Is the use of personal protective equipment preferable to the use of engineering controls?

In workplace safety, the hierarchy of controls is a framework used to minimize or eliminate exposure to hazards. This hierarchy prioritizes solutions based on their effectiveness in managing risks.

Engineering controls, which involve redesigning equipment or processes to reduce or eliminate hazards, are generally considered more effective than relying on personal protective equipment (PPE). When hazards are controlled at their source through engineering measures, the risk of exposure is significantly minimized, which promotes a safer work environment.

Personal protective equipment serves as a secondary line of defense; it is crucial when other controls are not feasible or when hazards remain even after engineering controls are implemented. While PPE is essential, it does not eliminate the hazard but instead protects the individual from the hazard that is still present.

Therefore, stating that the use of personal protective equipment is preferable to engineering controls is inaccurate, as the preferred approach is always to eliminate the hazard or reduce exposure through engineering solutions before resorting to PPE.