What is the role of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in workplace safety?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) serves a crucial role in workplace safety by acting as a barrier between workers and potential hazards that they may encounter while performing their tasks. When there are no feasible engineering or administrative controls in place to mitigate these hazards, PPE becomes an essential means of reducing exposure to risks such as chemical spills, electrical hazards, physical impacts, and respiratory dangers.

The design and use of PPE—including items like helmets, gloves, masks, and goggles—are specifically intended to protect workers from injury or illness caused by these hazards, thereby maintaining a safer work environment. This function underscores the importance of PPE as a complementary measure to other safety practices rather than a standalone solution.

Understanding this context emphasizes that while PPE is vital, it should be used alongside comprehensive safety training and proper workplace regulations to ensure overall safety efficacy.