Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, hard hats, goggles, or other gear designed to protect the wearer's body from injury by workplace hazards (such as electrical and mechanical hazards). Examples of PPE include:
Eye protection -- Safety glasses, goggles, or face shields.
Head protection -- Hard Hats
Ear protection -- ear plugs
Foot protection -- steel-toe boots
Hand protection -- gloves
Arc Flash protection -- arc flash suits
The actual PPE required varies for each and every factory. It is determined by the employer, based on their risk assessment of the worksite. In recent years, OSHA has emphasized PPE very strongly. The requirement to determine the necessary PPE and to enforce the use of PPE falls entirely on the employers. As stated by OSHA:
OSHA Title 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1) The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:
i) Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;
ii) Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and,
iii) Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.
OSHA Title 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2) The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.
