Airport Ground Staff PPE: Safety Equipment for UAE Aviation Workers

PPE for UAE Airport and Aviation Ground Operations

UAE airports — including Abu Dhabi International, Dubai International, Dubai World Central, and Sharjah International — handle millions of passengers and tonnes of cargo annually. Ground staff working airside face unique hazards: jet engine noise exceeding 140 dB at close range, jet blast, FOD (foreign object debris), extreme tarmac temperatures, and the constant movement of aircraft and ground support equipment.

Mandatory Airside PPE

Class 3 hi-vis vest or jacket: Maximum visibility is mandatory in aircraft movement areas. Many airports require specific colours for different roles — yellow for ground handling, orange for maintenance, red for emergency services.

Hearing protection: Dual protection (ear plugs plus ear muffs) is recommended for workers within 50 metres of operating jet engines. Electronic ear muffs with communication capability are used by marshalling and coordination staff.

Safety boots: Steel-toe or composite-toe boots with anti-slip soles. FOD-resistant designs with smooth, easy-to-inspect soles are preferred in airside environments.

Eye protection: Safety glasses with UV protection for outdoor operations. Anti-fog coatings are essential given the temperature contrast between air-conditioned interiors and the tarmac.

Specialised Aviation PPE

Aircraft maintenance technicians require additional PPE: chemical-resistant gloves for handling aviation fluids, respiratory protection when working with composite materials or in fuel tanks, and fall protection equipment for work on aircraft wings and fuselages.

TexiExp has extensive experience supplying PPE for UAE aviation and airport operations. Contact us for aviation-specific PPE requirements: +971 50 827 5489