State departments of transportation (DOTs) are responsible for managing and maintaining highway systems and, in some cases, additional infrastructure such as airports. These operations expose their employees to a range of occupational hazards across varied environments, including high-speed work zones, heavy machinery operations, laboratory settings, shop facilities, and complex field operations involving construction and maintenance activities. Ensuring the safety of employees is a goal for all state DOTs, and personal protective equipment (PPE) is one tool used to support this goal. As defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), PPE “is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.” PPE can minimize exposure to physical, electrical, mechanical, chemical, or other workplace hazards.

NCHRP Synthesis 669: Personal Protective Equipment: Policies, Programs, and Practices, produced by TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program, examines state DOTs’ selection, use, procurement, tracking, maintenance, and replacement of PPE for construction and maintenance activities. It also explores emerging PPE technologies, employee training and communication, methods for gathering employee feedback, and approaches for evaluating PPE performance. It is important to emphasize that some states have their own occupational safety and health (OSH) policies and regulations that may or may not be more stringent than OSHA regulations. To provide a more nationally applicable report, this synthesis focuses on OSHA regulations rather than referencing specific state OSH policies or regulations. However, all OSH policies and regulations are intended to promote employee safety.

Infrastructure Assets: Highway Assets, Transit Assets
Resource Types: Research Report
Capabilities: Tools & Technology
Management Processes: Strategic Direction