This is a selection of protective clothing, helmets, goggles or other garments or equipment
designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by
protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards and airborne particulate matter.
Protective equipment may be worn for job-related occupational safety and health purposes.
"Protective clothing" is applied to traditional categories of clothing,
and "protective gear" applies to items such as pads, guards, shields, or masks, and others.
PPE is needed when there are hazards present. PPE has the serious limitation that it does not
eliminate the hazard at the source and may result in employees being exposed to the hazard
if the equipment fails.
Practices of occupational safety and health can use hazard controls and interventions to
mitigate workplace hazards, which pose a threat to the safety and quality of life of workers.
The hierachy of hazard controls provides a policy framework which ranks the types of
hazard controls in terms of absolute risk reduction.