Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE)
 Personal protective equipment (PPE):
The clothing and/or equipment worn by
workers (including first responders and
first receiver) to prevent or mitigate
serious job-related illness or injury. 
o Individual PPE elements can

include:
o Dermal protective equipment

o Respiratory protective equipment

 PPE ensembles: prescribed sets of

individual PPE elements worn together to
protect against chemical, radiological,
physical, electrical, mechanical, or other
occupational hazards
 o Protection provided by ensembles
should be proportional to the
anticipated level of risk.
o When exposures are immediately

dangerous to life and health the

most protective PPE ensembles
should be worn.
o In less toxic environments, less

restrictive PPE ensembles can be

chosen.
 No combination of PPE elements can
protect against all possible hazards
o Whenever possible, implement

administrative and local

measures as the primary means of
limiting worker exposure to
environmental hazards.
o PPE should be used only after

administrative and/or engineering

controls fail to achieve an
acceptable level of worker protection
and safety.