What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specifically defined as clothing and gear designed to protect individuals from exposure to hazardous biological agents. This includes items such as gloves, lab coats, goggles, face shields, and respirators. The primary purpose of PPE is to minimize the risk of contamination, infection, or injury when working with potentially dangerous materials in laboratory or healthcare settings.

Understanding the role of PPE is crucial in biosafety practices because proper use can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents and exposure to harmful agents. It emphasizes the importance of both personal safety and the safety of others within an environment that may involve biological risks.

In contrast, the other options, while they may relate to laboratory settings, do not accurately describe PPE. Comfort in work attire does not prioritize safety; monitoring equipment is focused on environmental safety rather than personal protection; and general laboratory tools do not fall under the category of protective gear but rather serve functional purposes in experiments.