Industry
Fact-checked

At AboutMechanics, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Safety Equipment?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

While to a layperson the term safety equipment might seem to include certain items that assist with safety but not include others, which might be considered clothing, devices, or tools, rather than equipment; to those responsible for the quality and standards of such equipment, it includes equipment proper, along with apparel, headgear, footgear, first aid materials, devices, and tools. In addition, the layperson might assume that this equipment is protective gear for dangerous professions, when in fact, the bicycle helmet you or your child wears is considered safety equipment right along with items used by firefighters, hazardous materials (hazmat) teams, and search and rescue personnel.

Safety equipment for firefighters includes fire fighting boots, apparel, gloves, and helmets. These come in several designs, suitable for structural fires on the one hand and wildland fires on the other, with special versions for proximity fire fighting. Vapor-protective ensembles for fighting chemical flash fires, as well as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)—not to be confused with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)—which is used not only by firefighters, but also by fire responders, industrial workers, specialists involved in decontamination, and urban search and rescue. Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS), which sound a helps signal if a firefighter becomes incapacitated, are another important piece of safety equipment.

A fireman's protective gear is considered an essential piece of safety equipment.
A fireman's protective gear is considered an essential piece of safety equipment.

Fall protection safety equipment of a number of types is made for people who typically work in high places, such as construction workers, electrical line workers, sometimes called linemen, and search and rescue personnel, when needed. This includes vertical life lines, full body harnesses, and energy absorbing lanyards, as well as arc-resistant versions of the same.

Helmets are important safety equipment for bicycling.
Helmets are important safety equipment for bicycling.

Life safety ropes and systems are examples of safety equipment used by search and rescue teams, as well as tactical teams involved in security and police work or military operations, though they are also used by window washers. Depending on the situation, rescue teams may also use powered rescue tools, such as hydraulic cutters, power units, and spreaders. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers have protective clothing for emergency medical operations.

Hazmat teams wear protective safety equipment when dealing with hazardous conditions.
Hazmat teams wear protective safety equipment when dealing with hazardous conditions.

Hazmat teams have a variety of specialized safety equipment including protective liquid splash footwear and garments and other protective ensemble, including chemical/biological terrorism protective clothing. Gas detector tubes, with or without a sampling pump, provide on-the-spot analysis of possible hazardous airborne materials. Specialized versions are made particularly for confined spaces, nuisance odors, and toxic atmospheres. Other safety equipment includes industrial protection for head, feet, and body, eye and face protection, emergency eyewash and shower, and air-purifying respiratory smoke escape devices, for example.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AboutMechanics about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AboutMechanics about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Melonlity

@Vincenzo -- A really good question is where can you buy safety equipment that you need? Over the years I have had a lot of success with Army surplus stores. Think about it. You've got a lot of equipment used by the military, so we know it is good stuff.

Don't let the term "surplus" throw you. This isn't junk or throwaway stuff. No, the merchandise is usually top notch and can be had for great prices.

Vincenzo

One of the most important things to consider about safety equipment is to make sure you get good stuff. Those mitems might cost a bit more, but will be worth the expense seeing how they could save your life and all.

Take the lowly carabiner, for example. That clip type thing is essential for securing ropes for climbing mountains. If the carabiner works, then you can climb. If it doesn't, you can plummet to your doom.

Isn't it worth a few extra bucks to get something that works well? Of course it is.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A fireman's protective gear is considered an essential piece of safety equipment.
      By: Monkey Business
      A fireman's protective gear is considered an essential piece of safety equipment.
    • Helmets are important safety equipment for bicycling.
      By: Picture-Factory
      Helmets are important safety equipment for bicycling.
    • Hazmat teams wear protective safety equipment when dealing with hazardous conditions.
      By: dmitrimaruta
      Hazmat teams wear protective safety equipment when dealing with hazardous conditions.
    • A harness is an important piece of fall prevention safety equipment used in a number of trades.
      By: djama
      A harness is an important piece of fall prevention safety equipment used in a number of trades.
    • There are various types of protective garments that can be worn for safety purposes.
      By: haveseen
      There are various types of protective garments that can be worn for safety purposes.
    • Because of latex allergies, many hospitals have stopped using latex gloves and replaced them with ones made of other materials.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Because of latex allergies, many hospitals have stopped using latex gloves and replaced them with ones made of other materials.