Why and when should should personal protective equipment PPE be used?

In general, personal protective equipment (PPE) is used when a hazard cannot be adequately controlled by other means such as engineering controls or administrative controls.

For instance, safety glasses or a face shield maybe required when performing grinding operations- but for a grinding machine, a fixed guard can be provided that is more effective than the glasses.

Or, rather than provide a respirator to a worker running a rock drill, control the dust given off by the drill with a dust collector, or water spray.

Categories of personal protective equipment include:

foot protection

head and face protection

eye protection

respiratory protection

hand protection

skin protection

fall protection

To be more specific here are some PPE properties and uses depending on what needs to be protected.

Eyes

Hazards: chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour, radiation.

Options: safety spectacles, goggles, faceshields, visors.

Head

Hazards: impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair

entanglement.

Options: a range of helmets and bump caps.

Breathing

Hazards: dust, vapour, gas, oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

Options: disposable filtering facepiece or respirator, half- or full-face respirators,

air-fed helmets, breathing apparatus.

Protecting the body

Hazards: temperature extremes, adverse weather, chemical or metal splash, spray

from pressure leaks or spray guns, impact or penetration, contaminated dust,

excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing.

Options: conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, specialist protective

clothing, eg chain-mail aprons, high-visibility clothing.

Hands and arms

Hazards: abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals,

electric shock, skin infection, disease or contamination.

Options: gloves, gauntlets, mitts, wristcuffs, armlets.

Feet and legs

Hazards: wet, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects,

metal and chemical splash, abrasion.

Options: safety boots and shoes with protective toe caps and penetration-resistant

mid-sole, gaiters, leggings, spats.