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Roles and Responsibilities

PPE coordinators should take the required training specified by the program (i.e. PPE Awareness and Hazard Assessments) prior to fulfilling the responsibilities indicated below.

PPE coordinators designated by the department will perform the following tasks once they have received training from Environmental Health & Safety:

  • Conduct hazard assessments in accordance with the requirements outlined in this program.
  • Evaluate the hazards identified to determine if engineering or administrative controls can be implemented to eliminate or reduce the hazard to a safe level. Guidance on hazard control is provided in this program. Environmental Health & Safety should be consulted for certain controls, such as respiratory or hearing protection, ventilation systems, etc.
  • Select and have each affected employee use appropriate protective equipment if hazards cannot be properly controlled. The department must assure that all PPE meets regulatory requirements as defined in this program, and is of a safe design and construction for the work to be performed.
  • Assure that employee-owned equipment, where provided by the employee, is approved and adequate for the hazardous condition, and that this equipment is properly maintained and inspected as required by this program or the manufacturer.
  • Assure that damaged or defective PPE is removed from service and not used.
  • Assure that employees assigned and required to use PPE are properly trained and informed regarding the hazards and proper use, storage, care, inspection, and maintenance of such equipment. New employees should receive training from the supervisor/PPE coordinator prior to being assigned tasks requiring the use of PPE.
  • Maintain documentation for hazard assessments and PPE training. Documents must be made available to Environmental Health & Safety or other regulatory authorities upon request. 
  • Review existing Hazard Assessments on a periodic basis to ensure PPE assignments remain valid and personnel are trained and informed.
  • Reassess the workplace when new hazards are introduced, or when processes are changed or added.

Employees and students are responsible for following the requirements of this program. Expectations include:

  • Attend required training sessions on assigned PPE provided by the Supervisor or PPE Coordinator.
  • Wear assigned PPE as required.
  • Properly clean, inspect, maintain, and care for PPE as required.
  • Inform the PPE Coordinator of the need for repair or replacement of PPE.

Environmental Health & Safety responsibilities for this program include:

  • Developing, implementing, and administering the program.
  • Training PPE coordinators on all aspects of the program requirements.
  • Serving as a technical resource to departments and PPE coordinators, including for hazard evaluations and control reviews.
  • Providing guidance on the selection, care, inspection, and use of PPE.
  • Maintaining centralized records of PPE coordinator training and related inspections.
  • Evaluating the overall effectiveness of the program on a periodic basis and making appropriate changes as needed to assure the safety of personnel.
  • Maintaining the university Respiratory Protection and Hearing Conservation programs, and evaluating workplace exposures to hazards that would require the use of respirators, hearing protection, or laser eyewear.
  • Maintaining the University Chemical Hygiene Plan for laboratory operations.

Contractors must comply with all local, state, and federal safety requirements, and must assure that all of their employees performing work on Virginia Tech property have been suitably trained and are provided appropriate personal protective equipment. Contractors must also comply with the requirements outlined in Virginia Tech's Safety Requirements for Contractors and Subcontractors.

Visitors to Virginia Tech property, who may be exposed to certain hazards, must wear appropriate PPE. It is the responsibility of the person(s) hosting the visitors to enforce this aspect. PPE used by visitors, whether provided by the visitor or the host department, must meet at a minimum the requirements established for Virginia Tech employees.