3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

As with some other aspects of health and safety, there are common misconceptions about PPE. Personal protective equipment must be the last resort, never the first choice. The operation for which PPE is used must have been made as safe as possible BEFORE the choice to use PPE is taken.

For example, if items are likely to fall from scaffolding, make the scaffolding safer first by ensuring toe-boards and netting are in place rather than just enforcing the wearing of hard hats. PPE is more than just hard hats and safety boots. There are many items of PPE designed to protect: Eyes Safety glasses, goggles, face screens, face shields, visors Head and neck Safety helmets, bump caps, hairnets, firefighters’ helmets Ears Earplugs, earmuffs, semi-insert/canal caps...

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An explanation of when and how to select PPE, and how to use it correctly.

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