If PPE is found defective during inspection, what is the appropriate action?

• A. Remove from service and report the defect.
• B. Repair with duct tape and continue.
• C. Ignore until the next shift.
• D. Continue using if the defect is minor.

Answer: (A)

When PPE is found defective during inspection, the protective function cannot be trusted, so the item must be taken out of service immediately and the defect reported. PPE is relied on to guard against specific hazards, and even a small flaw can compromise its ability to protect, potentially exposing the worker to risk. By removing the item and notifying the supervisor or safety officer, you initiate the proper process to assess whether the equipment can be repaired by qualified personnel or needs to be replaced, ensuring future use is safe.

This approach prevents risky shortcuts like trying to patch or tape a damaged item, ignoring the defect, or continuing to use something that might fail under real conditions. Defective PPE should be tagged or isolated, and handled through the established maintenance or replacement procedures.