What kinds of personal protective equipment are there and how are they used?

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.