A hard hat, a pair of gloves, safety glasses. Every piece of protective equipment should reflect an informed decision

Simply making equipment available is not enough: it must suit the hazard, work with other protective equipment, remain in good condition and be used correctly.

Before starting a task, we should ask:
• Which hazards can we eliminate or reduce at source?
• Which collective protective measures are needed?
• Is the selected PPE suitable for the actual work?

Prevention begins with work design and organisation. It continues through training, maintenance and listening to the people doing the job every day.

Wearing protection is an individual action. Creating the conditions that make it effective is a shared responsibility.

PPE availability is only one step in the process. Selection, issue and use need to connect with task conditions and information about limitations. Discussion with wearers helps establish whether purchasing and replacement arrangements actually meet the needs of the work.

During field discussion, ask how a foreseeable difficulty is handled: who can be involved and which information supports a decision? Connecting observations, ownership and feedback helps establish whether a control is workable as well as documented. The review should consider actual conditions rather than assume that the same arrangement fits every task.