

clothing, protective shields, protective barriers, personal fall 

protection equipment, and lifesaving equipment. Workers required 

to use PPE must be trained to know:

• When PPE is necessary;

• What kind of PPE is necessary;

• How to properly put it on, adjust, wear, and take off PPE;

• The limitations of the equipment; and

• Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of 

the equipment.
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

On-Site Consultation

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers free and confidential 

occupational safety and health services to small and mediumsized businesses in all states and several territories, with priority 

given to high-hazard worksites. On-Site Consultation services 

are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or 

citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work 

with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on 

compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing and 

improving safety and health programs. To locate the OSHA On-Site 

Consultation Program nearest you, call 1-800-321-6742 (OSHA) or 

visit www.osha.gov/consultation.

More Information

For additional information, see OSHA’s shipbuilding and repair 

webpage at www.osha.gov/SLTC/shipbuildingrepair, Enforcement 

Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Shipyard 

Employment (CPL 02-01-049), and implementing a safety and 

health program at www.osha.gov/shpguidelines.

Workers’ Rights

Workers have the right to:

• Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.

• Receive information and training (in a language and vocabulary the

worker understands) about workplace hazards, methods to prevent

them, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace.

• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.

• File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if they

believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not

following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities confidential.

• Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including

reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with

their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against

for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as

soon as possible, but no later than 30 days.

For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers page

(www.osha.gov/workers).

How to Contact OSHA

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers 

are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their 

employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s 

working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, 

and providing training, education and assistance. For more 

information, visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA 

(6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any 

new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer 

to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon 

request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: 1-877-889-5627.

DSG FS-3951 06/2018