Fire and police personnel are expected to have access to quality PPE in order to perform their duties in hazardous situations. Public works personnel also often have to respond to hazardous situations for a number of reasons, such as to operate heavy equipment at the scene of disasters. Unfortunately, public works responders rarely have access to PPE. While all public responders need PPE, the types of PPE needs vary by the function performed. For example, while firefighters need PPE that can withstand all types of chemical, biological, and radioactive elements, SWAT officers require PPE equipment that will enable them to move quickly and get their fingers through a rifle’s trigger guard. Therefore, the first step in securing PPE for public works responders is to identify the unique requirements of their jobs and then find the most appropriate type of PPE. Next, public works departments need to secure a dedicated funding source for the PPE, which can be quite expensive, ranging from around $400 for a LANX suit to up to $2,000 for a Trelleborg or Lion MT 94 suit. Funding, then, also plays a significant role in deciding what type of PPE is appropriate for public works personnel. The major challenges with PPE suits are discussed, which include problems with heat and air circulation. The final issue is getting the public works personnel to actually wear the PPE provided to them. Training and knowledge about their functioning can help in this regard. Exhibits