ABSTRACT
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is apparatus that is designed to prevent or limit the exposure of wearers to physical hazards as well as to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) hazards. The apparatus may include respirators, garments, head protection, hearing protection, eyewear, footwear, gloves, protective vests or ensembles, or other devices that provide a barrier between the wearer and the environment. PPE ranks last on the hierarchy of hazard controls, following elimination and substitution of hazards, engineering controls, and administrative measures. As such, it constitutes the final line of defense for worker exposure to hazardous substances, and it should be used in cases when other means of protecting the worker cannot be implemented.
