What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Question

Accepted Answer

Personal protective equipment is all equipment designed to be worn or held by the worker to protect against one or more hazards likely to endanger safety and health at work, together with any accessory serving that purpose. That is the definition in Article 2 of European Directive 89/656/EEC, mirrored in the Turkish PPE at work regulation. The definition Article 2 of Directive 89/656/EEC defines personal protective equipment as all equipment designed to be worn or held by the worker to protect against one or more hazards likely to endanger safety and health at work, plus any addition or accessory designed for that objective. Article 4 of the Turkish regulation on the use of personal protective equipment at the workplace carries the same definition, and extends it to protective devices used together with other equipment and to interchangeable parts used only with such equipment. What is not PPE The definition explicitly excludes ordinary working clothes and uniforms not specifically designed to protect safety and health, equipment used by emergency and rescue services, equipment worn by the military, the police and other public order agencies, PPE for means of road transport, sports equipment, self-defence or deterrent equipment, and portable devices for detecting and signalling risks and nuisances. PPE comes last Article 3 of the directive states the general rule: personal protective equipment shall be used when the risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by technical means of collective protection or by measures, methods or procedures of work organisation. Article 5 of the Turkish regulation repeats it. PPE does not replace eliminating the hazard at source; it carries the residual risk. The employer's duties Which equipment is required for which task follows from the risk assessment. PPE must comply with the relevant provisions on design and manufacture; it is provided free of charge by the employer, who keeps it in good working order and in a satisfactory hygienic condition through maintenance, repair and replacement. Where more than one item must be worn at the same time, the items must be compatible and remain effective. The employer first informs the worker of the risks the equipment protects against and arranges training in its use. Under Law No. 6331 the worker in turn must use the equipment provided correctly and look after it, and an employer who fails to provide it faces an administrative fine per worker, revalued each year. Where this sits in Optifora PPE is one of the three modules that are ready today: hazard-driven equipment selection, recorded selections and an approval flow. Its scope is set out in the module catalogue , and the terminology in the OHS glossary .

Obligation	Legal basis	How the page covers it
The definition of personal protective equipment is written in the regulation	Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment at Workplaces, art. 4(1)(b) — all tools, devices, equipment and appliances worn, attached or held by the employee and designed for that purpose, protecting the employee against one or more risks arising from the work that affect health and safety; equipment assembled as a whole for protection, detachable protective parts and interchangeable parts used only with such equipment are also covered.	The "The definition in the regulation" section.
The regulation also lists the equipment left outside its scope	Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment at Workplaces, art. 2(2) — ordinary working clothes and uniforms, response equipment of disaster and emergency units, protectors used by law-enforcement and intelligence bodies, protectors used in road transport, sports equipment, self-defence or deterrent devices and portable devices for detecting and signalling risks are excluded.	The "What does not count as PPE" section.
Personal protective equipment comes after collective protection measures	Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment at Workplaces, art. 5(1) — personal protective equipment is used where the risks cannot be prevented or sufficiently limited by technical means of collective protection or by work organisation and working methods; the employer gives priority to collective protection measures.	The "PPE comes last" section.
The equipment is provided free of charge; its upkeep and replacement are the employer's job	Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment at Workplaces, art. 6(1)(e) — personal protective equipment is provided free of charge by the employer; maintenance, repair and periodic checks are carried out in line with the manufacturer's manual, necessary parts are replaced, and the equipment is kept in hygienic condition and ready for use.	The "Employer's duties" section.
The employer states which risk is being protected against and arranges hands-on training	Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment at Workplaces, art. 6(1)(f) — the employer informs the employee of the risks against which the equipment is used; art. 6(1)(g) — the employer ensures that hands-on training on its use is given.	The "Employer's duties" section.
The employee's duty is written in the Act	Law no. 6331, art. 19(2)(b) — employees are obliged to use correctly and take care of the personal protective equipment provided to them; art. 26(1)(o) — an employer who fails to supply standard-compliant, CE-marked personal protective equipment is fined per employee.	The closing sentences of the "Employer's duties" section.

Obligation	Legal basis	How the page covers it
The Directive's definition and its exclusions	Directive 89/656/EEC, art. 2(1) — personal protective equipment means all equipment designed to be worn or held by the worker to protect against one or more hazards likely to endanger safety and health at work, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective; art. 2(2) — ordinary working clothes and uniforms, equipment used by emergency and rescue services, protective equipment of the military and police, equipment for road transport, sports equipment, self-defence equipment and portable risk-detection devices are excluded.	The EU counterpart of the "The definition in the regulation" and "What does not count as PPE" sections.
Personal protective equipment is a last resort	Directive 89/656/EEC, art. 3 — personal protective equipment shall be used when the risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by technical means of collective protection or by measures, methods or procedures of work organisation.	The "PPE comes last" section.
The equipment is provided free of charge and kept in good working order	Directive 89/656/EEC, art. 4(6) — personal protective equipment shall be provided free of charge by the employer, who shall ensure its good working order and satisfactory hygienic condition by means of the necessary maintenance, repair and replacements.	The "Employer's duties" section.
Information and training are two separate duties	Directive 89/656/EEC, art. 4(7) — the employer shall first inform the worker of the risks against which the wearing of the personal protective equipment protects him; art. 4(8) — the employer shall arrange for training and shall, if appropriate, organise demonstrations in the wearing of the equipment.	The "Employer's duties" section.

Obligation	Legal basis	How the page covers it
Suitable equipment is provided to workers whose risk is not adequately controlled by other means	Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, reg. 4(1) — every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to their workers who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work, except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective.	Matches the "Employer's duties" section.
The equipment is kept maintained, working and in good repair	Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, reg. 7(1) — every employer shall ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to their workers is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.	Matches the service-life step in the "Selection, issue and follow-up" section.
Information, instruction and training are listed under three headings	Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, reg. 9(1) — the employer shall ensure the worker is provided with adequate and appropriate information, instruction and training on the risk the equipment avoids or limits, the purpose and manner of its use, and the action the worker must take to keep it in the state required by reg. 7(1); that information is kept available to workers.	The information and training in the "Employer's duties" section.

Obligation	Legal basis	How the page covers it
Protective equipment is provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition	29 CFR 1910.132(a) — protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical or radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants capable of causing injury or impairment through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.	Matches the "Employer's duties" section.
The equipment is selected on a hazard assessment certified in writing	29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1) — the employer shall assess the workplace to determine whether hazards are present that necessitate PPE, select the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee, communicate selection decisions to the employee and select PPE that properly fits; § 132(d)(2) — the employer shall verify the assessment through a written certification.	The selection step in the "Selection, issue and follow-up" section.
The equipment is provided by the employer at no cost to the employee	29 CFR 1910.132(h)(1) — except as provided by paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(6), the protective equipment used to comply with this part shall be provided by the employer at no cost to employees.	Matches the free-of-charge rule in the "Employer's duties" section.

What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?

The definition

What is not PPE

PPE comes last

The employer's duties

Where this sits in Optifora

Legal basis

Legal basis — Türkiye

Legal basis — European Union

Legal basis — United Kingdom

Legal basis — United States

Manage this in Optifora

What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?

The definition

What is not PPE

PPE comes last

The employer's duties

Where this sits in Optifora

Related answers

Legal basis

Legal basis — Türkiye

Legal basis — European Union

Legal basis — United Kingdom

Legal basis — United States

Manage this in Optifora