Let’s talk PPE – personal protective equipment. You’ve probably worn it or seen it in action: hard hats, steel-toe boots, gloves, masks, face shields, gowns, high-vis vests, ear defenders, and even those stylish plastic aprons your dentist wears. Whether you’re a welder, waste worker, nail technician or nurse – PPE is the barrier between ‘business as usual’ and a ‘trip to A&E’.
Some people love wearing it. Others can’t stand it. But one thing’s for sure: without proper PPE, there’s no real safety on site, in the salon, or at the hospital.
What is PPE?
Personal protective equipment does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s gear designed to protect you from injury, infection or exposure to hazardous stuff while doing your job. In some workplaces, that means gloves and goggles. In others, it means hazmat suits and surgical masks.
And while it might not be the most glamorous kit in your wardrobe, PPE could very well be the most important thing you wear all day.
A brief history of PPE (or: why we don’t weld in flip-flops anymore)
It wasn’t always this way. Back in the day, a high-vis vest was optional and eye protection meant squinting really hard. But after decades of (often very avoidable) injuries and a few too many horror stories, the government stepped in.
Enter the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (1992) – and their updated sibling in 2022. Suddenly, PPE wasn’t just a nice-to-have; it was a legal requirement. And with that, the modern era of site safety began, complete with compliance checks, training sessions and an emergency stash of gloves in every van.
Who actually needs PPE?
Short answer: pretty much everyone. Here’s a quick tour of the UK workforce – the PPE edition:
- Scrapyard workers
Cut-proof gloves, eye protection, hard hats and steel toecap boots. Extra points if your high-vis still glows after a week on the job. - Builders & construction crews
Hard hats, steel-toes, gloves, high-vis, hearing protection… and a mild addiction to bacon rolls. - Healthcare professionals
Gowns, gloves, face masks and eye shields – keeping patients safe and stopping the spread. - Nail technicians & beauty therapists
Gloves, masks and visors – not just for Covid, but for dust, fumes and skin irritants. - Dentists
Goggles, visors and masks – because face-to-face means very face-to-face. - Event stewards & security
High-vis, ear protection, radios and the patience of saints. - Firefighters
The PPE of dreams: full suits, oxygen tanks, helmets… and absolutely no room for forgetting any of it. - Joiners, welders and fabricators
Gloves, eye protection and flame-resistant overalls – sparks, splinters and sawdust beware.
Basically, if your job could hurt you, stain you, infect you, deafen you or set you on fire – PPE is your best mate.
What has PPE actually achieved?
It’s easy to roll your eyes at all the rules, but let’s be honest – PPE works. Over the years, it has:
- Slashed the number of workplace injuries
- Raised awareness of safety and hygiene across sectors
- Made workers feel more confident on the job
- Helped businesses stay compliant (and avoid those nasty HSE fines)
Put simply: PPE has protected people – and that’s the whole point.
But what about the ones who ‘forget’ it?
Ah, the rebels. Every workplace has at least one. The “It’s only a quick job” guy. The “It messes up my hair” excuse. The “I left it in the van” classic.
Our advice?
- Always keep a backup stash.
- Make it non-negotiable: no PPE = no work.
- Set clear rules – and stick to them.
- Ban the phrase “it’ll be fine” (spoiler: it never is).
Because site safety isn’t about looking cool – it’s about making sure everyone goes home in one piece.
Your turn: what’s your PPE pet peeve?
We know PPE can be a hot topic – especially when it’s 30°C outside and your goggles keep fogging up. So now we want to hear from you.
- What’s the weirdest PPE you’ve ever had to wear?
- What drives you mad about PPE rules – or when people ignore them?
- Are you a manager tearing your hair out, or a worker with a valid rant to share?
Join the conversation over on our socials (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn). We’ll be posting this article and opening the floor for your comments, confessions and strong opinions.
Final word: It’s not optional. It’s essential.
You might not love wearing it. You might not think you need it. But when the job hits the fan, you’ll be glad you had it on.
Because nothing says ‘professional site safety’ like a team that walks off site at the end of the day with all their bits still attached.