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Annual PPE Review

A yearly review keeps protective equipment from quietly wearing out. It is also a chance to look at what changed on the farm: new tasks, new products, new workers, and new equipment.

Why do an annual review?

Gear wears out slowly and tasks change. Something that was fine two years ago may no longer fit the work or the people doing it. A set time each year turns good intentions into a habit.

Many farms pick a slower season, such as winter, so that replacements can be ordered before spring work starts.

Reviewing at the same time each year, tied to something predictable like the end of harvest or the start of the new year, makes it more likely to happen. The review should be short enough that you will actually do it, and thorough enough to be useful. A half day with a checklist is a reasonable goal for many farms.

What should I check?

Go through every item: gloves, eye and face protection, hearing protection, footwear, head protection, clothing, respirators, sun and insect gear. Look for damage, wear, expired parts, and fit. Compare against maker guidance.

Check storage and cleaning supplies, and make sure items are where people need them.

Try gear on with the people who use it, and ask each person to say what works and what does not. Note anything that has been quietly replaced with a personal substitute. Sort items into three piles: keep, repair or clean, and replace. Anything you cannot judge, compare to the maker's information or ask for help.

• Condition and wear.
• Fit for current workers.
• Storage and cleaning supplies.

What changed on the farm?

List new tasks, new chemicals, new equipment, new buildings, and new workers. Each may call for different gear or training. Check labels and safety data sheets for any new products.

Ask OSHA, your extension office, or manufacturers about updated guidance.

Look back at the past year: injuries, near misses, complaints, and jobs that felt unsafe. Each tells you something about whether the gear matched the task. Write down which products and tasks need which gear, in a short chart that anyone can read. Post it where the gear is kept.

Who should be involved?

Ask the people who wear the gear. They know what is uncomfortable, what breaks, and what is missing. Include family members, seasonal workers, and young workers where appropriate.

Consider asking an outside expert, such as an extension educator, to review your plan.

Invite someone from outside, such as a neighbor, extension educator, or insurer, to walk through with you. A fresh pair of eyes often finds what insiders no longer see. Include young workers and new hires, who may notice things that experienced workers have stopped seeing, and thank them for their input.

How do I record and act on it?

Make a simple list: what to replace, what to buy, what training to schedule, and who is responsible. Set dates. Keep the list and review it next year.

Set aside budget so that replacements are not delayed.

Assign each action to a named person and a date, and check progress at a short meeting a month later. Small, completed tasks are better than a large unfinished list. Keep it practical: a short list with owners and dates is more useful than a long document that no one reads.

What about training and policies?

Use the review to schedule refresher training and to update written policies. Check with OSHA and your state about any requirements that apply to you.

Include emergency plans and first aid supplies, and confirm that everyone knows to call 911.

Check that first aid supplies, eyewash arrangements, and emergency contact lists are current as well. Training in first aid is available through the American Red Cross and local responders. If a worker has had an injury or a close call this year, use the review to look at whether gear or training played a part, without blaming anyone.

How do I make it stick?

Pick a date and put it on the calendar. Keep the process short and useful. Share what you learn with neighbors and your extension office.

Celebrate progress and keep improving.

Keep the last year's list so you can see what keeps recurring, and share the findings with your crew so that they see the review leading to action. Tie the review to something else you do every year, like a safety day or insurance renewal, so that it does not slip.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.