Certified Hazardous Materials Manager Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Test Prep

The goal of personal protective equipment (PPE) is fundamentally to serve as the last line of defense in safeguarding workers from hazards that cannot be fully eliminated or controlled by other means. This understanding emphasizes that while PPE is essential, it should not be the primary approach to hazard management. Instead, the best practice is to focus on eliminating or controlling hazards through effective engineering and administrative measures.

In many cases, workplace hazards can be reduced or removed altogether through better design, safer working practices, administrative controls, and other preventive measures. When those options are exhausted, and risks remain, that is when PPE is utilized to help minimize potential exposure and protect workers. Therefore, recognizing PPE as a last resort aligns with prioritizing a more proactive approach to hazard management. This principle underlines the importance of using PPE only when risks cannot be adequately controlled or addressed through other methods.