Photo Credit: Tim Gustafson

When tuberculosis is known or suspected, Border Patrol agents don N95 face masks for protection.

How do you know if you need personal protective equipment? Safety managers working with agency supervisors conduct a hazard assessment to determine if the use of PPE is mandatory for a specific work task. Supervisors refer to the PPE hazard assessment and direct employees to use the appropriate PPE for that task.

Types of PPE
Protection for the head, eyes, and face, hands, hearing, and respiration are available to all agency employees. The entire body can also be protected as employees do their job in situations of exposure to weapons of mass destruction.

Photo Credit: Ken Hammond

CBP Inspector Alex Belano cleans muddy shoes of an international traveler as part of the Foot & Mouth Prevention program at Dulles International Airport in Va.

Head protection: hardhats guard employees from impact and injury caused by falling or flying objects, fixed objects, or contact.

Face and eye protection: safety glasses, goggles, and face shields provide a barrier against hazards from flying debris, hot sparks, bloodborne pathogens, and chemical splashes.

Hand protection: a variety of gloves shield CBP employees from exposure to toxic substances absorbed through the skin and from cuts and abrasions. Employees can wear leather or cloth gloves to improve their grip when handling slippery objects, and chemical-resistant gloves are available to protect employees who must handle gasoline-soaked contraband.

Knee protection: kneepads are available for inspectors who often kneel to perform inspections.

Hearing protection: earplugs with earmuffs are available for employees to prevent irreversible damage to their hearing.

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

A CBP inspector using appropriate PPE when using a metal cutting saw.

Respiratory protection: disposable nose and mouth masks, air-purifying respirators, and supplied-air respirators prevent overexposure to inhalation hazards.

Vision protection: face shields, safety glasses and safety goggles guard against injuries from exposure to flying particles, liquid chemicals, dust, fumes or vapors, and impact injury. It's important to remember that regular eyeglasses and contact lenses offer no protection from eye hazards. Eye wash stations are often installed to offer immediate aid for employees at ports around the country.

Body protection: wearing protective clothing offers defense during tasks such as closed container inspections and against exposure to hazards such as dust, dirt, harmful chemicals, and lacerations and abrasions.

Drowning protection: U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or buoyant work vests protect marine enforcement officers and other employees who work on or near the water and are exposed to a drowning hazard.

If you spend your work hours in hazardous situations or would like to know more about PPE, contact your field Safety Manager.