Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

What is personal protective equipment?

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.

What standard of Personal Protective Equipment is required?

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.

What is the worker’s duty in relation to personal protective equipment?

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.


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