ADOSH-SF Code of Practice 2.0 - Personal Protective Equipment

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Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and
Health System Framework
(ADOSH-SF)
Code of Practice
CoP 2.0 – Personal Protective Equipment
Version 4.0
July 2024

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 2.0 – Personal Protective Equipment - Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 2 of 14
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency ........................................................................................................................... 4
3. Requirements .................................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1. Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................................. 5
3.2. General Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 5
3.3. Planning and Assessment.................................................................................................................. 6
3.4. Selection of PPE .................................................................................................................................... 6
3.5. Maintenance of PPE ............................................................................................................................. 6
3.6. Storage Facilities for PPE .................................................................................................................. 7
3.7. Consultation & Communication ....................................................................................................... 7
3.8. Cost of Personal Protective Equipment ....................................................................................... 7
3.9. Respiratory Protection General Requirements .......................................................................... 8
3.10. Respirator Use ....................................................................................................................................... 9
3.11. Supplied Air Systems ......................................................................................................................... 10
3.12. Respirator Training and Competency .......................................................................................... 11
4. References ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
5. Document Amendment Record ............................................................................................................... 13

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 2.0 – Personal Protective Equipment - Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 3 of 14
1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all employers within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
This CoP is designed to incorporate requirements set by UAE and Abu Dhabi
Regulatory Authorities. If requirements of this document conflict with requirements
set by another regulatory authority, employers are required to follow the more
stringent requirement.
(b) PPE is defined in the glossary as: Any device, appliance or equipment (including
clothing or sunscreen affording protection against the weather) designed to be worn
or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards
or minimize their exposure to workplace risks. It includes, but is not limited to, items
such as facemasks and respirators, eye protection, high visibility clothing, coveralls,
goggles, helmets, safety harnesses, gloves and footwear.
(c) This CoP does not apply to general clothing worn whilst at work, such as corporate
clothing with the primary purpose of presenting a corporate image. However, any
uniform or clothing provided to protect against a specific risk, such as high visibility
vests, shall be deemed as PPE and covered under these requirements.

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2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that OSH training complies with the requirements of:
(i) ADOSH-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency.
(ii) ADOSH-SF – Mechanism 7.0 – Occupational Safety and Health Practitioner and
Service Provider Registration.
(b) The training shall be delivered to all persons who are required to use the PPE or could
be affected by the misuse of the PPE.
(c) Training shall include;
(i) the risk(s) which the PPE shall avoid or limit;
(ii) the limitations of the PPE;
(iii) when and where the PPE shall be worn;
(iv) what PPE shall be worn;
(v) how to correctly don, doff, adjust and wear PPE;
(vi) the correct care, cleaning, useful life, maintenance and disposal of the PPE;
(vii) identification of defects and reporting procedures;
(viii) correct storage of PPE;
(ix) inspection of PPE prior to, during and after use; and
(x) procedures for recording issue and use of PPE.
(d) Training provided shall include practical and theoretical training.
(e) Training shall be conducted in a language and method appropriate for the workforce.
(f) Training shall include a test of competency and employees shall demonstrate an
understanding of the training delivered. Employees unable to demonstrate a sound
understanding the training provided shall not be permitted to undertake the task(s)
that require the use of the said PPE until appropriate retraining has been undertaken
and understanding demonstrated.
(g) Refresher training shall be provided at appropriate intervals and include the criteria
listed in Section 2(c) of this CoP.
(h) Employers shall maintain a record of the required training that contains the following:
(i) name and ID number;
(ii) Emirates ID number of the employee;
(iii) subject(s) of training;
(iv) date(s) of training;
(v) person providing the training; and
(vi) type of PPE issued.

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3. Requirements
3.1. Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.1. Employers
(a) Employers shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.5.
(b) Every employer shall ensure that appropriate PPE is provided to all employees who
may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety whilst at work.
(c) All PPE provided to employees shall be provided at no cost to the employee.
Employees may only be charged for PPE if they willfully damage, misuse or misplace
PPE.
3.1.2. Employees
(a) Employees shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.7.
(b) Employees shall ensure they follow all the rules and regulations set by the employers
and shall not misuse items provided for the purpose of safety.
(c) Employees shall ensure that they immediately report any hazard or information that
may affect, adversely or otherwise, the works being undertaken.
3.2. General Requirements
(a) Employers are to ensure that PPE is hygienic and otherwise free of risk to health, and
that PPE is provided to a person for their personal use only.
(b) The PPE must meet the national criteria stated in the Council of Ministers Decision No.
3 of 2016 Regarding the UAE Regulation for Personal Protective Equipment, the
international standards stated in that regulation, and any international standards
approved by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) in
fulfillment of that regulation. The national regulation allows ESMA to approve any
product carrying the Emirates Quality Mark or any Mark that is approved by ESMA.
(c) Employers shall ensure that other persons in the workplace (e.g. visitors) are provided
with appropriate PPE when in areas where PPE is required and that the PPE is used
correctly.

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3.3. Planning and Assessment
(a) Employers shall evaluate each site or operation to determine if hazards are present
and the workplace shall be assessed using risk management practices as required by
ADOSH-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management.
(b) Employers shall ensure that the risk assessment is reviewed on a regular basis in line
with the requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management.
(c) Prior to providing employees with PPE, employers shall ensure that all other means of
protecting the employee from risk to their health or safety, in line with the health and
safety hierarchy of control identified within
ADOSH-SF – Element 2 – Risk
Management, have been examined, and where reasonably practicable, implemented.
3.4. Selection of PPE
(a) Where it is determined that PPE is required to avoid or limit exposure to risk,
employers shall ensure that:
(i) it is appropriate for the risk or risks involved, the conditions at the place where
exposure to the risk may occur, and the period for which it is worn;
(ii) it takes account of ergonomic requirements and the state of health of the
person or persons who may wear it, and of the characteristics of the workstation
of each such person;
(iii) it is capable of fitting the employee correctly, if necessary, after adjustments
within the range for which it is designed;
(iv) where the PPE is provided for protection against chemicals, chemical protection
/ penetration is assessed and factored into the PPE replacement; and
(v) so far as is reasonably practicable, it is effective to prevent or appropriately
control the risk or risks involved without increasing overall risk.
(b) Employers shall ensure that where the presence of more than one risk to health or
safety makes it necessary for employees to wear or use simultaneously more than
one item of PPE, such equipment is compatible and continues to be effective against
the risk or risks in question.
(c) Employers shall ensure that where they supply non-PPE clothing and footwear (e.g.
corporate uniforms) that an appropriate risk assessment is performed as per the
requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management.
3.5. Maintenance of PPE
(a) Employers shall ensure that any PPE provided to employees is maintained (including
replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in working order and in good
repair.
(b) Employers shall ensure that an appropriate inspection regime is developed and
implemented for all PPE issued.

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3.6. Storage Facilities for PPE
(a) Employers shall ensure that appropriate storage facilities are provided for the
appropriate storage and protection of PPE when it is not being used.
(b) The storage for PPE shall ensure prevention of:
(i) damage from chemicals, sunlight, high humidity, heat and accidental knocks;
(ii) contamination from dirt and harmful substances;
(iii) the possibility of losing the PPE; and
(iv) contamination from multi users.
(c) Where it is required that PPE shall not be used by other persons, employers shall
ensure that the accommodation provided is secure and can only be accessed by the
user of the PPE.
3.7. Consultation & Communication
(a) Employers shall communicate to all employee’s, visitors and interested parties;
(i) areas where PPE is required;
(ii) types of PPE required;
(iii) risks present within these areas; and
(iv) procedures for issue of PPE.
(b) Employers shall ensure that appropriate signage is erected in all areas where PPE is
required in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 17.0 – Safety Signage and Signals.
3.8. Cost of Personal Protective Equipment
(a) All necessary protective equipment shall be provided by the employers at no cost to
employees, as per clause (1-a) of Article (22) of
Implementing Regulation of Federal
Law No. (33) of 2021 regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationship.
(b) Other protective equipment shall also be provided, at no cost, by the employers as per
the results of risk assessment:
(i) everyday clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, street shoes, and
normal work boots; and
(ii) ordinary clothing, skin creams, or other items, used solely for protection from
weather, such as winter coats, jackets, gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats,
raincoats, ordinary sunglasses and sunscreen.
(c) Employers shall pay for replacement of employers-provided PPE, except when the
employee has lost or intentionally damaged the PPE.
(d) If an employee wishes to provide their own PPE, employers shall be responsible for
assuring that it provides appropriate protection based on the risk assessment,
including appropriate maintenance, and sanitation of such equipment.

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3.9. Respiratory Protection General Requirements
(a) Wherever an employee is exposed to airborne contaminants in excess of the limits set
by federal or local regulations
, employers shall provide respiratory protection to that
employee. Appropriate and effective respirators shall be provided:
(i) until such time that exposures are reduced to levels below the Threshold Limit
Value (TLV) through engineering control measures and other means; or
(ii) in those situations where engineering or other control measures are not
effective in reducing the employee’s exposure below the TLV.
(b) Employers shall provide appropriate respiratory protection in accordance of the results
of risk assessment.
(c) Employers shall ensure that the respirators do not exceed the assigned protection
factor as set by the manufacturer of the respirator.
(d) Where the use of respirators is required employers shall establish and maintain a
written Respiratory Protection Program, with required worksite-specific procedures
and elements for required respirator use. The program at a minimum shall:
(i) cover each employee required by this section to use a respirator;
(ii) be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that
affect respirator use;
(iii) employers shall include in the program procedures / provisions for the following
as applicable:
selecting respirators for use in the workplace;
appropriate use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable
emergency situations;
respiratory “fit test” requirements;
schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing,
discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;
ensuring appropriate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for
supplied air respirators;
training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are
potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;
training of employees in the appropriate use of respirators, including
putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their
maintenance; and
ensuring regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
(e) Where exposures do not exceed the TLV employers shall provide respirators at the
request of employees, or for voluntary use. Where only disposable filtering face pieces
are used on voluntary basis, at exposures below the TLV, a written respiratory
protection program is not required.
(f) Employers shall designate a competent person who is competent through appropriate
training or experience commensurate with the complexity of the program to

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administer and oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required
evaluations of program effectiveness.
(g) Employers shall provide respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the
employee.
(h) Where disposable respirators are used employers shall supply an appropriate number
of respirators to allow replacement as required by conditions in the workplace.
(i) Appropriate medical surveillance shall be maintained of work area conditions and
degree of employee exposure, as per
ADOSH-SF – CoP 5.0 – Occupational Health
Screening and Medical Surveillance. When there is a change in work area conditions or
degree of employee exposure that may affect respirator effectiveness, employers
shall reevaluate the continued effectiveness of the respirator.
(j) Employers shall conduct evaluations of the workplace as required to ensure that the
provisions of the current written Program are being effectively implemented and that
it continues to be effective. Respiratory Protection Program evaluations shall be
conducted annually.
3.10. Respirator Use
(a) Employers shall provide each employee required to use respiratory protection with a
respirator that is clean, sanitary, and in good working order.
(b) Employers shall develop a schedule to replace respirator filters based upon the
manufactures requirements, the use of the respirator and effective life of the
respirator.
(c) Employers shall ensure that respirators are cleaned and disinfected as required and
recommended by the respirator manufacturer and including:
(i) respirators issued to more than one employee shall be cleaned and disinfected
before being worn by different employees;
(ii) respirators maintained for emergency use shall be cleaned and disinfected after
each use; and
(iii) all respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust,
sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals,
and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the face piece and
exhalation valve.
(d) All respirators used in routine situations are to be inspected before each use and
during cleaning.
(e) All respirators maintained for use in emergency situations are to be inspected at least
monthly and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and shall be
checked for appropriate function before and after each use.
(f) Employers shall ensure that respirators that fail an inspection or are otherwise found
to be defective are removed from service, and are discarded or repaired or adjusted in
accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

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(g) Repairs or adjustments to respirators are to be made only by persons appropriately
trained to perform such operations and shall use only the respirator manufacturer's
approved parts designed for that respirator.
3.11. Supplied Air Systems
(a) Employers shall ensure that compressed air supplied to respirators meet the following
specifications:
(i) oxygen content (v/v) of 19.5% - 23.5%;
(ii) hydrocarbon (condensed) content of 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air or less;
(iii) carbon monoxide (CO) content of 10 ppm or less;
(iv) carbon dioxide content of 1,000 ppm or less;
(v) lack of noticeable odour; and
(vi) contains no concentration of toxic material(s)
(b) Employers shall ensure that compressors or cylinders used to supply breathing air to
respirators are constructed and situated so as to:
(i) prevent entry of contaminated air into the air-supply system;
(ii) minimize moisture content so that the dew point at 1 atmosphere pressure is
5.5 degrees C below the ambient temperature;
(iii) have suitable in-line air-purifying sorbent beds and filters to further ensure
breathing air quality. Sorbent beds and filters shall:
be maintained and replaced or refurbished periodically following the
manufacturer's instructions; and
have a tag containing the most recent change date and the signature of
the person authorized by employers to perform the change. The tag shall
be maintained at the compressor.
(c) For compressors that are not oil-lubricated, employers shall ensure that carbon
monoxide levels in the breathing air do not exceed 10 ppm.
(d) For oil-lubricated compressors, employers shall use a high-temperature or carbon
monoxide alarm, or both, to monitor carbon monoxide levels. If only high-temperature
alarms are used, the air supply shall be monitored at intervals appropriate to prevent
carbon monoxide in the breathing air from exceeding 10 ppm. Refer to
ADOSH-SF –
CoP 36.0 – Plant and Equipment and
ADOSH-SF – CoP 49.0 – Compressed Gases and Air.
(e) Employers shall ensure that breathing air couplings are incompatible with outlets for
non-respirable worksite air or other gas systems. No asphyxiating substance shall be
introduced into breathing air lines.

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3.12. Respirator Training and Competency
(a) Prior to requiring an employee to use a respirator in the workplace, employers shall
provide a training program appropriate to ensure that each employee can demonstrate
knowledge of at least the following:
(i) why the respirator is required and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can
compromise the protective effect of the respirator;
(ii) what the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are;
(iii) how to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including
situations in which the respirator malfunctions;
(iv) how to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator;
(v) the procedures for maintenance and storage of the respirator;
(vi) how to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the
effective use of respirators; and
(vii) the general requirements of this section.
(b) Training shall be conducted in a language and method that is understandable to the
employee, at a time and place convenient to the employee, and at no cost to the
employee.
(c) Retraining is to be administered annually, and when the following situations occur:
(i) changes in the workplace or the type of respirator render previous training
obsolete;
(ii) inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of the respirator indicate that
the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill; or
(iii) any other situation arises in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe
respirator use.

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4. References
•
INDG288 – Selection of Suitable Respiratory Protective Equipment – HSE – UK
•
L25 – PPE at Work Regulations and Guidance – HSE – UK

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5. Document Amendment Record
Version Revision Date Description of Amendment Page/s Affected
4.0
15 th July 2024
System acronym updated from OSHAD-SF
to ADOSH-SF to accurately reflect
document title
Throughout
Change from OSHAD to ADPHC
Change of Logo
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements.
Title of Mechanism 7.0 updated to ADOSH-
SF – Mechanism 7– Public and Preventive
Health Practitioner and Service Provider
Accreditation
OSHAD-SF - Mechanism 8.0 - OSH
Practitioner Registration deleted
Update clause 3.8(a) to refer to the
updated federal regulations currently
applicable
7
From Clause 3.9(a), delete reference to
Standards & Guideline Limit Values
document under the SF
8