A computer-implemented method for interacting with a human machine interface, HMI, of a system, the method comprising: detecting a face of a person attempting to interact with the HMI and detecting a gesture made by the person relative to the HMI; analyzing information regarding the face of the person that has been detected to determine whether the person is wearing personal protection equipment; in an instance in which the person is determined to not be wearing the personal protection equipment, suspending a response to the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI; and in an instance in which the person is determined to be wearing the personal protection equipment, analyzing the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI and converting the gesture to a corresponding command to the system with which the HMI is associated; wherein detecting the face of the person attempting to interact with the HMI and detecting the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI comprises detecting the face of the person based upon signals received from a first sensor and detecting the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI based upon signals received from a second sensor, different than the first sensor; and in which the second sensor is configured to be continuously or repeatedly activated to detect a predefined trigger gesture and the first sensor is configured to remain inactive until the trigger gesture has been detected after which the first sensor is configured to also be activated in order to detect the face of the person who then makes the gesture to command the system of the HMI; and wherein the personal protection equipment comprises a face mask, face shield, or face mask and head covering. detecting a face of a person attempting to interact with the HMI and detecting a gesture made by the person relative to the HMI; analyzing information regarding the face of the person that has been detected to determine whether the person is wearing personal protection equipment; in an instance in which the person is determined to not be wearing the personal protection equipment, suspending a response to the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI; and in an instance in which the person is determined to be wearing the personal protection equipment, analyzing the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI and converting the gesture to a corresponding command to the system with which the HMI is associated; wherein detecting the face of the person attempting to interact with the HMI and detecting the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI comprises detecting the face of the person based upon signals received from a first sensor and detecting the gesture made by the person relative to the HMI based upon signals received from a second sensor, different than the first sensor; and in which the second sensor is configured to be continuously or repeatedly activated to detect a predefined trigger gesture and the first sensor is configured to remain inactive until the trigger gesture has been detected after which the first sensor is configured to also be activated in order to detect the face of the person who then makes the gesture to command the system of the HMI; and wherein the personal protection equipment comprises a face mask, face shield, or face mask and head covering.