What type of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to protect against falling debris?

Wearing hard hats is essential for protecting against falling debris on construction sites. Hard hats are specifically designed to absorb the impact from falling objects and prevent head injuries. They provide a critical layer of protection, ensuring that workers' heads are safeguarded from potential hazards commonly encountered in various construction activities, such as materials being dropped or tools falling from heights.

In contrast, while other types of PPE, such as eye protection, gloves, and ear protection, are important for different types of risks, they do not address the specific hazard of falling debris. Eye protection is meant to shield the eyes from dust and flying objects, gloves are designed to protect the hands from cuts or abrasions, and ear protection is intended to reduce noise exposure; none of these adequately provide the necessary head protection needed in situations where falling debris poses a risk. Hence, hard hats are the most appropriate choice for the specific scenario of falling debris risks on a construction site.