What is personal protective equipment?
Royal Decree 773/1997 defines PPE by its purpose and method of use: it is worn or held to protect against risks that threaten safety or health. Examples include hearing protectors, protective gloves, safety footwear, respiratory protection equipment , goggles, face shields, helmets, and personal fall protection systems, provided they are appropriate for the assessed risk.
Not everything worn at work is PPE. Ordinary clothing or uniforms that do not protect health and safety are excluded. There are also specific exclusions, such as certain first aid and rescue equipment or sports equipment used as such. Classification depends on the intended use and protective function, not the brand name.
Why is it the last barrier and not the first?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) does not eliminate hazard ; it simply creates a barrier between the risk and the individual. This is why Law 31/1995 and Royal Decree 773/1997 place it after measures that prevent risk, combat it at its source, or provide collective protection. An extraction system, an enclosure, or a physical barrier offers protection without relying as heavily on individual fit and behavior; PPE can fail due to improper selection, incorrect placement, wear and tear, or incompatibility.
“Using PPE” is not a complete answer to an assessment. It is necessary to explain what residual risk remains, why it cannot be adequately controlled otherwise, and what performance the equipment requires. If the process, product, exposure time, or user changes, the selection must be reviewed.
Differences with collective protection, work clothes and work equipment
Collective protection measures target the source, the environment, or a specific area and can protect several people simultaneously: railings, guards, or local exhaust ventilation. Personal protective equipment (PPE) provides individual protection and its effectiveness typically depends on proper use, fit, and maintenance. Workwear is only considered PPE if it serves a protective purpose against a hazard; a corporate uniform without that function is not.
Work equipment is any machine, device, instrument, or installation used at work. It may incorporate safety features and, at the same time, require some additional personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE should also not be confused with medical devices: a filtering facepiece respirator designed to protect the wearer and a surgical mask primarily intended to limit emissions operate under different frameworks and performance requirements.
How to select and manage
The process begins with the evaluation and follows a verifiable sequence:
- Identify the residual risk, its route of exposure, level, duration, and conditions.
- Define the required service without yet choosing a brand.
- Check applicable certification, marking, and manufacturer information.
- Assess ergonomics , size, fit, health, environmental conditions, and compatibility between equipment.
- Consult and allow a test of use in the real task.
- Provide free of charge, and train and educate as needed.
- Establish cleaning, storage, inspection, maintenance, replacement, and disposal procedures.
- Monitor effective use and review selection.
Shared PPE requires measures to prevent hygiene or health problems, and some equipment must be strictly personal.
Obligations of companies and employees
The company determines which positions require PPE, specifies the risk and the body part to be protected, selects appropriate equipment, provides it free of charge, and ensures its proper use. It also provides clear information and training, and conducts training sessions when necessary. The company must follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guarantee maintenance, repair, or replacement of the equipment.
Employees use and maintain equipment correctly according to their training, return it to its designated place after use, and report any defects, damage, or malfunctions that reduce its effectiveness. These obligations do not transfer the company’s responsibility nor justify maintaining an inadequate measure. If equipment hinders the task, is not properly adjusted, or creates another risk, the solution is to review its selection and organization, not to normalize non-compliance.
Practical example
In a corrosive product transfer operation, the company begins by minimizing manual handling, closing connections, and providing containment and ventilation. The assessment identifies a residual risk of splashing during connection and disconnection. Based on the safety data sheet and the actual task, eye and face protection, compatible gloves, and protective clothing and footwear are selected as appropriate.
Before implementation, the equipment is tested to ensure it can be used together without leaving gaps or dangerously limiting vision or dexterity. Storage locations, decontamination procedures, replacement schedules, and procedures in case of splashes are defined. The task is then observed, and any incidents or damage are reviewed. PPE complements, but does not replace, the technical control of the transfer process.
Marking and regulatory framework
In Spain, Article 17 of Law 31/1995 establishes the duty to provide and ensure the use of PPE when necessary. Royal Decree 773/1997 regulates its use in the workplace and was amended by Royal Decree 1076/2021. The INSST technical guide offers non-binding criteria for interpreting and applying these obligations.
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 governs the design and manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE) placed on the market, its essential health and safety requirements, and conformity procedures. Compliance with marketing regulations should not be confused with correctly selecting the equipment for a given job: CE marking and documentation are necessary, but the company must still verify suitability for the risk, fit, compatibility, use, and maintenance.
