PPE Storage, Cleaning, and Maintenance
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- PPE that is stored improperly degrades and may fail when you need it most. Store harnesses out of direct sunlight, away from chemicals, and off the ground — UV degrades nylon webbing over time.
- Clean safety glasses daily with lens cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Scratched lenses reduce visibility and weaken impact resistance — replace them when scratches impair your vision.
- Hard hats degrade in UV light. The shell becomes brittle, chalky, and loses impact resistance. Replace shells every 5 years (sooner if visibly degraded) and suspensions annually.
- Respirator facepieces must be cleaned after each use with manufacturer-recommended wipes or mild detergent and water. Store in a sealed bag or case to prevent contamination.
- Leather gloves can be wiped down and air-dried. Chemical-resistant gloves should be rinsed inside and out and inspected for pinholes by inflating them. Cut-resistant gloves should be laundered per the manufacturer's instructions.
Ask the crew
Where do you store your harness, hard hat, and respirator at the end of the day — and is that location protecting them from damage?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
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Sign-in sheet
Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.
| Name | Signature | Date |
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