From Risk Assessment to PPE Selection

Personal protective equipment is the last step in the hierarchy of controls. Elimination comes first, then substitution and engineering controls; PPE covers the residual risk.

Apply the hierarchy first

Reaching for PPE before elimination, substitution, engineering controls and administrative measures have been exhausted is a mistake. If ventilation can lower the ambient concentration, the mask remains a secondary measure and the filter class selected changes accordingly.

Turn risk into equipment requirements

For each hazard line, record the type, severity and duration of exposure, and set against it the required protection level and the relevant standard. For example: welding spatter → face and eye protection → EN 166 / EN 175, welding glove → EN 12477. This matching table forms the basis of the purchasing specification.

Compliance and acceptance criteria

CE marking, the EU declaration of conformity, a user manual in the local language and the size range should be written into the contract as delivery conditions. For Category III products (respiratory protection, fall arresters) the notified body number is also checked.

Roll-out and follow-up

Equipment is issued against signature, training is given and both are recorded. Without a periodic inspection schedule, service life tracking and replacement stock, the system stops working within a short time. Worker feedback is part of the selection decision; PPE that goes unused provides no protection.

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