PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment, is often considered the last resort in workplace safety because it only protects the individual worker, and not the overall work environment or other workers.
Effective safety measures should always aim to eliminate or minimize hazards at their source, using engineering and administrative controls. For example, if workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals, the best approach would be to eliminate or replace the chemicals with safer alternatives, or to install ventilation systems to remove the chemicals from the air.
If these measures are not possible or sufficient, the next step would be to implement work practices and administrative controls, such as training workers on safe handling procedures or reducing exposure time.
Only when all other measures have been exhausted, PPE should be used as a last line of defense to protect the worker from any remaining hazards. However, it’s important to note that PPE is not foolproof, and its effectiveness depends on proper use, maintenance, and training.
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