What is one limitation of personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to reduce exposure to various hazards in the workplace; however, it does not eliminate these hazards completely, which is a fundamental limitation of PPE. While it plays a critical role in safeguarding workers by providing a barrier against harmful substances, environmental conditions, or risks, it does not address the source of the hazard. For instance, wearing gloves can protect hands from chemicals, but it does not remove the chemicals from the work environment.

This distinction is vital in occupational health and safety because it highlights the importance of implementing a comprehensive hazard control strategy. Effective safety programs may employ a hierarchy of controls, prioritizing the elimination of hazards at the source whenever possible, followed by engineering controls, administrative actions, and finally the use of PPE. Therefore, while PPE is necessary, it is merely a part of a broader strategy to ensure worker safety.