1.4 Explain the importance of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)

This guide will help you answer 1.4 Explain the importance of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Using personal protective equipment (PPE) is a key part of working safely in health and social care. PPE stops you, colleagues, and people who use services from catching or spreading infections and getting hurt. Correct use keeps everyone safer and helps the care setting run smoothly.

In this guide, we cover why wearing PPE matters, how it protects you and others, and how it links to your legal duties.

What is PPE?

PPE stands for personal protective equipment. It covers the clothing and accessories you wear to reduce the risks of harm or infection at work.

Common types of PPE in health and social care include:

• Gloves – These cover your hands to stop contact with blood, urine, faeces (poo), saliva, or other body fluids.
• Aprons and gowns – These keep your own clothes clean and protect your skin from splashes.
• Masks and face shields – These shield your nose and mouth from breathing in germs.
• Eye protection (goggles or visors) – These protect your eyes from droplets, chemicals, or sharp objects.
• Shoe covers – These prevent germs or dirt from spreading via your footwear.

Each item is designed for different risks, so you might need one or several depending on the task.

Stopping the Spread of Infections

Wearing the right PPE blocks many germs that cause illness. These germs—called pathogens—include bacteria and viruses like flu, norovirus, or COVID-19.

PPE forms a barrier between your skin, mouth, and eyes, and anything infectious. For instance:

• Gloves stop body fluids, broken skin, or contaminated objects from reaching your hands. This means germs do not get passed on when you then touch someone else or handle food.
• Masks catch droplets if someone coughs or sneezes, or when you carry out certain care procedures that release particles into the air.
• Aprons prevent cross-contamination by stopping substances from reaching your own clothes, so you do not carry germs around the building or home.

By wearing PPE at the right times, you help keep everyone protected, especially those who are already unwell or frail.

Protecting Yourself

Health and social care work can expose you to physical, chemical, or biological risks. PPE greatly reduces these dangers.

Examples of risks and how PPE helps:

• Infections — Touching wounds or handling soiled laundry can pass infections onto your hands. Gloves and aprons stop this.
• Skin irritation — Some cleaning fluids, creams, or medicines can harm your skin. Gloves and gowns form a barrier.
• Injury — Tasks like moving heavy objects or using sharp instruments may call for reinforced gloves or eye shields to protect from cuts and splashes.

You cannot always see hazards—for example, many germs are invisible and can survive on surfaces for hours. PPE guards against both visible and hidden dangers and helps you go home safely at the end of your shift.

Protecting People Who Use Services

Many people receiving care already have weaker immune systems. This means even minor germs can make them very sick.

By using PPE every time you carry out tasks such as:

• Personal care (washing, dressing, toileting)
• Moving or handling wounds and dressings
• Preparing or serving food
• Cleaning up spills or contaminated items

—you stop any germs you might be carrying from passing to the people you support.

This is especially true if you unknowingly have an infection or have touched something unclean. Consistent use of PPE protects those at highest risk.

Protecting Colleagues

It is not only those receiving care who need your focus. If you do not use your PPE or remove it safely, you risk spreading harmful substances to co-workers.

Think of these scenarios:

• You clean a wound, then forget to change gloves before touching door handles. This could spread infection to the next person.
• Removing a face mask incorrectly after use might release germs into the air or onto surfaces.

By wearing PPE properly and changing it between people and tasks, you help stop workplace outbreaks and protect the health of everyone on site.

Meeting Legal and Organisational Duties

Health and social care workers must follow strict rules about health and safety, infection control, and safeguarding.

Key laws that relate to PPE include:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: Requires employers to provide PPE for free where needed, and workers to use it properly.
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992: States that PPE must fit, be suitable for the job, and be stored and disposed of correctly.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002: Requires use of PPE when handling harmful substances.
• The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Includes requirements to control infection in care settings.

Care providers have procedures and policies that set out exactly when and how workers should wear PPE. Following these helps you meet both the law and your contract of employment.

Ignoring PPE rules can lead to disciplinary action, legal problems, or harm to yourself and others.

Building Trust with People Who Use Services

People receiving care need to feel they are safe and respected. Seeing you wear PPE shows you value their wellbeing and follow best practice.

Wearing PPE can help ease anxiety, especially for those worried about catching infections. It shows you understand risk and take your duties seriously, even for short or routine tasks.

Communicating what you are doing can build trust. For example, saying, “I’m putting on these gloves to stop us both catching any germs” helps reassure people that their safety is your top concern.

Good Practice When Wearing PPE

It is not enough to put PPE on and hope for the best. Best practice means:

• Assessing each task and wearing the right PPE for the job.
• Putting it on and taking it off (called donning and doffing) in the right way to avoid touching contaminated items.
• Changing PPE between each person or different activities.
• Washing hands before and after use.
• Checking that the PPE is clean, undamaged, and fits well.

Proper training helps you stay up to date with the latest procedures. If in doubt, always ask your supervisor.

When Not to Use PPE

PPE should only be used for its intended purpose. For example, wearing gloves in some areas (like a kitchen) may cause more harm by making you less likely to wash your hands. If you misuse PPE, it can give a false sense of safety.

Remember:

• Remove PPE when moving between clean and dirty areas.
• Never re-use single-use items.
• Follow guidance on correct disposal, such as using yellow clinical waste bags.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Some risks appear whenever PPE is not used correctly. These include:

• Skipping PPE for a “quick job”.
• Re-using gloves or masks that are meant to be thrown away.
• Forgetting to remove PPE before touching clean items or moving around the building.
• Wearing ill-fitting or broken equipment.
• Not doing hand hygiene after removing PPE.

Catch yourself from forming bad habits. Small shortcuts can have big impacts.

PPE and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic made everyone far more aware of infection control. During COVID-19, use of PPE was a lifeline when caring for those with suspected or known infections.

Rules around PPE became stricter. More items (like goggles or full face visors) were used for extra safety. Training in safe putting on and taking off was stepped up to reduce the risk of staff catching or spreading the virus.

This experience shows just how important PPE is, not only for rare diseases, but for regular day-to-day work.

The Cost of Not Wearing PPE

Choosing not to wear PPE, or doing so the wrong way, carries many risks:

• Health risks: Leads to illness, hospital stays, long-term effects, or even death.
• Legal action: Individuals can face investigation or lose their job. Organisations may pay fines or face closure.
• Spread of outbreaks: Infections may spread between people and families, causing loss of confidence.
• Loss of trust: People may feel unsafe and stop using services if they see poor hygiene practice.

By contrast, wearing PPE helps promote a positive, safe care environment.

Looking After Your PPE

Caring for your PPE means it will work every time you need it.

• Check for damage, rips, or defects before each use.
• Store equipment in a clean, dry area away from sunlight or chemicals.
• Discard single-use items straight after use.
• Report low stock levels or faulty equipment to your manager.

You are responsible for your own and others’ safety.

Adjusting for Different Settings

The type of PPE required can change depending on where you work and who you are supporting.

• Residential care: Routine gloves, aprons, and maybe masks during personal care or outbreaks.
• Community and home care: May need to take PPE with you and change between locations.
• Hospital or clinical care: More types used, especially for high-risk or invasive procedures.

Policies will set out requirements for each area. Always follow the procedure for the setting and seek advice if unsure.

Infection Control as Everyone’s Responsibility

Remember, PPE does not replace good hand washing and safe working practice. It works best as part of a wider infection control strategy.

Along with PPE, always:

• Wash your hands at the right moments.
• Clean equipment and surfaces regularly.
• Cover cuts with waterproof dressings.
• Report spills, accidents, or unsafe situations.

These steps reduce risk and protect everyone.

Final Thoughts

Wearing personal protective equipment is non-negotiable in health and social care. It greatly reduces harm from infections, chemicals, and injuries. It protects you, those in your care, and your colleagues. It keeps you safe at work and on the right side of the law.

Proper use helps build trust and keeps a care service running. Poor use puts lives and jobs in danger.

Take pride in your own safety and the safety of your workplace. Always check the policies, use the correct PPE for each task, and support others to do the same. Your understanding of this topic shows your commitment to best practice and quality care.