Which of the following items constitute the required PPE when operating any machine tool in a typical machinist shop?

• A. Safety glasses with side shields, hearing protection, sturdy footwear, and no loose clothing or jewelry; tie back long hair
• B. Safety glasses with side shields and hearing protection
• C. Sturdy footwear only
• D. No PPE required

Answer: (A)

Protective equipment for operating machine tools must cover eyes, ears, feet, and prevent clothing or hair from getting caught in moving parts. Safety glasses with side shields guard the eyes from flying chips from the sides and front. Hearing protection reduces the risk of hearing loss from the loud noises common in a shop. Sturdy, closed-toe footwear protects feet from dropped tools and hot chips and provides solid footing on slick floors. Keeping loose clothing and jewelry off and tying back long hair prevents entanglement with rotating spindles or cutters. Together, these items address the main shop hazards and are the minimum expected when using most machine tools. The other options leave out essential protections or suggest unsafe practices, such as skipping eye or hearing protection, or allowing loose clothing or hair.