PPE, or personal protective equipment, refers to equipment or safety clothing designed to protect the wearer/user from injury or infection resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards, such as potentially infections or biohazardous material.
The need for PPE will be dependent upon:
- The hazard(s) and risk(s) that may be present
- The type of work operations
- The nature and quantity of the hazardous materials in use
PPE selection and use must be assessed based on the hazards and risks that may be present. Those who rely on PPE must understand its proper use, functioning, and limitations.
