What is the primary purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace?

The primary purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace is to prevent injuries. PPE is specifically designed to protect workers from various hazards they may encounter in their work environment, such as chemical exposure, physical hazards, and biological agents. By providing a barrier between the worker and the hazard, PPE helps to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries, thereby safeguarding the health and well-being of employees.

While enhancing comfort, ensuring compliance with regulations, and improving productivity are relevant aspects of a safe work environment, they do not encompass the fundamental role of PPE. Comfort can be a secondary benefit of well-designed equipment, regulatory compliance is a legal requirement that may mandate the use of PPE, and productivity can be positively affected when workers feel safe and secure; however, the primary objective is unequivocally injury prevention. PPE plays a critical role in promoting workplace safety by reducing the likelihood of harm to employees as they carry out their tasks.