Personal protective equipment, also known as PPE, is gear worn to minimize exposure to serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may include hearing loss, lung disease, skin cancer, and others.
PPE can include items such as gloves, safety glasses, goggles, earplugs or muffs, respirators, or full-face shields. Workplaces must assess the risks present in their environment and provide PPE gear when necessary to protect workers.
Some PPE is required by law in certain professions such as healthcare or construction. PPE is necessary to protect workers from serious workplace injuries and illnesses. An example of a workplace injury could be damage to the eye. Injuries that affect the eyes can lead to pain, headaches, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and other issues. PPE can be categorized by the type and severity of the hazard, type of protection provided, and cost.
PPE is also available in a variety of materials such as
leather, rubber, nylon, and other synthetic fibers. PPE can be categorized into two different types, personal protective equipment (PPE) and collective protective equipment (CPE).
Personal protective equipment is defined as gear that protects an individual from injury or disease resulting from a workplace hazard.
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