TEACHING NOTES

TOPIC 6: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Introduction to the session

The purpose of this section is to inform young workers that there is an important reason for them to wear
and use protective equipment AND that they are required to use the equipment to protect themselves while
at work.

Session warm up
This section can be commenced with discussion about why people use protective equipment at home and on
the sports field.

 Who wears gloves when they wash the dishes?

 Why does the school maintenance crew wear earmuffs and glasses when mowing the lawns?
 Who wears a mouth guard when they play sport?
 What other protective equipment is used when playing sport?

The responses should provide an introduction into the session on why personal protective equipment is
needed in the workplace.

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? – Slide 64

 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is any clothing, equipment or substance designed to protect you
from hazards in the workplace.
 It is the last measure of control – you should look at the other measures first.
 The following list itemises parts of the body for which personal protective equipment is commonly used,
and some common sources of risk which may be controlled by PPE.
 Eye and face protection e.g. goggles, glasses and face shields protect from flying objects, sparks,
UV, bright lights, splashing substances
 Breathing protection e.g. dust and respiratory masks protect from dust, fumes, vapours, aerosols
 Hearing protection e.g. ear muffs and ear plugs provide protection from excessive noise
 Hand protection e.g. gloves and barrier creams provide protection from abrasion, sparks, irritant
substances, vibration
 Foot protection such as safety footwear provides protection from crushing, slipping, abrasion, irritant
substances, wetness, puncture, cold/heat
 Head protection e.g. hair nets, sun hats, safety helmets (hard hats) provide protection from hair
being entangled in machinery, exposure to the sun, falling objects, striking objects
 Clothing e.g. high visibility vests, life jackets, lab coats, aprons, safety harnesses provide protection
from UV, flying objects, sparks, chemicals, cold/heat.

Hazards and risks can be managed by decreasing the likelihood of an injury and the severity of an injury.

Hierarchy of control measures – Slide 65

1. Eliminate the hazard or risk – remove the hazard from the workplace
2. Substitute the hazard or risk – use a different (safer) process, machine or chemical
3. Engineer out the hazard or risk – install guards on machines, put in barriers around hazards
4. Administrative controls – use policies, training and signs to warn workers
5. Personal protective equipment (PPE) – use gloves, glasses, hearing protection etc.

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Teaching Notes – Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and administrative controls are lowest on the hierarchy of control
measures. PPE should not be relied on to control a hazard unless it is a temporary or interim measure
because it can:
 be uncomfortable to wear
 make working difficult
 create other risks to a person’s health and safety
 cause other health problems (e.g. ear infections)
 generally not be individually fitted, so it may fail to provide full protection.

PPE requires full and adequate training in:

 the purpose and reason for the PPE
 how to use the PPE properly
 how to look after and maintain the PPE.

When should you use PPE? – Slide 66

Personal protective equipment is the last option as a means of protection. PPE does not eliminate the
hazards of the job – it provides protection only. Refer back to the hierarchy of controls on Slide 65.

 It may have to be worn when operating a machine that has guards fitted
 A Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) may require you to wear PPE while doing a job
 Use PPE if you feel unsafe, when instructed to by your supervisor or team coordinator, when a Safety
Data Sheet or warning sign tells you to, and if there is a chance of injury.

PPE responsibilities – Slide 67

What should you do?

Wear it when you need to

 When provided with information as a part of the induction process
 When instructed as part of a formal training program
 When included in a safe operating procedure (SOP) for a particular hazardous task.

Look after it and keep it clean

 Clean the parts of the equipment that contacts your skin – face, ears etc.
 Store it in a safe and clean place
 If it becomes worn or broken, get it replaced.

Use it properly
 Safety glasses are worn to protect the eyes, not your forehead!
 Make sure that any protective clothing with buttons, belts or strings are done up and not hanging loose;
loose clothing can get caught in machinery and lead to serious injury
 Use it in the way it was designed to be used!

What does the employer (PCBU) have to do?

Provide the equipment when it is needed

 If it is a part of the SOP
 When it is referred to in a safety data sheet (SDS)
 As a risk control measure.

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Teaching Notes – Personal protective equipment

Train you on how to use it

 Training should include: why the equipment is needed, when it is to be used, how to use and maintain it.

Replace broken equipment

 It is the employer’s (PCBU) responsibility to ensure the equipment is in good condition at all times and is
replaced when faulty.

Make sure it fits you

 The equipment should fit properly and not be shared between people – unless it is hygienically cleaned
between uses.

Selecting PPE – Slide 68

The PPE must always be suitable for the type of work being performed and give adequate protection for the
user.

Employers (PCBU) must ensure that the PPE does not create additional health or safety risks to the worker.
People may have pre-existing medical conditions (allergies) that could be aggravated by wearing the
equipment (e.g. rubber gloves and plastics used for face masks).
The use of PPE may create hazards due to the nature of the work to be performed, e.g. heavy jackets to
protect against temperature extremes make it difficult to lift and carry things, wearing an air supplied mask
and hood system may make it difficult to hear co-workers or alarm systems.

PPE should be easy to use, comfortable, fit properly, be compatible with other PPE and comply with relevant
Australian Standards.

PPE examples – Slide 69

Think about equipment designed to protect against inhalation of hazardous substances. A safety data sheet
(SDS) will describe the specific type of protective equipment needed. For this example, a range of protective
breathing equipment may include a disposable dust mask, a mask with a cartridge filter or, a mask and hood
that have air supplied.

Storing and maintaining PPE – Slide 70

When not in use, PPE must be stored in an accessible, clean and dry designated storage area. This is to
ensure its cleanliness and functionality. The manufacturer should provide information on how to correctly
store and maintain the PPE when it is purchased.

PPE needs to be checked regularly, both during storage and use, to ensure its continued effectiveness.
Always repair or discard damaged or defective PPE.

PPE ACTIVITY – Slide 71

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ACTIVITY

1. Students to complete worksheet to match the PPE with the job.

Note: the same type of PPE can be used for different jobs.

2. Discussion about which hazards the PPE is designed to protect against.

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Teaching Notes – Personal protective equipment

Answers:

Firefighter Pest control Welder Fruit Kitchen Workshop

worker picker hand cleaner
Face shield  
Respiratory mask 
Glasses  
Earplugs 
Gloves      
Earmuffs
Boots   
Goggles  
Helmet  
Apron    
Sunglasses 
Sunscreen  
Broad-brimmed hat  

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