What Is The Required PPE?

PPE Definition: clothing and protective equipment such as goggles, a face shield and ear plugs, worn as protection against safety and health hazards. PPE is the acronym for Personal Protective Equipment. PPE is used to reduce exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels.

What type of PPE is required? That depends on the hazard. It is important to use PPE that is appropriate for the hazard. Insufficient or incorrect PPE can result in injury or death. Excessive PPE makes it difficult to work and may lead to noncompliance with PPE requirements.

An important use of labels and signs is to inform people about the required PPE. For example, signs are used to inform people that hearing protection is required. Labels inform people about arc flash hazards and the required PPE. Providing needed information about PPE, at the point where it is needed, is an important function of safety labels and signs.

How do you know what PPE is required? There is a Guide To Required PPE that can help. It shows the 12 major hazard categories and the PPE that is required for each. It serves as a good starting point for determining what PPE is required. The Guide To Required PPE is available free. Use the above link to order your copy.