What is PPE?

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment.

That can refer to hard hats, gloves, safety goggles, protective clothing, earplugs, or any other piece of equipment that protects workers’ bodies from injury.

Companies should always provide PPE for their employees to protect them from job site hazards. It should be given free of charge, it should be fully functional and should fit properly.

6 Types of PPE:

• Eye and face protection

• Head protection

• Foot and leg protection

• Hand and arm protection

• Body protection

• Hearing protection

When working around machinery, construction equipment, or any other unsafe hazard on the job, PPE should ALWAYS be worn.

It should be noted that PPE should only be used as a last resort. According to OSHA, controlling a hazard at its source is the best way to protect employees. In simple terms, this means that physically controlling or stopping a hazard is the best option. For example, erecting a barrier or wall between the hazard and the worker. Or if there is a loud noise, confine that noise to a soundproof room and keep workers away as much as possible, etc.

PPE should only be used as a supplement to stopping hazards and should not be the only line of defense against them.