Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) evaluates how a company selects, provides, maintains and enforces the use of equipment that protects workers from identified hazards when elimination, substitution or engineering/administrative controls cannot fully mitigate risk. It covers:

• hazard–PPE mapping - systematic risk assessments that match specific protections (e.g., respirators, hearing protection, arc-flash clothing, chemical-resistant gloves, fall-arrest systems) to the physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic hazards present in each task or work area;
• standards-compliant selection & procurement - sourcing PPE certified to relevant norms (ISO, EN, ANSI, NIOSH) with documented technical specifications, fit-testing protocols (for respirators, fall harnesses, etc.) and consideration of diverse body sizes, genders and cultural needs (e.g., religious head coverings);
• training & fit verification - initial and refresher instruction on correct donning, doffing, inspection, limitations and cleaning of PPE, plus fit-tests and supervisor observations that confirm competence and proper use;
• maintenance, replacement & hygiene - scheduled inspections, cleaning, repair or safe disposal of worn-out gear, ensuring availability of spares and documented stewardship to prevent cross-contamination or equipment failure;
• compliance monitoring & enforcement - leadership walk-arounds, peer safety observations and digital tracking systems that flag non-use or incorrect use, with positive reinforcement and corrective actions to build a PPE safety culture;
• performance review & disclosure - KPIs such as fit-test pass rates, PPE non-conformance trends and related incident statistics, feeding continuous improvement and reported in line with frameworks like ISO 45001, ISO 45003, GRI 403-7 and forthcoming EU ESRS S1 requirements.