PPE Equipment List: Essential Items You Need

In 2020, there were 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. While there are definitely accidents that can’t be prevented, the consequences can be mitigated if you have the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff.

Where do you even start though? There are countless PPE items, and it’d be unreasonable to purchase them all. And if you don’t get the right products, it can be a waste of your company’s money.

Luckily, we’re here to help. Below is a PPE equipment list that’ll make purchasing easier!

High Visibility Clothing

High visibility clothing (such as padded suits, vests, overalls, and life jackets) is a must if your employees are working in hazardous environments. This will help others be aware of where people are at all times, even if conditions aren’t great for visibility (such as in fog or smoke).

Eye and Face Protection

Eye and face protection is necessary for environments where workers have to deal with debris or harmful substances (such as mold or bodily fluids). Helpful PPE items here include face shields and safety glasses.

Respiratory protection can fall under eye and face protection as well. For example, masks can filter out toxic substances in the air, as well as bacteria.

Hand Protection

Do your employees work with sharp objects, such as knives? Then it’s very easy to slip and cut yourself in an instant.

Ensure your workers have good hand protection by getting cut-resistant gloves. Read more about them if you’re interested.

Hearing Protection

For those working in construction, hearing protection is essential. Otherwise, employees can suffer from pain and hearing loss, as well as long-term damage.

Here, you’ll want to supply your workers with earplugs and earmuffs.

Protective Footwear

While you might have safety protocols in place for moving heavy objects, this doesn’t prevent them from falling at any time. Make sure that if this happens, your employees’ feet are safeguarded well with protective footwear. Steel-toed boots are great for this.

Slips and falls may occur as well. Providing footwear that has good grip and durable materials is crucial.

Disposable Protective Clothing

Disposable protective clothing is necessary if your workplace deals with chemicals and biohazards. Your employees will need not just the best PPE gloves, but also things like lab coats, hoods/bouffant caps, gowns, coveralls, aprons, and shoe covers.

These should be used in combination with eye, face, and hand PPE for maximum coverage and protection.

Use This PPE Equipment List as a Starting Point

This PPE equipment list isn’t extensive, and it won’t apply to every business. However, it’s a great starting point to explore what can be valuable to your company and its workers.

So sit down, assess the potential dangers at work, and determine the best PPE equipment to get. It just might save some lives! Plus, it’ll ensure you follow OSHA guidelines and don’t get fined.

To learn more about making the workplace safer, keep reading our blog page now!