NUSPM
NUSPM
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defence, not a substitute for removing a hazard, isolating energy or using safer work methods. The correct PPE comes from the vessel’s risk assessment, permit and procedure for the task.
Start with the task and hazard
Before work, identify what can harm people: impact, falling objects, moving machinery, chemicals, heat, noise, poor visibility, sharp surfaces, falls or atmosphere hazards. Confirm that higher-level controls are in place. Then select the specified PPE.
Examples vary by vessel:
- routine deck work may call for head, foot, hand, eye and high-visibility protection;
- machinery work may require hearing, eye, hand and task-specific protective clothing;
- chemical tasks require substance-specific controls and compatibility checks;
- work aloft or overside requires a full authorised system, not merely a harness.
These are prompts, not prescriptions. The vessel assessment controls.
Pre-use check
- Correct type and rating for the hazard
- Proper size and secure fit
- No cracks, cuts, contamination or expired components
- Compatible with other PPE worn together
- Clean enough to function
- Required inspection or test is current
- User understands limitations
Poorly fitting PPE can create a new hazard. Respiratory, fall-protection and specialised chemical equipment require appropriate selection, training and maintenance.
During and after work
Stop and reassess if conditions change, the PPE becomes damaged or the task no longer matches the permit. After work, clean, inspect and store it as instructed. Do not take communal contaminated PPE into accommodation.
Report defects, missing sizes and depleted stock early. A factual report should identify the item, task, defect and immediate consequence: “The face protection assigned for [task] is damaged and cannot seal/secure as intended. The task has not started. Replacement is required under the procedure.”
Common weak habits
- Wearing a helmet or gloves without checking task suitability
- Combining items that interfere with each other
- Using damaged PPE “for one quick job”
- Borrowing equipment that does not fit
- Treating PPE as the only control
- Remaining silent when the correct equipment is unavailable
Safety culture improves when crew can report PPE issues before exposure, without pressure to continue.