Protective Clothing by Industry: Occupations Requiring Safety Gear

Protective clothing is mandated across high-hazard industries. Key sectors and typical PPE:

Industry	Hazards	Typical PPE
Construction	Falls, struck-by, cuts, noise, dust	Hard hat, safety glasses, hi-vis vest, steel-toe boots, gloves, hearing protection
Electrical	Shock, arc flash, burns	FR clothing, insulated gloves, dielectric boots, face shield, voltage-rated tools
Firefighting	Heat, flame, smoke, collapse	Turnout gear (NFPA 1971), SCBA, helmet, boots, gloves, hood
Healthcare (ID/Lab)	Pathogens, blood, chemicals	Gowns, gloves, N95/PAPR, face shield, goggles, boot covers
Manufacturing/Chemical	Toxics, dust, fumes, machinery	Chem-resistant suits, respirators, goggles, hearing protection, steel-toe
Laboratory	Biohazards, chemicals, radiation	Lab coat, gloves, goggles, face shield, specific PPE per agent
Mining/Quarrying	Dust, noise, falling rock, equipment	Hard hat, cap lamp, respirator, hi-vis, steel-toe, hearing protection
Oil & Gas	H2S, fire, chemicals, pressure	FR coveralls, H2S monitor, SCBA/escape respirator, chemical gloves, steel-toe
Painting/Coating	Solvents, isocyanates, dust	Coveralls, supplied-air respirator, gloves, goggles
Welding/Metalworking	UV/IR radiation, sparks, fumes, heat	Welding helmet, FR jacket/apron, leather gloves, respirator, steel-toe

OSHA requires hazard assessment, PPE selection, training, and employer-provided equipment at no cost to workers.