Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Procurement

Under OSHA standards, it is the responsibility of the employer to provide, at no cost to the employee, all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by the employee (link).  This is where procurement comes in.  

Procurement is defined as “to gain or obtain possession of; to acquire.”   After a Local Public Health Agency (LPHA) completes a hazard assessment (link) and develops a required PPE Plan (link), then the LPHA is ready to procure the proper PPE.  Based on the LPHA hazard assessment, agency should have adequate levels of PPE on-site for staff to use to respond to the hazards identified.  The LPHA should also consider stockpiling PPE for large-scale public health emergencies such as a pandemic influenza.  

This page is intended to 1) provide LPHA with a calculator resource to help estimate face mask and respirator needs during pandemic influenza and 2) link LPHA to vendors that are able to help meet the agency PPE needs.  

PPE Equipment Vendor Resources

The vendors listed below offer United States General Services Administration (GSA) (exit DHS) contract prices to Local Public Health Agencies in Wisconsin.  Still, LPHA may choose to use vendors listed on this page or continue to use existing vendors in their procurement endeavors.  

The Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH), Department of Health Services, does not endorse the vendors listed on this page.  

The two companies listed below currently hold a contract with the Wisconsin Division of Public Health.   Local Health Departments and Tribal agencies may order PPE through the DPH contract at the discounted GSA prices.

• To order PPE and other medical supplies except disposable gloves:

McKesson Corporation

Contact Catherine Glade, Sales Representative

1-800-328-8111

• To order disposable gloves:

Lakeside Curative Services

Ask for the Wisconsin Division of Public Health sales representative

1-866-238-0200  

Respirator and Facemask Calculator for Pandemic Influenza:
A Tool for Wisconsin Local Public Health Agencies

  The following resource was developed by the Wisconsin Division of Public Health State Expert Panel on Personal Protective Equipment to support public health functions.  

The Respiratory and Facemask Calculator for Pandemic Influenza Calculator (link) is intended to assist Local Public Health Agencies in determining the amount of face masks and respirators that public health agencies will need for a pandemic influenza.  

 The calculator is based on CDC Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use to Reduce 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission. (exit DHS)

The calculator includes the following tools:

• Calculator Assumptions (Excel, 124 KB) – The first worksheet provides the assumptions that the calculator is based on, addresses the four levels of risk exposure to employees, and explores other factors to consider when estimating PPE to purchase, store, stockpile and use during a pandemic influenza.
• Planning Tool (Excel, 124 KB) – The second worksheet helps LPHA determine the exposure risk levels and number of staff and volunteers estimated to respond during a pandemic.
• Calculator Tool (Excel, 124 KB) – The third worksheet tool helps determine the amount of respirators and facemasks needed, approximate storage requirements, and costs associated with purchasing the PPE.   

Resources

OSHA announces employer-paid personal protective equipment final rule (exit DHS)
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on November 14, 2007, announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE). Under the rule, all PPE, with a few exceptions, will be provided at no cost to the employee. OSHA anticipates that this rule will have substantial safety benefits that will result in more than 21,000 fewer occupational injuries per year. 

If you have any questions, e-mail your Regional Office.

Last Revised: July 25, 2012