View source for Social:Personal protective equipment

{{short description|Equipment designed to help protect an individual from hazards}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
<!-- How is a hardhat not a piece of “personal protection equipment“? Ditto safety harnesses, fall-arrest systems, etc. By what arbitrary definition?
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[[File:Hazmat DEA.jpg|thumb|[[Organization:Drug Enforcement Administration|Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) agents wearing Level B hazmat suits]]
[[File:Safety instructions at a construction site in China.JPG|thumb|Safety equipment and supervisor instructions at a construction site]]
{{Occupational hazards}}

'''Personal protective equipment''' ('''PPE''') is protective clothing, helmets, [[Goggles|goggles]], or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from [[Biology:Injury|injury]] or [[Medicine:Infection|infection]]. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemical, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter. Protective equipment may be worn for job-related [[Social:Occupational safety and health|occupational safety and health]] purposes, as well as for sports and other recreational activities. ''Protective clothing'' is applied to traditional categories of clothing, and ''protective gear'' applies to items such as pads, guards, shields, or masks, and others. PPE suits can be similar in appearance to a [[Engineering:Cleanroom suit|cleanroom suit]].

The purpose of personal protective equipment is to reduce employee exposure to hazards when [[Engineering:Engineering controls|engineering controls]] and [[Engineering:Administrative controls|administrative controls]] are not feasible or effective to reduce these risks to acceptable levels. PPE is needed when there are hazards present. PPE has the serious limitation that it does not eliminate the hazard at the source and may result in employees being exposed to the hazard if the equipment fails.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citation.co.uk/health-and-safety/personal-protective-equipment |title=Personal Protective Equipment |publisher=Citation PLC |access-date=2012-10-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014041258/http://www.citation.co.uk/health-and-safety/personal-protective-equipment |archive-date=2012-10-14 }} Personal Protective Equipment</ref>

Any item of PPE imposes a barrier between the wearer/user and the working environment. This can create additional strains on the wearer, impair their ability to carry out their work and create significant levels of discomfort. Any of these can discourage wearers from using PPE correctly, therefore placing them at risk of injury, ill-health or, under extreme circumstances, death. Good ergonomic design can help to minimise these barriers and can therefore help to ensure safe and healthy working conditions through the correct use of PPE.

Practices of occupational safety and health can use hazard controls and interventions to mitigate workplace hazards, which pose a threat to the safety and quality of life of workers. The [[Hierarchy of hazard controls|hierarchy of hazard controls]] provides a policy framework which ranks the types of hazard controls in terms of absolute risk reduction. At the top of the hierarchy are [[Hazard elimination|elimination]] and [[Hazard substitution|substitution]], which remove the hazard entirely or replace the hazard with a safer alternative. If elimination or substitution measures cannot be applied, engineering controls and administrative controls{{Snd}}which seek to design safer mechanisms and coach safer human behavior{{Snd}}are implemented. Personal protective equipment ranks last on the hierarchy of controls, as the workers are regularly exposed to the hazard, with a barrier of protection. The hierarchy of controls is important in acknowledging that, while personal protective equipment has tremendous utility, it is not the desired mechanism of control in terms of worker safety.

==History==
[[File:Die Bienenzüchter (Bruegel).jpg|thumb|left|A 1568 painting depicting beekeepers in protective clothing, by Pieter Brueghel the Elder.]]
Early PPE such as [[Engineering:Body armor|body armor]], boots and gloves focused on protecting the wearer's body from physical injury. The [[Unsolved:Plague doctor|plague doctor]]s of sixteenth-century Europe also wore protective uniforms consisting of a full-length gown, helmet, glass eye coverings, gloves and boots (see [[Medicine:Plague doctor costume|Plague doctor costume]]) to prevent contagion when dealing with [[Medicine:Plague (disease)|plague]] victims. These were made of thick material which was then covered in wax to make it water-resistant. A mask with a beak-like structure was filled with pleasant-smelling flowers, herbs and spices to prevent the spread of miasma, the prescientific belief of bad smells which spread disease through the air.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Funderburk |first1=Greg |last2=McGowan |first2=Dennis |last3=Stumph |first3=Charles |title=Weapons of Mass Destruction |date=2015 |publisher=LawTech Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-56325-283-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GpbZCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT138}}</ref> In more recent years, scientific personal protective equipment is generally believed to have begun with the cloth facemasks promoted by Wu Lien-teh in the 1910–11 [[Medicine:Manchurian plague|Manchurian pneumonic plague]] outbreak, although many Western medics doubted the efficacy of facemasks in preventing the spread of disease.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lynteris |first1=Christos |title=Plague Masks: The Visual Emergence of Anti-Epidemic Personal Protection Equipment |journal=Medical Anthropology |date=18 August 2018 |volume=37 |issue=6 |pages=442–457 |doi=10.1080/01459740.2017.1423072 |pmid=30427733 |issn=0145-9740|doi-access=free |hdl=10023/16472 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

==Types==
Personal protective equipment can be categorized by the area of the body protected, by the type of hazard, and by the type of garment or accessory. A single item{{Snd}}for example, boots{{Snd}}may provide multiple forms of protection: a steel toe cap and steel insoles for protection of the feet from crushing or puncture injuries, impervious rubber and lining for protection from water and chemicals, high [[Physics:Reflectance|reflectivity]] and heat resistance for protection from radiant heat, and high electrical [[Physics:Electrical resistivity and conductivity|resistivity]] for protection from electric shock. The protective attributes of each piece of equipment must be compared with the hazards expected to be found in the workplace. More breathable types of personal protective equipment may not lead to more contamination but do result in greater user satisfaction.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Verbeek|first1=Jos H|last2=Rajamaki|first2=Blair|last3=Ijaz|first3=Sharea|last4=Sauni|first4=Riitta|last5=Toomey|first5=Elaine|last6=Blackwood|first6=Bronagh|last7=Tikka|first7=Christina|last8=Ruotsalainen|first8=Jani H|last9=Kilinc Balci|first9=F Selcen|date=2020-05-15|title=Personal protective equipment for preventing highly infectious diseases due to exposure to contaminated body fluids in healthcare staff|journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=2020|issue=5|pages=CD011621|doi=10.1002/14651858.cd011621.pub5|pmid=32412096|pmc=8785899|issn=1465-1858|hdl=1983/b7069408-3bf6-457a-9c6f-ecc38c00ee48|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

===Respirators===
{{main|Engineering:Respirator}}
[[File:Air-Purifying Respirator.jpg|thumb|Air-purifying respirator]]
[[File:N95mask.jpg|thumb|N95 mask]]
Respirators are protective breathing equipment, which protect the user from inhaling contaminants in the air, thus preserving the health of their respiratory tract. There are two main types of respirators. One type of respirator functions by filtering out chemicals and gases, or airborne particles, from the air breathed by the user.<ref name=resp>[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/respirators/ Respirators] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830084012/http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/respirators/ |date=2012-08-30 }}. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.</ref> The filtration may be either passive or active (powered). Gas masks and [[Engineering:Respirator|particulate respirators]] (like N95 masks)<ref name="N95surgical">{{cite web |title=N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks (Face Masks) |url=https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-and-surgical-masks-face-masks |access-date=18 April 2020 |work=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=5 April 2020}}</ref> are examples of this type of respirator. A second type of respirator protects users by providing clean, respirable air from another source. This type includes airline respirators and [[Chemistry:Self-contained breathing apparatus|self-contained breathing apparatus]] (SCBA).<ref name =resp/> In work environments, respirators are relied upon when adequate ventilation is not available or other engineering control systems are not feasible or inadequate.<ref name=resp/>

In the United Kingdom, an organization that has extensive expertise in respiratory protective equipment is the [[Organization:Institute of Occupational Medicine|Institute of Occupational Medicine]]. This expertise has been built on a long-standing and varied research programme that has included the setting of workplace protection factors to the assessment of efficacy of masks available through high street retail outlets.{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}}

The [[Organization:Health and Safety Executive|Health and Safety Executive]] (HSE), [[Medicine:NHS Health Scotland|NHS Health Scotland]] and Healthy Working Lives (HWL) have jointly developed the RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) Selector Tool, which is web-based. This interactive tool provides descriptions of different types of respirators and breathing apparatuses, as well as "dos and don'ts" for each type.<ref name=rpe>[http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/rpe-selector/ "Selecting the right Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) for the job"]. Healthy Working Lives. 2008-4-4</ref>

In the United States, The [[Organization:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] (NIOSH) provides recommendations on respirator use, in accordance to NIOSH federal respiratory regulations 42 CFR Part 84.<ref name=resp/>  The [[Organization:National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory|National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory]] (NPPTL) of NIOSH is tasked towards actively conducting studies on respirators and providing recommendations.<ref name=factsheet>[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/factsheets/respfact.html CDC - NIOSH - Respirator Fact Sheet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928092148/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/factsheets/respfact.html |date=2017-09-28 }}. The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory.</ref>

Surgical masks are considered as PPE, but are not considered as respirators, being unable to stop submicron particles from passing through, and also having unrestricted air flow at the edges of the masks.<ref name="N95surgical"/><ref name="canada">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/respiratory_protection.html |title=Respiratory Protection Against Airborne Infectious Agents for Health Care Workers: Do surgical masks protect workers? |date=2017-02-28 |publisher=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety |type=OSH Answers Fact Sheets  |access-date=2020-04-18}}</ref>

===Skin protection===
[[File:Worker weighing carbon nanotubes.png|alt=A man wearing a white lab coat reaches over a beaker containing white powder on a balance|thumb|upright|A worker wearing a [[Engineering:Respirator|respirator]], lab coat, and gloves while weighing carbon nanotubes]]
[[File:Incorrect use of personal protective equipment.png|alt=A closeup of a person's arm requing into a bucket filled with a black material|thumb|This is an incorrect use of personal protective equipment, because the gap between the [[Medicine:Medical glove|glove]] and the lab coat exposes the wrist to hazardous materials.]]
Occupational skin diseases such as contact dermatitis, [[Medicine:Skin cancer|skin cancer]]s, and other skin injuries and infections are the second-most common type of occupational disease and can be very costly.<ref name="skin">[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/ CDC - Skin Exposures and Effects - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806040459/http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/ |date=2012-08-06 }}. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.</ref> Skin hazards, which lead to occupational skin disease, can be classified into four groups. Chemical agents can come into contact with the skin through direct contact with contaminated surfaces, deposition of aerosols, immersion or splashes.<ref name="skin"/> Physical agents such as extreme temperatures and ultraviolet or solar radiation can be damaging to the skin over prolonged exposure.<ref name="skin"/> Mechanical trauma occurs in the form of friction, pressure, abrasions, lacerations and contusions.<ref name="skin"/> Biological agents such as parasites, microorganisms, plants and animals can have varied effects when exposed to the skin.<ref name="skin"/>

Any form of PPE that acts as a barrier between the skin and the agent of exposure can be considered skin protection. Because much work is done with the hands, [[Engineering:Glove|glove]]s are an essential item in providing skin protection. Some examples of gloves commonly used as PPE include rubber gloves, [[Engineering:Cut-resistant gloves|cut-resistant gloves]], chainsaw gloves and heat-resistant gloves. For sports and other recreational activities, many different gloves are used for protection, generally against mechanical trauma.

Other than gloves, any other article of clothing or protection worn for a purpose serve to protect the skin. [[Engineering:White coat|Lab coats]] for example, are worn to protect against potential splashes of chemicals. [[Engineering:Face shield|Face shield]]s serve to protect one's face from potential impact hazards, chemical splashes or possible infectious fluid.

Many migrant workers need training in PPE for Heat Related Illnesses prevention (HRI).  Based on study results, research identified some potential gaps in heat safety education. While some farm workers reported receiving limited training on pesticide safety, others did not. This could be remedied by incoming groups of farm workers receiving video and in-person training on HRI prevention.  These educational programs for farm workers are most effective when they are based on health behavior theories, use adult learning principles and employ train-the-trainer approaches.<ref>{{Cite journal|title="I Think the Temperature was 110 Degrees!": Work Safety Discussions Among Hispanic Farmworkers|journal = Journal of Agromedicine|volume = 24|pages = 15–25|last=Luque|first=John S.|doi=10.1080/1059924x.2018.1536572|pmid = 30317928|pmc = 7045709|year = 2019|issue = 1}}</ref>

===Eye protection===
{{Main|Biology:Eye protection}}
[[File:Nuxos1pl.JPG|thumb|left|A paintball player wearing appropriate eye protection against impact]]
Each day, about 2,000 US workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical attention.<ref name="eye">[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/ CDC - Eye Safety - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707114404/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/ |date=2017-07-07 }}. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.</ref> Eye injuries can happen through a variety of means. Most eye injuries occur when solid particles such as metal slivers, wood chips, sand or cement chips get into the eye.<ref name="eye" /> Smaller particles in [[Earth:Smoke|smoke]]s and larger particles such as broken glass also account for particulate matter-causing eye injuries. Blunt force trauma can occur to the eye when excessive force comes into contact with the eye. Chemical burns, biological agents, and thermal agents, from sources such as [[Chemistry:Welding|welding]] torches and [[Physics:Ultraviolet|UV light]], also contribute to occupational eye injury.<ref name="eyesafe">[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/eyesafe.html CDC - Eye Safety - Eye Safety for Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902212409/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/eyesafe.html |date=2017-09-02 }}. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.</ref>

While the required eye protection varies by occupation, the safety provided can be generalized. Safety glasses provide protection from external debris, and should provide side protection via a wrap-around design or side shields.<ref name="eyesafe" />
* [[Goggles]] provide better protection than safety glasses, and are effective in preventing eye injury from chemical splashes, impact, dusty environments and welding.<ref name="eyesafe" /> Goggles with high air flow should be used to prevent fogging.<ref name="eyesafe" />
* [[Engineering:Face shield|Face shield]]s provide additional protection and are worn over the standard eyewear; they also provide protection from impact, chemical, and blood-borne hazards.<ref name="eyesafe" />
* Full-facepiece respirators are considered the best form of eye protection when respiratory protection is needed as well, but may be less effective against potential impact hazards to the eye.<ref name="eyesafe" />
* Eye protection for welding is shaded to different degrees, depending on the specific operation.<ref name="eyesafe" />

===Hearing protection===
Industrial noise is often overlooked as an occupational hazard, as it is not visible to the eye. Overall, about 22&nbsp;million workers in the United States are exposed to potentially damaging noise levels each year.<ref name="noise">[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/stats.html CDC - Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention - Facts and Statistics - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703145248/http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/stats.html |date=2016-07-03 }}. The National Institute for Occuaptional Safety and Health.</ref> Occupational hearing loss accounted for 14% of all occupational illnesses in 2007, with about 23,000 cases significant enough to cause permanent hearing impairment.<ref name="noise" /> About 82% of occupational hearing loss cases occurred to workers in the manufacturing sector.<ref name="noise" />  In the US the [[Organization:Occupational Safety and Health Administration|Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] establishes occupational noise exposure standards.<ref name="oshanoise">[https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9735 Occupational noise exposure - 1910.95] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402213424/https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9735 |date=2015-04-02 }}. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration.</ref>  The [[Organization:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]]  recommends that worker exposures to noise be reduced to a level equivalent to 85&nbsp;dBA for eight hours to reduce occupational noise-induced hearing loss.<ref name="criteria">[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-126/pdfs/98-126.pdf Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Noise Exposure] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202172749/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-126/pdfs/98-126.pdf |date=2017-02-02 }}.  DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-126.</ref>

PPE for hearing protection consists of earplugs and [[Engineering:Earmuffs|earmuffs]]. Workers who are regularly exposed to noise levels above the NIOSH recommendation should be provided with hearing protection by the employers, as they are a low-cost intervention. A personal attenuation rating can be objectively measured through a [[Physics:Hearing protection fit-testing|hearing protection fit-testing]] system. The effectiveness of hearing protection varies with the training offered on their use.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tikka|first1=Christina|last2=Verbeek|first2=Jos H|last3=Kateman|first3=Erik|last4=Morata|first4=Thais C|last5=Dreschler|first5=Wouter A|last6=Ferrite|first6=Silvia|date=2017-07-07|title=Interventions to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=2017|issue=7|pages=CD006396|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006396.pub4|issn=1469-493X|pmc=6353150|pmid=28685503}}</ref>

===Protective clothing and ensembles===
[[File:Regal mit Persönlicher Schutzausrüstung.jpg|thumb|upright|Locker containing personal protective equipment]] [[File:High-Pressure-Cleaning-with-Personal-Protective-Equipment.jpg|thumb|A complete PPE ensemble worn during high pressure cleaning work]]
This form of PPE is all-encompassing and refers to the various suits and uniforms worn to protect the user from harm. Lab coats worn by scientists and ballistic vests worn by law enforcement officials, which are worn on a regular basis, would fall into this category. Entire sets of PPE, worn together in a combined suit, are also in this category.

====Ensembles====
[[File:PPE kit.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Two paramedics wearing medical PPE gowns outdoors.|Medical PPE gowns worn by medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic]]
Below are some examples of ensembles of personal protective equipment, worn together for a specific occupation or task, to provide maximum protection for the user:
* PPE gowns are used by medical personnel like [[Social:Doctor (title)|doctor]]s and nurses.
* [[Biology:Chainsaw|Chainsaw]] protection (especially a helmet with face guard, hearing protection, [[Chemistry:Kevlar|kevlar]] chaps, anti-vibration gloves, and chainsaw safety boots).
* [[Biology:Beekeeping|Bee-keepers]] wear various levels of protection depending on the temperament of their bees and the reaction of the bees to nectar availability. At minimum, most beekeepers wear a brimmed hat and a veil made of fine mesh netting. The next level of protection involves leather gloves with long gauntlets and some way of keeping bees from crawling up one's trouser legs. In extreme cases, specially fabricated shirts and trousers can serve as barriers to the bees' stingers.
* [[Engineering:Diving equipment|Diving equipment]], for underwater diving, constitutes equipment such as a diving helmet or [[Engineering:Diving mask|diving mask]], an underwater breathing apparatus, and a [[Engineering:Diving suit|diving suit]].
* Firefighters wear PPE designed to provide protection against fires and various fumes and gases. PPE<ref name=ppein>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ppein.com/|title=Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) On Sale|website=PPEIN}}</ref> worn by firefighters include bunker gear, [[Chemistry:Self-contained breathing apparatus|self-contained breathing apparatus]], a helmet, safety boots, and a PASS device.

====In sports====
{{Main|Engineering:Protective gear in sports}}
Participants in sports often wear protective equipment. Studies performed on the injuries of professional athletes, such as that on NFL players,<ref name=brainnfl>[http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2012/09/nfl-brain-injury/ CDC - NIOSH Science Blog - Brain Injury in the NFL] {{webarchive|url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20121220112221/http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2012/09/nfl-brain-injury/ |date=2012-12-20 }}. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.</ref><ref name=neuro>{{cite journal |last1=Lehman |first1=EJ |last2=Hein |first2=MJ |last3=Baron |first3=SL |last4=Gersic |first4=CM |year=2012 |title=Neurodegenerative causes of death among retired National Football League players |journal=Neurology |doi=10.1212/WNL.0b013e31826daf50 |pmid=22955124 |volume=79 |issue=19 |pages=1970–4 |pmc=4098841 }}</ref> question the effectiveness of existing personal protective equipment.

==Limits of the definition==
The definition of what constitutes personal protective equipment varies by country. In the United States, the laws regarding PPE also vary by state. In 2011, workplace safety complaints were brought against Hustler and other adult film production companies by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, leading to several citations brought by Cal/OSHA.<ref name=hustler>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110330007006/en/Larry-Flynt%E2%80%99s-Hustler-Video-Cited-CalOSHA-Condoms|title=Larry Flynt's Hustler Video Cited by Cal/OSHA over Condoms, Safety, Says AHF|date=2011-03-31|website=businesswire.com|access-date=6 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806224124/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110330007006/en/Larry-Flynt%E2%80%99s-Hustler-Video-Cited-CalOSHA-Condoms|archive-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> The failure to use [[Medicine:Condom|condom]]s by adult film stars was a violation of Cal/OSHA's Blood borne Pathogens Program, Personal Protective Equipment.<ref name=hustler/> This example shows that personal protective equipment can cover a variety of occupations in the United States, and has a wide-ranging definition.

== Standardization ==

== Legislation ==
[[File:Safetyequipment3030.jpg|thumb|upright|Workers using personal protective equipment while painting poles. While basic head protection is present, no engineering fall protection systems appear to be in place.]]

=== United States ===
The National Defense Authorization Act for 2022 defines personal protective equipment as {{quote|Equipment for use in preventing spread of disease, such as by exposure to infected individuals or contamination or infection by infectious material (including nitrile and vinyl gloves, surgical masks, respirator masks and powered air purifying respirators and required filters, face shields and protective eyewear, surgical and isolation gowns, and head and foot coverings) or clothing, and the materials and components thereof, other than sensors, electronics, or other items added to and not normally associated with such personal protective equipment or clothing.<ref name=ndaa>US Government, [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-16861/pdf/COMPS-16861.pdf National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022], Section 802, enacted 15 March 2022, accessed 2 January 2023</ref>}}

Under this Act, US military services are prohibited from [[Finance:Purchasing|purchasing]] PPE from suppliers in North Korea, China, Russia or Iran, unless there are problems with the supply or cost of PPE of "satisfactory quality and quantity".<ref name=ndaa />

=== European Union ===
At the [[Social:European Union|European Union]] level, personal protective equipment is governed by Directive 89/686/EEC on personal protective equipment (PPE). The Directive is designed to ensure that PPE meets common quality and safety standards by setting out basic safety requirements for personal protective equipment, as well as conditions for its placement on the market and free movement within the EU single market. It covers "any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1989/686/oj/eng|title=Council Directive 89/686/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment|date=30 December 1989|website=europa.eu|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref> The directive was adopted on 21 January 1989 and came into force on 1 July 1992. The European Commission additionally allowed for a transition period until 30 June 1995 to give companies sufficient time to adapt to the legislation. After this date, all PPE placed on the market in EU Member States was required to comply with the requirements of Directive 89/686/EEC and carry the CE Marking.

Article 1 of Directive 89/686/EEC defines personal protective equipment as any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards. PPE which falls under the scope of the Directive is divided into three categories:
* Category I: simple design (e.g. gardening gloves, footwear, ski goggles)
* Category II:  PPE not falling into category I or III (e.g. personal flotation devices, dry and wet suits, [[Engineering:Motorcycle personal protective equipment|motorcycle personal protective equipment]])
* Category III:  complex design (e.g. respiratory equipment, harnesses)

Directive 89/686/EEC on personal protective equipment does not distinguish between PPE for professional use and PPE for leisure purposes.

Personal protective equipment falling within the scope of the Directive must comply with the basic health and safety requirements set out in Annex II of the Directive. To facilitate conformity with these requirements, harmonized standards are developed at the European or international level by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN, CENELEC) and the [[Organization:International Organization for Standardization|International Organization for Standardization]] in relation to the design and manufacture of the product. Usage of the harmonized standards is voluntary and provides presumption of conformity. However, manufacturers may choose an alternative method of complying with the requirements of the Directive.

Personal protective equipment excluded from the scope of the Directive includes:
* PPE designed for and used by the armed forces or in the maintenance of law and order;
* PPE for self-defence (e.g. aerosol canisters, personal deterrent weapons);
* PPE designed and manufactured for personal use against adverse atmospheric conditions (e.g. seasonal clothing, umbrellas), damp and water (e.g. dish-washing gloves) and heat;
* PPE  used on vessels and aircraft but not worn at all times;
* helmets and visors intended for users of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles.

The European Commission is currently working to revise Directive 89/686/EEC. The revision will look at the scope of the Directive, the conformity assessment procedures and technical requirements regarding market surveillance. It will also align the Directive with the New Legislative Framework. The European Commission is likely to publish its proposal in 2013. It will then be discussed by the European Parliament and [[Organization:Council of the European Union|Council of the European Union]] under the ordinary legislative procedure before being published in the Official Journal of the European Union and becoming law.

==Research==

Research studies in the form of randomized controlled trials and simulation studies are needed to determine the most effective types of PPE for preventing the transmission of infectious diseases to healthcare workers.<ref name=":0" />

There is low certainty evidence that supports making improvements or modifications to PPE in order to help decrease contamination.<ref name=":0" /> Examples of modifications include adding tabs to masks or gloves to ease removal and designing protective gowns so that gloves are removed at the same time.<ref name=":0" /> In addition, there is low certainty evidence that the following PPE approaches or techniques may lead to reduced contamination and improved compliance with PPE protocols:  Wearing double gloves, following specific doffing (removal) procedures such as those from the CDC, and providing people with spoken instructions while removing PPE.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==
{{div col}}
* {{annotated link|Social:Blunt trauma personal protective equipment}}
* {{annotated link|Social:Bomb disposal}}
* {{annotated link|Physics:CBRN defense}} (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, known formerly as NBC)
* {{annotated link|Chemistry:Chemical protective clothing}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Environmental suit}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Hard hat}}
* {{annotated link|Chemistry:Dangerous goods|Hazmat}} (hazardous materials)
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Motorcycle personal protective equipment}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:NBC suit}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Personal flotation device}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Safety harness}}
* Normalization of deviance – one reason people stop using effective prevention measures
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/ppe.html CDC - Emergency Response Resources: Personal Protective Equipment - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/mechanical/personal-protective-equipment/index_en.htm European Commission, DG Enterprise, Personal Protective Equipment]
* [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=en&numdoc=31989L0686&model=guichett Directive 89/686/EEC on Personal Protective Equipment]
* [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg174.pdf A short guide to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728183302/http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg174.pdf |date=2020-07-28 }} INDG174(rev1), revised 8/05 (HSE)

{{Occupational safety and health}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Personal Protective Equipment}}
[[Category:Risk management in business]]
[[Category:Safety engineering]]
[[Category:Environmental social science]]

{{Sourceattribution|Personal protective equipment}}