Personal protective equipment

Employees use personal protective equipment to protect them from injuries and the risk of disease at work.

The equipment includes respiratory, hearing, head, eye, hand and foot protection.

Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces the exposure to hazardous factors at work and helps prevent occupational diseases. Employees need to be trained to use PPE.

The employer acquires the equipment. The need for the equipment is based on the risk assessment done at the workplace.

Work clothes, i.e. protective clothing, are also personal protective equipment. They protect the employee against mechanical or chemical hazards, such as splatters, blood and other secretions. Protective clothing can also prevent infections transmitting from a patient to the employee or from the employee to the patient.

An employee is obligated to use the personal protective equipment acquired by their employer, but they also have the obligation to tell the employer of any potential health hazards they may have. The employer must ensure that the personal protective equipment used are safe for everyone.