PPE and RPE Awareness
Select, wear, inspect and look after PPE and respiratory protective equipment properly.
About this course
Welcome to this awareness course on personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE). It has been written for operatives, supervisors and anyone who wears or issues protective equipment on a UK worksite.
You will learn where PPE fits into managing risk, what the law requires of employers and workers, and how to select, wear, inspect and store head, eye, hearing, hand, foot, body and respiratory protection correctly.
The course runs entirely in your browser. You can stop at any point and pick up where you left off, and once you pass the final assessment you can download a PDF certificate straight away.
Who it's for
- All site operatives issued with PPE
- Anyone required to wear RPE or be face fit tested
- Supervisors issuing and checking PPE
- New starters and site visitors
Snippets from the course
Two short extracts taken straight from the course material, so you know exactly what you're signing up for.
Eye and face protection
Eye protection guards against flying particles, dust, splashes from chemicals, and radiation such as UV or arc flash from welding. The right type depends on the task: safety spectacles for general dust and debris, goggles for splash and fine dust with a sealed fit, and face shields for grinding or where impact and heat are both present.
Common glove types on site
Gloves should be checked before each use for holes, thinning material or contamination, and replaced immediately if compromised, since a damaged glove can trap hazardous substances against the skin rather than keeping them out.
What's covered
Welcome and introduction
- Welcome to PPE and RPE Awareness
- Who this course is for
- How the course works
- Why PPE and RPE matter
PPE in the hierarchy of control and the law
- The hierarchy of control
- The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
- Employer duties
- Worker duties
Head, eye and face protection
- Head protection
- Eye and face protection
- Choosing the right eye protection for the task
- Fit, comfort and common mistakes
Hearing protection and noise exposure values
- Understanding noise exposure
- Recognising noisy tasks
- Types of hearing protection
- Fitting and caring for hearing protection
Hand, foot and body protection including hi-vis and gloves selection
- Hand protection and glove selection
- Common glove types on site
- Foot protection
- Body protection and hi-vis clothing
RPE: types, filters, assigned protection factors, face fit testing and clean shaven policy
- When RPE is needed
- Types of RPE
- Assigned protection factors
- Face fit testing
Inspection, storage, maintenance, defects, reporting and replacement
- Pre-use inspection
- Storage
- Maintenance and cleaning
- Recognising and reporting defects
Summary and putting it into practice
- Course summary
- Putting it into practice: before you start work
- Putting it into practice: during and after the task
- Common questions and myths
Final assessment
A longer multiple-choice assessment covering every module. Score 80% or more and your PDF certificate is issued immediately. You can retake it as many times as you need.
Start PPE and RPE Awareness now
8 modules, a test after each one and a final assessment — all in your browser, all saved as you go.
You'll be asked to sign in or create a free account first, then pay £29.99 (includes VAT at 20%) to unlock the course. Your progress and certificate are saved to your account.