Personal Protective Equipment — General Industry Worker Knowledge Core

This is the General Industry PPE knowledge track. It introduces how to recognize when protection is needed, identify the assigned equipment, wear it correctly, understand its limitations and care for it. The employer must add the actual hazards, equipment, methods and responsibilities for your work.

Under 1910.132(f)(2), each affected employee must demonstrate understanding and the ability to use PPE properly before being allowed to perform work requiring it. A quiz, attendance signature or equipment receipt alone does not establish actual ability or readiness for the task.

The five training areas in 1910.132(f)(1) are when PPE is needed; what is needed; proper donning, doffing, adjustment and wear; limitations; and care, maintenance, useful life and disposal.

Under 1910.132(g), the general-industry assessment/training paragraphs apply to the listed eye/face, head, foot, hand and personal fall-protection provisions. They do not apply to 1910.134 respirators or 1910.137 electrical protective equipment; those have separate requirements. Hearing, fall, bloodborne-pathogen, chemical-specific, maritime and other specialized duties cannot be completed by this general core.

Use the actual activity and jurisdiction to select the track. Obtain understandable instruction and ask the knowledgeable workplace trainer about unclear equipment or methods. The sponsor must establish trainer access before employee delivery. This course does not award a competent-person, respirator-user, electrical-worker or emergency-responder qualification.