Personal protective equipment (PPE) is anything used or worn by a person to minimise risk to the person’s health or safety and includes a wide range of clothing and safety equipment. PPE includes boots, face masks, hard hats, ear plugs, respirators, gloves, safety harnesses, high visibility clothing etc.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of the least effective ways of controlling risks to health and safety and should only be used:

• when there are no other practical control measures available (as a last resort)
• as an interim measure until a more effective way of controlling the risk can be used, or
• to supplement higher level control measures (as a back-up).

If personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) who is directing the work must provide PPE to workers at the workplace, unless it has been provided by another PCBU. This will usually be the person’s employer but could also be, for example, a main contractor at the workplace.

It is an offence for a PCBU to charge or levy a worker for PPE, or cause a worker to be charged. Workplace relations laws also prohibit deductions from employee’s wages for work-related items such as PPE.

Yes, persons conducting a business or undertaking can provide a personal protective equipment (PPE) allowance, providing the allowance covers the cost of the PPE required under work health and safety laws. You also need to ensure that any PPE purchased by the worker meets the minimum standards required by work health and safety laws.

No, persons conducting a business or undertaking do not need to pay for uniforms, shoes or clothing that are generally considered not to be personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes workers’ regular clothing such as pants or jeans that are worn in a factory environment.
The requirements to provide and pay for clothing and other equipment under the work health and safety laws only applies to items that are PPE.

The standard of personal protective equipment used at a workplace must be:

• selected to minimise risk to health and safety
• suitable for the nature of the work and any hazard associated with the work
• a suitable size and fit and reasonably comfortable for the person wearing it
• maintained, repaired or replaced so it continues to minimise the worker’s health and safety risk, and
• used or worn by the worker, so far as is reasonably practicable.

When choosing the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job the selection processes must include consultation with users and their representatives and should also include:

• a detailed evaluation of the risk and performance requirements for the PPE
• compatibility of PPE items where more than one type of PPE is required (for example ear muffs with a hard hat)
• consultation with the supplier to ensure PPE is suitable for the work and workplace conditions, and
• preference for PPE that complies with the relevant Australian Standard or equivalent standard.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking should ensure:

• personal protective equipment (PPE) is used properly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
• PPE fits correctly and is reasonably comfortable for the worker who is to use or wear it
• PPE does not interfere with any medical conditions of the worker using the PPE
• workers are instructed and trained in how to use, maintain and store the PPE
• appropriate signs are used to remind workers where PPE must be worn, and
• periodic assessments are carried out to ensure PPE is used properly and is effective.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be maintained, repaired or replaced so it continues to minimise the risk to the worker who uses it. This includes by ensuring the equipment is:

• clean and hygienic, and
• in good working order.

The PPE must be maintained to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that it is used for work by the worker.

Where personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and used at work, you should remember that:

• wearing PPE may adversely affect the performance of tasks being undertaken (e.g. restricting vision or mobility)
• PPE may be uncomfortable to wear and some workers may not be able to wear it (e.g. workers who are allergic to latex cannot wear rubber gloves)
• ongoing supervision is required to ensure the PPE is being used correctly, and
• PPE may create new hazards (for example some items of PPE can hinder the body’s natural cooling mechanisms by preventing evaporation of perspiration).

A worker who is provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) by their person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must:

• use or wear the PPE in accordance with any information, training or reasonable instruction provided by the PCBU, so far as they are reasonably able
• not intentionally misuse or damage the PPE
• advise the PCBU of any damage, defect or need to clean or decontaminate any of the PPE they are aware of, and
• consult with their manager if the PPE is uncomfortable or does not fit properly.

If a worker refuses to wear or use the PPE, the PCBU can take action against the worker. A worker who does not wear or use PPE, or intentionally misuses or damages it, may also face prosecution.

A person other than a worker must wear the personal protective equipment at the workplace in accordance with any information, training or reasonable instruction provided by their person conducting a business or undertaking.

Because you never know what may happen. It may seem like a fairly simplistic answer but it is the reality that we live with. First Aid Kits are the kind of thing you must think about before an emergency strikes so that you can be prepared for the unexpected.

Yes, many of the items contained in a First Aid Kit do have expiry dates, typically 3-5 years from the date of manufacture. All of the First Aid Kits that we sell include a published expiry date. It is important that you maintain a regular review of your first aid kits and replace components as needed. Nairobi Safety Shop refills First aid kits components.