Best Practices Guidance for AR Professionals
AR, MR, and VR — together known as XR — technologies have become mainstream across industries, supply chains, governments, and education. These advanced tools are transforming how work gets done, including in industrial, healthcare, and technical environments.
But there’s a catch: personal protective equipment (PPE) is non-negotiable in many of these settings. Some wearables integrate seamlessly with AR, MR, and VR, while others can get in the way.
That’s why we’ve built this quick-reference matrix — to help you assess how common PPE types may impact AR, MR, and VR use. This guide is a starting point — always prioritize safety and consult with your Environmental, Health and Safety experts before making decisions.
Click on any section to view more information.
Hand Protection, within the context of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), refers to the use of specialized gear to shield hands and arms from various hazards in the workplace.
Hand protection is designed to guard against a wide range of hazards, including: cuts and abrasions; extreme temperatures; skin irritation and dermatitis; and. contact with toxic or corrosive substances.
Body Protection PPE refers to specialized clothing and equipment designed to shield the entire body or specific body parts from hazards. These items act as a barrier, preventing contact with dangerous materials or situations that could cause injury or illness.
This can include suits, coveralls, or other garments that cover the torso, arms, legs, and head, often used in situations with high exposure to hazardous materials.
Ear Protection, within the context of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), refers to devices designed to shield the ears from harmful noise levels. These devices, like earplugs and earmuffs, work by reducing the intensity of sound reaching the eardrum and preventing potential hearing damage.
Hearing protectors are required to prevent noise induced hearing loss. Hearing protection devices reduce the noise energy reaching and causing damage to the inner ear. Ear muffs and earplugs are the most common types of PPE.
Head Protection within the context of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to any device designed to shield the head from potential hazards, primarily impacts, penetration, or electrical shock. This includes items like safety helmets (hard hats) and bump caps. The primary function of head protection is to safeguard against injuries from falling objects, bumping into stationary objects, or electrical hazards.
Head protection is designed to protect you if there is a risk that you could be struck by falling objects and/or strike your head against a fixed object.
Eye Protection within the context of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to any device or method designed to safeguard the eyes from potential hazards and injuries. This includes but is not limited to flying particles, chemical splashes, radiation, or other environmental threats.
Eye protection is protective gear for the eyes, and sometimes face, designed to reduce the risk of injury.
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