Final answer:
The statement that PPE is always the first and best option for mitigating hazards is false; employers should first attempt to reduce risks at their source before relying on PPE.
Step-by-step explanation:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is crucial for ensuring safety in the workplace but it is not always the first line of defence against hazards. According to the hierarchy of controls, employers must first attempt to eliminate or mitigate hazards at the source, for example, by substituting safer materials, redesigning processes, or using engineering controls such as ventilation. Only if these measures are not feasible or do not sufficiently reduce the risk should PPE be relied upon as the primary form of protection.
Therefore, the statement that PPE is always the first, and oftentimes best, option for mitigating hazards in the workplace is False. Appropriate training, preventive safety measures, and understanding of emergency equipment like fire extinguishers and eyewash stations must complement the use of PPE. Such holistic approaches to safety ensure that reliance on PPE alone, which can fail or be used improperly, does not become the sole line of defense against workplace hazards.