PPE selection and inspection checklist

Site: ______________________ Date: ____________ Checked by: ______________________

01Before choosing PPE

Risk assessment shows which hazards remain after other controls. WSH (Risk Management) Regs, reg 4
Each PPE item is rated for the named hazard, such as a filter type for the chemical.
Items carry a recognised standard marking and a certificate of conformity.

02Fit and training

More than one size available for helmets, gloves, boots and harnesses.
Tight-fitting respirators fit-tested for each wearer.
Workers wearing tight-fitting respirators are clean-shaven where the seal sits.
Harness passes the two-finger test on the wearer.
Items worn together checked for compatibility, such as glasses with earmuffs.
Workers trained to put on, adjust and remove each item.

03Pre-use checks

Helmet shell free of cracks, dents and fading. Inner harness intact.
Eye protection clear and unscratched, with side shields in place.
Harness webbing free of cuts, fraying, burns and chemical marks.
Lanyard hooks close and lock on their own.
Respirator valves and straps intact and filters within date.
Gloves and boots free of holes, splits and worn soles.

04Care and records

PPE stored clean and dry, away from sunlight, heat and chemicals.
Fall protection gear inspected by a competent person at least every 12 months. WSH Council PPE for work at heights
Fall arrest equipment that has stopped a fall removed from service. WSH Council PPE for work at heights
Issue log shows who received which item and when.
Replacement dates set to the manufacturer's stated lifespan.

05On the job

Everyone in the area wears the PPE the task requires, supervisors included. MOM: employee duties
Nobody has altered or removed parts of their PPE. MOM: employee duties

Legal requirement

In Singapore, employers, principals and self-employed persons must eliminate or reduce risk before relying on PPE. The WSH (Risk Management) Regulations list suitable PPE alongside substitution, engineering control and administrative control. Employees must use the PPE provided and must not tamper with or misuse it.

Sources and further reading

Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations, Singapore Statutes Online.
WSH Act: responsibilities of stakeholders, Ministry of Manpower.
WSH Guidelines: Personal Protective Equipment for Work at Heights, WSH Council.

This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Laws and codes of practice change; always check the current official text and your site's own procedures.

PPE selection and inspection checklist

01Before choosing PPE

02Fit and training

03Pre-use checks

04Care and records

05On the job

Sources and further reading

Related reading

PPE selection, use and checks: what supervisors need to know

PPE issue and inspection log checklist

Toolbox talk: respirator fit and seal checks