Personal Protective Equipment is "any equipment intended to be worn or held by the worker for his protection against one or more risks likely to threaten his safety or health at work, as well as any complement or accessory intended for that purpose".

PPE represents the worker's third line of defence against the risk of accident, and PPE must be used when the existing risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited, firstly by preventive measures, methods or processes inherent to the organisation of work, and secondly by technical means of collective protection.