Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

What is PPE?

By definition, PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment, which is a device designed to protect the worker against one or more risks threatening their health or safety. The Labor Code requires employers to protect their workers.

Indeed, the PPE labor code article stipulates that:

"The personal protective equipment and work clothing mentioned in Article R. 4321-4 are provided free of charge by the employer, who ensures their proper functioning and maintenance in a satisfactory hygienic condition through necessary maintenance, repairs, and replacements."

What PPE is mandatory?

Mandatory PPE differs according to the professional field: construction helmet, safety glasses, hearing protection, work and protective gloves, high visibility clothing, etc. Mandatory personal protective equipment also differs according to the risks incurred: mechanical, electrical, biological, chemical, auditory, etc.

The employer's obligations are multiple. They must provide PPE free of charge to their employees (even on temporary employment contracts), verify that the simultaneous wearing of several PPE is possible, ensure that they are used correctly, maintained regularly and changed after deterioration or exceeding the expiration date.

The employee also has obligations to follow regarding the use of PPE. Indeed, they must ensure that they comply with the conditions of use, maintenance and storage as well as report defective or expired personal protective equipment.

The employer may have the employee sign a PPE delivery certificate. This PPE allocation form lists the PPE provided by the employer for the benefit of the employee. Not mandatory, these certificates are part of the administrative formalities that help avoid disputes in case of incidents or accidents.

PPE categories: the different classes of personal protective equipment

PPE is classified into three categories:

• Class 1: personal protective equipment covering minor risks
• Class 2: personal protective equipment for significant risks
• Class 3: personal protective equipment for serious risks with irreversible or fatal effects

PPE adapted to each profession

Find on VET SÉCURITÉ all our personal protective equipment classified according to the needs and requirements of different professions. Find for example, carpenter PPE, landscaper PPE, mechanic PPE or even industrial construction PPE such as cook PPE or transporter. In short, simply find all your protective products according to their standards or use: safety helmets, cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses, high-visibility, cleaning gloves, ear plugs, safety harnesses for work at height, respiratory masks and many other protective equipment are available on VET SÉCURITÉ.

PPE List: what are the different types of PPE?

Workplace protections are numerous and to avoid confusion and differentiate personal protective equipment according to risks and needs, there are many standards dividing the different PPE into several protection categories:

PPE Helmets: personal protective equipment for the head

Having become one of the emblems of workplace safety, the construction helmet is designed to protect its user from all falls or impacts. You will find in our store, helmets with or without visor, safety caps, bump caps, etc. Essential PPE for all professionals in the construction or industrial sectors, but also in landscaping. A protective helmet is essential to prevent potential impacts in case of falls or falling equipment.

PPE Goggles: personal protective equipment for the eyes

It is very important to protect your eyes at work, whether from wind or weather in outdoor work, toxic splashes in laboratories, wood chips, hot projections in boilermaking or any other types of projections, equip yourself with specialized PPE for your field. Goggles, face shields or protective masks are essential to protect against projections or debris that may occur during your work.

Noise-canceling headsets and earplugs: hearing protection PPE

Hearing protection is often neglected by professionals, yet it is essential since our ears are extremely sensitive and at work, noise can sometimes seriously damage our health. Remember to equip yourself with noise-canceling headsets, earbuds or earplugs to prevent any risk of hearing overload. Prolonged loud noise can be devastating to your auditory system, equip yourself with hearing protection adapted to your environment.

PPE Gloves: personal protective equipment for the hands

PPE gloves protect the user from injuries caused by manual work, but can also provide better grip for your activities. All workers should wear protective gloves. From a comfort standpoint first, summer and winter, find the gloves that suit you on our site. From a protective standpoint, cut-resistant, heat-resistant, cold-resistant, or even simple hygiene gloves can provide you with remarkable comfort and protection.

Visit our blog to learn more about safety standards for PPE protective gloves.

Here are some more types of PPE that you can find in our online store: safety shoes, fall protection, PPE for working at height, PPE protective clothing, work clothing, respiratory protection, etc. VET SÉCURITÉ covers all areas for workers to ensure quality equipment.