What is PPE? A Guide to Personal Protective Equipment

PPE stands for personal protective equipment. It includes equipment worn to reduce exposure to workplace hazards that can cause injuries or illnesses. Common examples include hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, safety footwear, hearing protection, respirators, and protective clothing. 

PPE is an important part of workplace safety, but it should not be the only way an organization controls hazards. Selecting the right PPE starts with identifying the hazards workers face, considering more effective controls, choosing appropriate equipment, confirming proper fit, and training workers to use and maintain it correctly. 

What Does PPE Mean? 

PPE means personal protective equipment. OSHA defines PPE as equipment worn to minimize exposure to workplace hazards that can cause serious injuries or illnesses. These hazards may be chemical, physical, electrical, mechanical, radiological, or related to other workplace conditions. 

PPE can protect different parts of the body depending on the hazard and work being performed. 

Types of PPE

The correct PPE depends on the hazard. A hard hat, glove, respirator, or other item should not be selected simply because it is commonly used in an industry. 

Why is PPE Important?

PPE provides a protective barrier between workers and hazards that remain after other controls have been considered or implemented. Depending on the work, PPE can help reduce exposure to hazards involving the eyes, head, hands, feet, hearing, respiratory system, skin, or body. 

Its effectiveness depends on more than simply making equipment available. PPE needs to be appropriate for the hazard, properly fitted, correctly worn, maintained, and replaced when it is no longer reliable. 

OSHA recommends that a PPE program address the hazards present, PPE selection and use, maintenance, employee training, and ongoing monitoring of the program’s effectiveness. 

How Do You Choose the Right PPE?

Choosing PPE should begin with the hazard, not the equipment.

1. Conduct a Hazard Assessment

Identify hazards that are present or likely to be present in the workplace. For general industry, OSHA requires employers to assess the workplace to determine whether hazards requiring PPE are present or likely to be present. When PPE is required, employers must select equipment that protects affected employees from the hazards identified. 

A hazard assessment may consider factors such as the work being performed, equipment being used, environmental conditions, hazardous substances, and potential routes of exposure.

2. Consider Other Hazard Controls

Before relying on PPE, consider whether the hazard can be eliminated, substituted, isolated, or reduced through engineering or administrative controls. PPE may then be used for risks that cannot otherwise be adequately controlled.

3. Match PPE to the Hazard

Different hazards require different forms and levels of protection. Selection should account for the task, exposure, applicable OSHA requirements, equipment specifications, and recognized standards relevant to that type of PPE. 

OSHA notes that many PPE categories must meet or be equivalent to standards developed by organizations such as the American National Standards Institute.

4. Make Sure PPE Fits Properly

PPE must provide the intended protection without creating additional problems because it is too large, too small, loose, or otherwise unsuitable for the worker. 

This is especially important in construction. OSHA revised its construction PPE standard to explicitly require employers to select PPE that properly fits each affected employee. The rule took effect on January 13, 2025. 

The requirement reinforces an important principle: PPE should account for workers of different sizes and body shapes rather than assuming one standard size works for everyone.

5. Train Workers

Providing PPE is not enough. Workers need to understand how to use it. Under OSHA’s general PPE requirements, required training includes when PPE is necessary, what equipment is necessary, how to put it on and remove it properly, its limitations, and its proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal. 

Workers should also demonstrate that they understand the training and can use the required equipment properly before performing work that requires it. 

Make PPE Part of a Stronger Safety Program 

PPE is an important part of workplace safety, but effective protection starts before a worker puts on a hard hat, pair of gloves, or safety glasses.  

Organizations need to identify hazards, select appropriate controls, provide properly fitting PPE when required, train workers, maintain equipment, and keep safety processes consistent over time. 

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