What is a true statement about personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a critical role in workplace safety by helping to minimize exposure to various hazards. While it is important and effective in reducing the risk of injury or illness, it does not completely eliminate all potential hazards present at a job site. This means that while wearing PPE is a vital part of safety protocols, it is not a substitute for other safety measures or practices that address hazards directly.

Minimizing exposure is particularly essential in environments where workers may encounter things like chemical splashes, sharp objects, or noise levels that could lead to hearing loss. PPE serves as an additional layer of protection, complementing other safety strategies like engineering controls, administrative practices, and proper training to manage risks effectively.

In contrast, the other choices imply that PPE can remove or is unnecessary for certain situations, which underplays its importance in providing a safer working environment across a variety of contexts, not just high-risk jobs or specific work settings. The necessity for PPE is flexible and must be assessed based on the specific hazards present, rather than being labeled as optional or only applicable in certain conditions.