Which personal protective equipment is commonly used on deck and when working over the side?

• A. Goggles only.
• B. No PPE is required.
• C. Just a life jacket.
• D. PFDs, hard hats, safety boots, gloves, and harnesses when working over the side.

Answer: (D)

On deck you face a range of hazards—slips, impacts from moving gear, and the risk of someone going over the rail. Wearing the right PPE helps protect against these dangers. A full set includes PFDs to provide buoyancy if you go overboard, hard hats to shield your head from overhead or swinging objects, safety boots with good tread and toe protection for footing and dropped objects, and gloves to protect your hands from rope burns, cuts, and rough surfaces. When you’re working over the side, a harness with a safety line is essential to prevent a fall, and the PFD remains important in case you fall into the water. The combination of these items is why the complete PPE set is the best choice. Options that emphasize only one item, or none, don’t address all the common deck hazards.