What is PPE and name three examples commonly used backstage.

• A. Personal Protective Equipment; Ear Protection, Sunglasses, and Sandals.
• B. Personal Protective Equipment; Hard Hats, Safety Glasses, and Gloves.
• C. Personal Productive Equipment; Safely Touch, and Gloves.
• D. Personal Protective Equipment; Hard Hats, Ear Protection, and Sandals.

Answer: (B)

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment, which is gear worn to reduce exposure to hazards that can cause injuries on the job. In a backstage setting, common hazards include falling objects, flying debris, and sharp or hot tools, so the protective items you’d typically use are hard hats to guard against head injuries, safety glasses to shield the eyes from particles or sparks, and gloves to protect hands during handling and tool work. These items are designed specifically to prevent injuries in environments like theatres, where rigging, construction, and rapid scene changes create a variety of risks.

The other options miss the mark for a few reasons. One includes sandals, which expose feet and aren’t an appropriate safety option backstage; another lists sunglasses instead of safety glasses, which don’t offer the same level of impact protection. And one option even uses a wrong term, Personal Productive Equipment, which isn’t correct.