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665 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers VI
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Selection of Protective Clothing and Accessories

In this module, we will discuss the various types of protective clothing available, detail the type of protection they offer and list the factors to consider in their selection and use.

Firefighter in full PPE
firefighter in full safety gear

The personal protective clothing we will be discussing includes:

  • fully-encapsulating suits
  • non-encapsulating suits
  • aprons, leggings, sleeve protectors and gloves
  • firefighters' protective clothing
  • proximity, or approach, garments
  • blast and fragmentation suits
  • cooling garments
  • radiation-protective suits

The following list describes accessories which are common with PPE ensembles:

  • knife
  • flashlight or lantern
  • personal locator beacon
  • personal dosimeters
  • two-way radio
  • safety belts and lines

Each type of protective clothing has a specific purpose; many, but not all, are designed to protect against chemical exposure.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-1. Which accessory is commonly included with PPE ensembles?