Is personal protective equipment the most effective method of controlling exposure to workplace hazards?

No, personal protective equipment (PPE) is probably the least effective means of controlling exposure to workplace hazards, because its success depends on each person using it properly each day, every day and all day.

Much more effective is to:

1. eliminate the hazard from the workplace, or
2. provide engineering controls to contain the hazard and prevent its coming in contact with the worker.