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What Makes PPE The Last Line Of Defense?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a vital role in warehouse safety, but it’s important to remember where it stands in the safety hierarchy. PPE isn’t your first defense—it’s your last. Relying on it too early—or misusing it—can give a false sense of security and put people at risk.

One of the top priorities of a solid Safety Culture is eliminating hazards before workers are exposed. Engineering solutions, process changes, and administrative controls should come first. PPE only steps in when all other methods fall short. But when used correctly, it can mean the difference between a close call and a life-altering injury.

Here are a few tips to assist you with understanding why PPE is the last line of defense:

Always aim to eliminate the hazard first.

Before anyone reaches for PPE, ask the right questions. Can the hazard be removed, reduced, or replaced? If there’s a way to eliminate the need for PPE, take it. PPE should never be your go-to fix.

PPE supports safety—it doesn’t replace it.

You can’t use PPE to escape unsafe processes. Think of PPE like a seatbelt. It helps after something goes wrong. Safety systems, training, and engineering controls are your primary defenses. PPE adds one more layer.

Know what your PPE is protecting you from.

Every piece of gear serves a purpose—gloves for cuts, goggles for splashes, and hearing protection for loud machinery. If you don’t understand the hazard, you won’t know if your PPE is the right match—or if you need more.

Wearing the wrong PPE can be worse than wearing none at all.

Gloves that snag on conveyor belts, goggles that fog and block your view, and ill-fitting gear that causes distractions. If PPE is uncomfortable or interferes with your work, you’re more likely to misuse it or skip it altogether, which opens the door to accidents.

Make PPE a shared responsibility.

Supervisors need to provide the right gear, workers need to wear it correctly, and everyone needs to speak up when something’s not working. PPE works best when supported by teamwork and communication.

PPE can only do its job when everything else has been done first. That includes hazard assessments, safety procedures, and routine inspections. PPE is the backup plan, not the first solution. So, before putting it on, ask yourself: Did we do everything possible to make this task safe without it?

Thank you for being part of another episode of Warehouse Safety Tips.

Until we meet next time – have a great week, and STAY SAFE!

#Safety #SafetyFIRST #SafetyALWAYS #StaySafe #SafetyCulture #PPEAwareness #SafetyCulture #PersonalProtectiveEquipment #PPE