Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Selection, Use and Limitations
Personal protective equipment helps reduce exposure to workplace hazards when appropriate PPE is correctly selected, fitted, used and maintained as part of a wider risk-control strategy.
What Is Personal Protective Equipment?
Personal protective equipment, commonly abbreviated as PPE, includes equipment worn or used by an individual to help reduce exposure to workplace hazards. Depending on the activity, PPE may protect the head, eyes, face, hearing, respiratory system, hands, body or feet.
PPE can be essential in many work environments, but it does not normally remove the underlying hazard. Its effectiveness depends on appropriate selection, correct use and continued performance under actual working conditions.
Requirements for specific types of PPE can vary by hazard, industry and jurisdiction. Organizations should therefore consider applicable legal, regulatory, technical and manufacturer requirements when establishing PPE arrangements.
Where PPE Fits in the Hierarchy of Controls
Personal protective equipment is generally positioned toward the lower end of the hierarchy of controls because it places a protective barrier on the individual rather than eliminating the hazard itself.
Before relying primarily on PPE, organizations should consider whether hazards can be eliminated, substituted or controlled through appropriate engineering measures. Administrative measures may also form part of the overall control strategy.
This does not make PPE unimportant. It means PPE should be selected as part of a systematic approach to risk control rather than automatically becoming the first response to every hazard.
Common Types of Personal Protective Equipment
The PPE required depends on the hazards and exposure conditions associated with the work.
Head Protection
Protective headwear may be required where there is a relevant risk from falling or flying objects, impact or other identified hazards.
Eye & Face Protection
Safety glasses, goggles, face protection or other suitable equipment may help protect against particles, splashes, radiation or other hazards.
Hearing Protection
Appropriate hearing protection may form part of a noise-control program where hazardous noise exposure remains after other controls are considered.
Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protective equipment may be required for particular airborne hazards and requires careful selection for the contaminant and exposure conditions.
Hand & Body Protection
Gloves, protective clothing and related equipment should be selected according to the specific mechanical, chemical, thermal or other hazards involved.
Foot Protection
Protective footwear may address risks associated with impact, penetration, slipping, electrical hazards, chemicals or other workplace conditions.
How to Select Appropriate PPE
PPE selection should begin with the hazard and exposure rather than with the equipment catalog. Different products can provide very different levels and types of protection.
Identify the Hazard
Understand the source, nature and potential consequences of the exposure requiring protection.
Evaluate the Exposure
Consider how exposure occurs, its intensity or duration where relevant and the work conditions involved.
Select Suitable PPE
Choose equipment designed to provide appropriate protection for the identified hazard and intended application.
Verify Fit & Use
Confirm that the equipment can be correctly fitted, used and maintained by the people who require it.
PPE Must Match the Hazard
The fact that equipment is described as protective does not mean it is suitable for every exposure. Gloves designed for one type of chemical may not provide appropriate protection against another. Eye protection intended for impact hazards may differ from equipment required for chemical splash or other exposures.
Selection should consider relevant performance specifications, compatibility with the hazard, manufacturer information and applicable workplace requirements.
Where specialized technical knowledge is required, competent advice should be obtained rather than relying on assumptions about equipment performance.
Why PPE Fit Matters
Protective equipment can provide inadequate protection if it does not fit the person or cannot be worn correctly during the task. Poor fit may create gaps, movement, discomfort or interference with work.
Some forms of PPE have specific fitting or fit-testing requirements depending on the equipment and applicable standards or regulations. Respiratory protection is an important example where fit can be critical to performance.
Organizations should also consider the range of people expected to use the equipment rather than assuming a single size or design will be suitable for everyone.
Using Multiple Types of PPE Together
Some tasks require more than one type of personal protective equipment. When PPE is combined, the items should remain compatible and should not significantly reduce each other’s protective performance.
For example, eye protection, hearing protection, respiratory equipment and head protection may need to be worn at the same time. The way one item fits can affect another.
Compatibility should therefore be considered during selection and verified under realistic working conditions.
Workers Need to Understand Their PPE
Providing PPE without explaining its purpose and correct use can undermine the protection it is intended to provide.
Relevant users should understand when the equipment is required, what hazards it is intended to address, how it should be fitted and used, how to recognize obvious defects and what its limitations are.
Training should be appropriate to the equipment and work involved. Practical demonstration may be necessary where correct fitting or use cannot be learned adequately from written instructions alone.
Inspect PPE Before and During Use
Personal protective equipment can deteriorate through use, contamination, damage, aging or incorrect storage. Equipment should be inspected at appropriate intervals and before use where applicable.
Users should know what defects or deterioration could affect protection and what action to take when equipment is unsuitable.
Damaged or defective PPE should be removed from service, repaired where permitted or replaced according to applicable procedures and manufacturer requirements.
Cleaning, Maintenance and Storage of PPE
Correct maintenance helps protective equipment continue to perform as intended. Requirements vary substantially between different types of PPE.
Cleaning
Reusable equipment should be cleaned using methods appropriate to the material, contamination and manufacturer instructions.
Maintenance
Replaceable components, adjustments and repairs should be managed according to applicable instructions and workplace procedures.
Storage
PPE should be stored in conditions that protect it from contamination, damage, excessive deterioration or other factors affecting performance.
Understanding the Limitations of Personal Protective Equipment
PPE does not make a hazardous environment inherently safe. In many situations, the hazard remains present while the equipment attempts to reduce the user’s exposure.
Protection can be compromised by incorrect selection, poor fit, misuse, damage, contamination, inadequate maintenance or failure to wear the equipment when required.
PPE may also introduce practical considerations such as reduced visibility, restricted movement, heat stress, communication difficulty or compatibility problems. These factors should be considered during selection and risk assessment.
When Should PPE Selection Be Reviewed?
PPE arrangements should be reviewed when relevant hazards, tasks or exposure conditions change. New equipment, substances, processes or work environments may make previously selected PPE unsuitable.
Review may also be appropriate following incidents or near misses, reports of equipment problems, changes in technical information, updates to applicable requirements or evidence that existing PPE is not providing the intended protection.
Workplace inspections and worker feedback can provide useful information about how PPE performs under actual working conditions.
Common PPE Safety Mistakes
Using PPE as the Only Control
Relying automatically on protective equipment can overlook opportunities to eliminate hazards or reduce exposure through higher-level controls.
Ignoring Fit & Compatibility
Suitable equipment can still provide inadequate protection when it fits poorly or interferes with other required PPE.
Using Damaged PPE
Equipment can lose protective performance through damage, deterioration, contamination or inadequate maintenance.
Personal Protective Equipment Is One Part of Risk Control
Effective use of personal protective equipment begins with understanding the hazard. PPE should be suitable for the exposure, compatible with other equipment, properly fitted and supported by appropriate training, inspection, maintenance and storage.
Most importantly, PPE should be considered within the wider hierarchy of controls. Where hazards can reasonably be eliminated or controlled more effectively at their source, those options should be considered as part of the risk-control process.
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