Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the set of items that protect workers from the hazards that can affect their health or physical integrity. It is not an optional expense: it is a legal obligation, an ethical responsibility and a direct factor in the continuity of your operation.
The most common types of PPE
Depending on the hazards of each job, PPE includes:
- Head protection: safety helmets
- Eye and face protection: glasses, goggles, face shields
- Hearing protection: earplugs and earmuffs
- Respiratory protection: masks and respirators
- Hand protection: gloves according to the hazard (cut, chemical, thermal)
- Foot protection: safety footwear
- Protective clothing and fall-protection equipment
Complying with Mexican regulations (NOM)
In Mexico, the use of PPE in workplaces is regulated by NOM-017-STPS, issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, which establishes how to select, use and maintain protective equipment according to the hazards of each activity. Complying with it does more than avoid penalties: it protects your people and backs up your operation in the event of an audit or an incident.
The real challenge: never running out
Having PPE is not enough; you have to keep it available at the right time and place. A torn glove with no replacement, a respirator out of stock or a pair of glasses that never arrived can stop a task, expose a worker or cause a compliance failure. That is why the PPE supply should not be left to chance.
The most efficient model is to manage PPE as part of the on-site inventory (VMI): minimum levels by area, replenishment based on actual consumption and visibility into who consumes what. That way protection is always available without overstocking.
Frequently asked questions
Who must provide the PPE?
The employer is required to provide workers with the personal protective equipment appropriate to the hazards of their job, in accordance with the regulations.
How do I avoid running out of PPE?
With a supplier-managed supply that keeps minimums by area and replenishes automatically based on consumption.
IMS Global, your partner in safety and hygiene
At IMS Global we supply industrial and personal safety equipment that meets the required standards to safeguard the integrity of your workforce. We also integrate it into our on-site inventory program (VMI) with the SAMI system, so that PPE never runs short where it is needed and your plant stays safe and compliant. Count on us to protect your people.