Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter.
PPE is used in a variety of settings, including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. It is important to choose the right PPE for the specific hazard you are exposed to. For example, if you are working with chemicals, you will need to wear a respirator and gloves. If you are working with electricity, you will need to wear a hard hat and safety glasses and potentially arc flash coveralls.
It is also important to make sure that your PPE fits properly. Loose-fitting PPE can reduce its effectiveness, while tight-fitting PPE can be uncomfortable and restrict your movement.
PPE is an important part of workplace safety. By wearing the right PPE, you can help to protect yourself from injury or infection.
Here are some examples of PPE:
- Hard hats
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
- Respirators
- Ear defenders
- Visors
- Coveralls/boilersuits
- High visibility clothing
- PVC Chemical suits
- Steel-toed boots
- Wellington boots
- Tyvek suits
- Goggles
- Face shields
- Hearing protection
- Fall protection
PPE is required by law in some workplaces. In other workplaces, it is not required by law, but it is still a good idea to wear it. If you are not sure whether or not you need to wear PPE, you should ask your employer.
PPE can be uncomfortable to wear, but it is important to remember that it is there to protect you. If you are not comfortable wearing your PPE, you should talk to your employer about finding a more comfortable solution.