​Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

To protect workers from hazards on the job, Personal Protective Equipment can be utilized.  When Engineering controls and Administrative Controls are not able to be implemented, PPE provides the worker with the necessary protection against workplace hazards.

Hierarchy of Controls | NIOSH | CDC

Image courtesy of CDC.gov

As a new employee on campus, you and your supervisor, manager, or laboratory principal investigator (Pl) should complete a written hazard assessment together as part of your orientation. You may be required as a result to be trained and wear eye, face, head, hands, body, feet, hearing, or respiratory protection. Below are the steps in the facilitation of PPE.

1.  Complete Hazard Assessment. Supervisors will print off the form below and complete it with their employees. Once completed this form can be filed with the employee record and a copy emailed to EHS. If the job tasks change for this position. the form will need to be re-assessed. 

In the Additional Resources is  The Personal Protective Equipment Compliance and Hazard Assessment Guide from OSHA to assist, or contact EHS for questions.

2.  Supervisor Procures PPE.  The Supervisor will work with the employee to procure the identified PPE for the job position.  UWSP will purchase the PPE for the employee.  UWSP does have programs for the employees to purchase certain PPE for the reimbursement of cost.  This allows for a bit of flexibility on items like safety glasses and safety shoes.  See the links below for the specific process on these items.


3.  PPE Training.  The Supervisor will ensure the proper training is completed for the PPE prior to use.  The Supervisor will document the training to file in the employee record and email a copy to EHS.  The training will include at least the following items:

  • When PPE is necessary.
  • What PPE is necessary.
  • How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE.
  • The limitations of the PPE; and,
  • The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE.
  • Each affected employee should demonstrate an understanding of the training and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.
  • When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required, the employer should retrain each such employee.


Payment for PPE

All required PPE must be provided by UW-Stevens Point to the employee at no cost. Safety boots and prescription safety glasses both have on campus purchase programs.

UW-Stevens Point per OSHA is not required to pay for everyday clothing, normal work boots, winter coats, jackets, gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses and sunscreen. However, UW-Stevens Point does choose to pay for some of these items.

The employee will be responsible for paying for PPE that is lost or intentionally damaged.

A documented hazard assessment must be completed for the job or position prior to any reimbursement or payment for UW-Stevens Point PPE as discussed in Hazard Assessment section above.

Note - Amount purchased over the UW-Stevens Point reimbursement portion for any PPE should be the responsibility of the employee.

University Staff Temporary Employees (including student employees). USTEs working in positions requiring safety shoes and/or prescription safety glasses should wear this equipment as necessary. Therefore they will either need to purchase their own equipment or have their departments purchase it for them through the above programs.

Decisions to provide safety shoe and prescription safety glasses coverage for USTEs will be determined by each USTE Supervisor with written authorization by the Supervisor to the EHS Department.

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​Revised 10/29/24 NJC