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Personal Protection Equipment in the Workplace :

By 09/04/2020July 14th, 20212 Comments
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Print Service Gold Coast :

Personal Protection Equipment in the Workplace :

Print Service Gold Coast. Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is any clothing or equipment a person uses for protection. It includes items such as goggles, ear plugs, respirators, safety harnesses, safety shoes, hard hats and sunscreen.

PPE can be useful, but it is also one of the least effective ways of controlling safety issues. It works best when used with other measures – or when no other safety options are available.

There are statute laws about using appropriate PPE in the workplace.

Companies must provide PPE to workers and must be free for anyone for using the equipment. If sub-contractors do not have PPE, it needs to be issued by the employer.

Train your workers when selecting PPE, and show them how to use it.

PPE refers to anything used or worn to minimise risk to workers’ health and safety. This may include, but is not limited to:

– boots
– ear plugs
– face masks
– gloves
– goggles
– hard hats
– high visibility clothing
– respirators
– safety harnesses
– safety shoes
– sunscreen.

Risk Assessment :

In certain circumstances, the model WHS Regulations require businesses to work through a hierarchy of risk control measures when managing risk. Under the hierarchy, using PPE is ranked as one of the least effective safety control measures, that is a level 3 control measure.

Level 3 control measures do not control the hazard at the source. They rely on human behaviour and supervision and used on their own tend to be least effective in minimising risks. Workplaces must not rely on PPE to satisfy their hazard control requirements.

PPE works best when you use it to supplement higher-level control measures or when no other safety measures are available. Before relying on PPE you need to do a risk assessment to see what other controls can and should be used.
Work health and safety duties

Under the model WHS laws, PCBUs must put control measures in place if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate a health and safety risk in the workplace. Control measures may include PPE as an interim or last resort or as back-up.

Where PPE is to be used it must be:

Selected to minimise risk to health and safety, including by ensuring equipment is :
– suitable for the nature of the work or hazard
– a suitable size and fit for the individual who is required to use it and that it is reasonably comfortable.
– Maintained, repaired or replaced, which includes ensuring the equipment is :
– clean and hygienic
– in good working order.
– Used or worn by the worker, so far as is reasonably practical.

A PCBU must :

-consult with their workers when selecting PPE
– ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that the PPE is used or worn by the worker
– provide the worker with information, training and instruction in the proper use and wearing of PPE and its storage and maintenance.

PPE must be provided by a PCBU unless it has already been provided by another one. For example a business may not need to provide PPE if the worker’s labour hire company provided them with it.

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