PPE
Workplace safety acronym
PPE stands for personal protective equipment—gear worn to protect against hazards in work environments or during emergencies.
The term covers items like hard hats, safety goggles, gloves, respirators, and high-visibility vests.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PPE entered everyday vocabulary for masks, face shields, and medical gowns: Hospitals faced critical PPE shortages.
Breathing protection device
- face shieldTransparent protective facial covering
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
- maskFace-worn concealment
coveralls · gown · hardhat · earplugs · ear muffs · safety glasses · apron · visor
Protective medical face covering
- N95Particle-filtering face mask
- nitrile glovesDisposable synthetic hand covers
- scrubsMedical staff uniform
- face shieldTransparent protective facial covering
surgical cap · shoe covers · sterile gloves · disposable gown · protective eyewear · surgical gown · latex gloves · splash guard
Protective construction headwear
- safety glassesEye shields against debris
- steel-toe bootsFootwear with metal caps
- hi-vis vestLuminous garment ensuring visibility
- ear protectionDevices shielding against noise
welding helmet · face shield · respirator · fall harness · coveralls · safety harness · dust mask · chemical suit
To put on clothing
- doffingTaking off clothing
- disposalAct of throwing away
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- cross-contaminationTransfer of harmful substances
barrier · single-use · disposable · sterile · biohazard · infectious · airborne · droplet
Federal workplace safety regulator
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
certification · mandate · requirement · protocol · guidelines · workplace safety · risk assessment · enforcement
respirator
Breathing protection device
- face shieldTransparent protective facial covering
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
mask · coveralls · gown · hardhat · earplugs · ear muffs · safety glasses · apron · visor · hood
surgical mask
Protective medical face covering
- N95Particle-filtering face mask
- nitrile glovesDisposable synthetic hand covers
- scrubsMedical staff uniform
face shield · surgical cap · shoe covers · sterile gloves · disposable gown · protective eyewear · surgical gown · latex gloves · splash guard
hardhat
Protective construction headwear
- safety glassesEye shields against debris
- steel-toe bootsFootwear with metal caps
- hi-vis vestLuminous garment ensuring visibility
ear protection · welding helmet · face shield · respirator · fall harness · coveralls · safety harness · dust mask · chemical suit
donning
To put on clothing
- doffingTaking off clothing
- disposalAct of throwing away
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
cross-contamination · barrier · single-use · disposable · sterile · biohazard · infectious · airborne · droplet · isolation
OSHA
Federal workplace safety regulator
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
inspection · certification · mandate · requirement · protocol · guidelines · workplace safety · risk assessment · enforcement · audit
- pandemiclockdowns, COVID-19, outbreak, epidemic, COVID
- COVID-19COVID-19, spike protein, mRNA vaccines, omicron, variants
- pandemic responsecontact tracing, quarantine laws, social distancing, lockdown, mask mandate
- biohazard wastemedical waste, sharps containers, hazardous waste, biohazard, needles
- Compoundingcompounding pharmacy, formulation, active ingredient, active ingredients, mortar and pestle
- hygienehygiene, handwashing, toothbrush, hand washing, sanitizer
PPEunprotected
Without safeguard or shield
exposed · exposure · vulnerable · unshielded · uncovered
PPEhazard
Source of potential harm
danger · threat · occupational hazard · toxic exposure · contaminant
PPEhazard
Source of potential harm
hazardous materials · toxic substances · pathogens · contaminants · workplace hazards
- PPE shortageLack of protective equipment
- PPE requirementsRules for protective equipment