OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION
- - WORKPLACE COMMUNICATIONS - -
- - PPE - (Personal Protective Equipment)
What is personal protective equipment (PPE) and what are
some of the types?
PPE is defined as all equipment, including clothing, which is intended to be worn or
held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his
health and safety. Some of the types of PPE which are used throughout the
workplace include:
Hearing protection
Head protection
Eye protection
Foot protection
Hand &arm protection
Body protection
Respitory protection
Hearing Protection
Earmuffs/defenders, which
completely cover the ear
Earplugs, which are inserted into the
ear canal
Semi-inserts (also called canal-caps),
which cover the entrance to the ear
canal
Head Protection
Industrial safety helmets (hard hats),
which are designed to protect against
materials falling from height and
swinging objects
Industrial scalp protectors (bump
caps), which are designed to protect
from knocking against stationary
objects
Caps/hair nets, which protect against
entanglement
Hazards- Impact from falling or flying
objects, risk of head bumping, hair
entanglement
Eye Protection
Safety spectacles. These are similar
to regular glasses but have a tougher
lens. They can include side shields
for additional protection
Eye shields. A frame-less one piece
moulded lens, often worn over
normal prescription glasses
Safety goggles. These are made with
flexible plastic frames and an elastic
headband
Face shields. Heavier and bulkier
than other type of eye protector.
Face shields protect the face, but do
not fully enclose the eyes so do not
protect against dusts, mists or gases
Hazards- chemical or metal splash, dust,
projectiles, gas and vapor.
Foot Protection
Safety boots or shoes. Normally with
steel toe-caps. Can also have other
safety features (e.g. steel mid-soles,
slip resistant soles, insulation against
heat and cold)
Wellington boots, which can be
supplied with steel toe-caps
Anti-static and conductive footwear.
Designed to protect against the build
up of static electricity.
Hazards- Wet, electrostatic build up,
slipping, falling objects
Hand & Arm Protection
Gloves and gauntlets (leather, nitrile,
latex, plastic coated, chain mail etc.)
Wrist cuffs and armlets, e.g. used in
glass cutting and handling
Barrier cream may sometime be
used, where gloves cannot
practicably be used
Hazards- Abrasions, temperature
extremes, cuts and punctures,
impact, chemicals, electric shock,
skin infection, disease or
contamination.
Body Protection
Overalls, aprons and coveralls.
Protection against hazardous
substances
Clothing for cold, heat & bad weather
Clothing to protect against
machinery, e.g. chainsaws
High visibility clothing (e.g. jackets,
vests)
Harnesses
Back supports
Hazards- Chemical or metal splash, spray
from pressure leaks or spray guns,
impact or penetration, contaminated
dust, excessive wear or
entanglement of clothing
Respiratory Protection
Respirators that filter contaminated
air or clean it as it is breathed in
Respirators that supply clean air from
an independent source
Face masks
cartridge filters
Basic Dust mask (3M 8822)
Hazards- Dust, vapor, gas, oxygen
deficient atmospheres.
SR 100 * SR 90-2 * SR 75
Half Mask
Use –
If equipped with a suitable filter, the mask provides protection against the inhalation
of harmful gasses/vapors and/or particles. The choice of filter determines the
degree of protection provided by the mask in a given situation
Filters –
Particle Filter
Filter Class P3 (includes P2 & P1)
Provides protection against all types of particles, both solid and liquid
Gas Filters
Type A
Provides protection against organic gasses and vapors, I.e solvents whose boiling
point exceeds +65 degrees Celsius
Type AX
Provides protection against organic substances with boiling points of up to +65
degrees Celsius
Type B
Provides protection against inorganic gasses and vapors. I.e Chlorine, hydrogen
sulphide and hydrogen cyanide
Type E
Provide protection against acid gasses and vapors. I.e Sulphur dioxide and hydrogen
fluoride
Type K
Provides protection against ammonia and some amines. I.e Ethylendiamine
Type HG
Provides protection against mercury vapor. Maximum usage time is 50 hours
Description
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Mask Body
Filter Attachment
Head Harness
Membrane Seat
Exhalation Membrane
Protective Cap
Inhalation Membrane
Filter/Combination Filter
Pre-Filter
Pre-Filter Holder
(Pre-Filter prevents premature
Clogging of the main filter &
Also prevents damage to the
main filter)
Description
How do I know if the PPE is designed to provide adequate
protection against the hazards at my workplace?
Designers, manufacturers or suppliers of PPE can give advice on the specifications and
appropriate use of their products.
This is important as seen in the following example: Clearly, no one type of glove
provides adequate protection against all chemicals. A respirator designed to be
effective against medium air levels of one particular chemical, may not be effective
against high levels of the same chemical, or lower levels of a different chemical.
For this reason it is highly important to contact the suppliers and read any enclosed
information regarding the uses and protections of the particular PPE employed.
How do I determine whether or not to use personal protective
equipment (PPE) in the workplace?
Initially the employer must determine if there is a hazard and assess the risk
associated with the hazard. An employer must then eliminate any reasonably
foreseeable risk to the health and safety of any person within his/her workplace.
If it is not possible to eliminate the risk, an employer must control the risk. PPE may
assist in reducing this possible risk of harm.
However, it should be noted that legal requirements state that all workplaces should
specifically follow the outlined PPE and OH&S practices, and any workplace which
does not have these regulations in place should be brought to the attention of
head office, or in extreme cases, Work Cover and/or Industrial Relations
Maintenance of PPE
There are two main points to maintaining safe PPE equipment, these include:
the PPE is well looked after and properly stored when it is not being used, for
example in a dry clean cupboard or in the case of smaller items, such as eye
protection, in a case or box.
The PPE is kept clean and in good repair. Repairs and maintenance can be done
by a set schedule which is organized and checked by a person put in charge of
that specific area in the workplace.
Key points to remember
PPE is provided
It offers adequate protection for its intended use
Those using it are trained in some way
Its properly maintained and that any defects are reported
It is returned to its proper storage after use
Assessing PPE
is it appropriate for the risks
involved and the conditions at the
place where exposure to the risk may
occur? E.g. eye protection will not
provide adequate face protection for
someone using a grinder.
does it prevent or satisfactorily
control the risks involved without
increasing the overall level of risk.
Can it be adjusted to fit the wearer
properly?
has the state of health of those who
will be wearing it been taken into
account?
what are the needs of the job and
the demands it places on the wearer?
For E.g. the length of time the PPE
needs to be worn, the physical effort
required to do the job and the
requirement for visibility and
communication.
If more then one item of PPE is being
worn, are they compatible? For E.g.
does a particular respirator (mask)
make it difficult to wear eye
protection properly?
Suppliers
3M Australia PTY LTD
2-74 Dunheved Circuit , St Marys NSW 2760
Ph: 1800 024 464
HYMARK TRADING PTY LTD
P.O. BOX 134
RED HILL SOUTH
VICTORIA 3937
Ph: 03 5989 3033
SafetyEquipment.net.au
PO Box 373
Concord West
NSW 2138
Ph: 1300 73 22 74
All Purpose Abrasives
25 Lincoln Street
Minto NSW 2566
(Earplugs, masks, goggles)
West Hoxton Awevare
(Shoes)
Protector Safety Pty Ltd
Guilford, Sydney NSW
Australia 2161
Protector Allsafe
(Shoes)