How is PPE classified in the hierarchy of controls?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is classified as the last line of defense in the hierarchy of controls because it is intended to protect the individual directly from exposure to hazardous materials or situations. The hierarchy of controls is a system used to minimize or eliminate exposure to hazards, which prioritizes strategies based on their effectiveness.

At the top of this hierarchy are elimination and substitution, which involve removing the hazard entirely or replacing it with something less dangerous. Next are engineering controls that use physical changes to the workplace to reduce hazards, followed by administrative controls that change policies or procedures to minimize risk. If these measures are not feasible or insufficient by themselves, PPE is used as a protective measure to ensure the safety of individuals. It relies on proper use by workers to be effective, thus placing it at the end of the hierarchy.

PPE does not prevent the hazard itself but rather provides a barrier for the individual when hazards are present, which is why it is positioned last. This emphasizes the importance of implementing more effective control measures before relying solely on PPE for worker safety.