What is considered the last resort safety defense when other upstream barriers fail?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is indeed considered the last resort safety defense when all other upstream barriers fail. This is because PPE is designed to protect workers from hazards that could cause serious injury or illness. While upstream controls, such as engineering controls, administrative changes, and training, are vital for minimizing risks, they do not always eliminate all potential hazards. When these measures are insufficient, PPE serves as an additional safeguard.

PPE includes items such as helmets, gloves, goggles, hearing protection, and other gear that can reduce the impact of hazards. It’s important to recognize that PPE is typically not the first line of defense; rather, it is meant to provide a final layer of protection when exposure to hazards cannot be sufficiently mitigated by other means. This hierarchical approach to safety emphasizes the importance of eliminating hazards before relying on protective gear.

In comparison, work gloves, training manuals, and safety signage play crucial roles in workplace safety as well. Work gloves help protect hands against specific hazards; training manuals provide essential information for safe practices; and safety signage alerts workers to potential dangers. However, none of these measures provide the direct physical protection against hazards that PPE does, especially after other safety measures have been exhausted.