ENG-6201 Occupational Health and Safety

WEEK 1 – INTRODUCTION TO OCCUPATIONAL

HEALTH AND SAFETY
This course introduces the student to the study of workplace occupational health and safety.
The student will learn safe work practices in offices, industry and construction as well as how
to identify and prevent or correct problems associated with occupational safety and health in
these locations as well as in the home. The course is designed to assist the student with the
implementation of safe healthy practices at work and at home.

Caiaimage/Agnieszka Olek/Getty Images

What is OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY?

Occupational health and safety (OHS) relates to health, safety, and welfare issues in the
workplace.

Occupational health and safety is the field of public health that studies trends in illnesses and
injuries in the worker population and proposes and implements strategies and regulations

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to prevent them. Its scope is broad, encompassing a wide variety of disciplines—from
toxicology and epidemiology to ergonomics and violence prevention.

Historically, the focus of occupational health and safety efforts have been on manual labor
occupations, such as factory workers. But the field now encompasses all occupations in the
United States. In addition to ensuring our work environments (from construction sites to
office buildings) have safety precautions in place to prevent injuries, experts in occupational
health also work to limit both short- and long-term hazards that could lead to physical or
mental illness now or in the future.

More than three million people suffer some kind of serious work-related injury or illness
every year in the United States. Millions more are exposed to environmental health hazards
that could cause issues years from now. Workers' compensation claims total more than a
billion dollars a week. That doesn’t even account for the loss of wages and other indirect
expenses, such as decreased productivity and the psychological toll of experiencing or caring
for someone with an injury.

With the exception of self-employed individuals and relatives of farm workers, nearly all
employers both private and public have a social and legal responsibility to establish and
maintain a safe and healthy environment. Some are happy to comply for ethical reasons or
because injuries and illnesses can lead to lost productivity, turnover, and higher employer-
subsidized health insurance premiums. It is common for larger employers to establish their
own workplace health and safety initiatives that exceed regulatory requirements.

OHS includes the laws, standards, and programs that are aimed at making the workplace
better for workers, along with co-workers, family members, customers, and other
stakeholders.

Improving a company's occupational health and safety standards ensures good business, a
better brand image, and higher employee morale.

Occupational health and safety is concerned with addressing many types of workplace
hazards, such as:
 Chemicals
 Physical hazards
 Biological agents
 Psychological fallout
 Ergonomic issues
 Accidents

Occupational health and safety standards are in place to mandate the removal, reduction, or
replacement of job site hazards. OHS programs should also include material that helps
minimize the effects of the hazards.

Employers and company management are obliged to provide a safe working environment
for all of their employees.
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History

The idea that workplaces in the United States should be required to adhere to a minimum set
of safety and health standards isn’t all that controversial—but it wasn’t always that way.
Working conditions for the average American have improved in fits and starts over the last
150 years, with major economy-altering safety legislation passed and a steady stream of
various lesser regulations enacted under both major U.S. political parties in recent decades.

In the wake of the Civil War, factories started to crop up all across the United States. Often
staffed by young, highly inexperienced workers, the factories were perilous places to work.
Stories compiled in an 1872 report by the state of Massachusetts’ Bureau of Labor detailed
many grisly incidents where workers lost limbs or were killed due to inadequate equipment
and physically demanding tasks.

In addition to the dangerous equipment and machines, the facilities were dirty and poorly
ventilated. Opening windows would reportedly disrupt the materials inside the factories, so
they remained closed, leaving workers to breathe in chemical fumes and accumulated dust
day in and day out.

In response to the 1872 report and compiled statistics, Massachusetts became the first U.S.
state to require factory inspections that included verifying, among other things, fire exits
were in place at each facility. Other states quickly followed suit. By 1890, 21 states had some
kind of law in the books limiting health hazards in the workplace. While these efforts were a
step in the right direction, it was a messy assortment of laws and regulations. Rules differed
from state to state and weren’t always enforced. States with more relaxed policies attracted
businesses away from stricter states, and a push was made to scale back regulations. A back
and forth progression began as the public demanded stricter laws and businesses fought to
loosen them.

The piecemeal assortment of regulations finally came to a head in December of 1970 when
then-President Richard Nixon signed into law the Occupational Safety and Health Act,
becoming the first far-reaching federal law to protect American workers. The law gave the
U.S. government authority to write and enforce safety and health standards for nearly all of
the country's workforce. Shortly after, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) was established to oversee the implementation of the new law.

Improvements and additions to state and federal laws have been passed in the years since,
expanding the role of occupational health and safety professionals and going further to
ensure safe workspaces for all. Now, if you get injured on the job, you won’t go bankrupt
thanks to workers’ compensation. Legal recourse is available against negligent or unsafe
employers. Inspection and oversight regimes help identify unsafe conditions. And modern
data-driven workplace safety programs proactively identify risks and help employers tackle
the underlying conditions that put workers in danger in the first place.

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While it's difficult to estimate the true impact of the law—we don't have a lot of data on
workplace safety from the pre-OSHA days—it's estimated that the total number of workplace
fatalities has decreased by more than 65 percent, despite dramatic increases in the country's
workforce.

REFERENCES:
ONLINE REFERENCE:
1. https://www.georgiancollege.ca/course-outlines/HURM/1001/Fall/2014
2. https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/439/occupational-health-and-safety-ohs
3. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-occupational-health-and-safety-4159865

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 ENG-6201 Occupational Health and Safety
WEEK 1 – INTRODUCTION TO OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY
This course introduces the student to the study of workplace occupational health and safety.
The student will learn safe work practices in offices, industry and construction as well as how
to identify and prevent or correct problems associated with occupational safety and health in
these locations as well as in the home. The course is designed to assist the student with the
implementation of safe healthy practices at work and at home.

https://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/occupational-health-safety-and-environmental-management

Current Issues

The issues studied and regulated by occupational health and safety experts today vary
widely by occupation. For example, physical threats like tall heights and heavy machinery
might be of greater concern to construction workers, whereas mental health and repetitive
stress injuries might be the focus of office environments. Even so, despite massive
improvements to workplace standards, there are a number of safety and health concerns in
America's workforce where much work can be done.

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Falls

Hundreds of people in the United States die from falls each year. It's the leading cause
of fatalities among construction workers—yet almost entirely preventable. For many
builders, working from tall heights is unavoidable, but with proper safety precautions,
deaths and injuries can be avoided. These precautions should start before the work even
begins during the earliest part of the planning stages. Employers should include the cost of
safety equipment, like harnesses, scaffolds, and fall arrest systems, into the project's work
estimate, so that every worker has access to and is trained to use the equipment he or she
needs.

Heat Illness

According to OSHA, dozens of workers die every year from working in extreme heat or
humid conditions, and thousands more become ill. The biggest proportion of these instances
happen in the construction industry, but it can happen to anyone working in an environment
that isn't properly climate controlled.

Employers are legally obligated under federal law to ensure that work environments are free
from safety hazards, and that includes extreme temperatures. For its part, OSHA is
encouraging business owners and managers to protect their workers from heat-related
illness and injury through a messaging campaign that encourages them to provide water,
rest, and shade to all employees—especially when the heat index is 91 degrees Fahrenheit
or higher.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

An emerging area of concern related to occupation health is injuries caused by poor posture
and repetitive motions. Many U.S. workers work almost exclusively on computers, moussing
and typing for hours on end, resulting in the overuse of certain muscles and joints. This type
of repetitive activities day in and day out can cause injuries, such as carpal tunnel and even
eye strain. The tendency of modern workers to also use poor posture while using electronic
devices (both on and off the clock) can also contribute to long-term pain, lost productivity,
and medical costs. Many employers find that investing in ergonomics and office-based safety
initiatives (such as targeting slips, trips, and falls) actually has a positive return on
investment once lost productivity and employer medical costs are considered.

Sedentary Behavior

As the workforce has moved from manual labor to desk jobs, the U.S. population has become
increasingly sedentary. Office workers often sit for hours at a time during work hours—not
to mention during their daily commute and leisure time. But a sedentary lifestyle can have
major consequences for your health, including increasing your risk for obesity, blood clots,
and death. It's no surprise then that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, only about a third of adults get the bare minimum of exercise recommended to
protect your health—about 30 minutes of moderate activity, five days a week.
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Even that, however, might not be sufficient to stave off the risks of being tied to a desk. One
study found that those who sat for a cumulative 12.5 hours per day (not outside the realm of
possibility for commuting office workers who like to relax on the couch) were more likely to
die from all causes than those who were more active, moving around at least every 30
minutes. This was the case regardless of whether individuals worked out regularly. Sitting
for too long too often can have devastating consequences over time.

Workplace Violence

Many people envision workplace safety primarily in terms of traditionally risky industries
like construction, deep-sea fishing, or logging. Indeed, these sectors experience some of
the highest fatal accident numbers for U.S. workers. However, non-fatal injuries and illnesses
tell a significantly different story. Nursing assistants, for example, experience some of the
highest rates of lost-time injury due to violence caused by unstable patients in their care. In
fact, rates of workplace violence in state-run nursing or residential facilities in the United
States is twice that of state-run police forces and nearly four times that of those working in
the logging industry. These injuries can result in significant losses to productivity, as more
than half of these injuries result in days away from work—not to mention the added burden
of treatment costs and human pain.

REFERENCES:
ONLINE REFERENCE:
1. https://www.georgiancollege.ca/course-outlines/HURM/1001/Fall/2014
2. https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/439/occupational-health-and-safety-ohs
3. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-occupational-health-and-safety-4159865

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 ENG-6201 Occupational Health and Safety
WEEK 2 – PERSONAL SAFETY
This course introduces the student to the study of workplace occupational health and safety.
The student will learn safe work practices in offices, industry and construction as well as how
to identify and prevent or correct problems associated with occupational safety and health in
these locations as well as in the home. The course is designed to assist the student with the
implementation of safe healthy practices at work and at home.

https://www.security.ky/blog/personal-safety-workplace/

What is PERSONAL SAFETY?

We often hear these days about ‘who is to blame’ for something going wrong or someone
being hurt. It might be the fault of the Government who should pass a law about it, the person
who stopped too suddenly so you went into the back of them, the piece of equipment that
was not properly maintained, but at the end of the day the person ultimately responsible
for your own personal safety is you.

All workers are entitled to work in environments where risks to their health and safety are
properly controlled and under health and safety law the primary responsibility for this is
down to employers. However, workers have a duty to take care of their own health and safety
and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. They must co-operate with
employers and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements. At the end of the
day it is down to the individual to implement what they have learned and to follow the
procedures their employer has laid down to control risks.

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 When staff are pushed for time, overloaded with work and under pressure, it can be tempting
to cut corners and not perform a task as they have been trained to do, safely. Individuals
make everyday decisions about the tasks they perform and their decisions can directly
reduce or increase the risk to themselves and others.

Using lone working as an example, we all make choices in the course of our work – the route
we take, where we park, when we ask for help, which can all impact on the level of risk we
place ourselves in. If you know you are visiting someone who has a history of verbal or
physical assault, you have a responsibility to implement the risk control procedures your
organization will have laid down, such as advising someone where you are going and when
you expect to be back, asking for someone to accompany you, changing the time of the visit,
using emergency code words or speaking to your manager to explain your concerns.

If you have had conflict management training, only you can decide if you feel it has equipped
you to manage the situation safely.

By taking responsibility for your own safety and working with your employer you can
significantly increase your awareness and engagement, leading to a safer and more positive
working environment.

The key worker responsibilities for health and safety at work are:

 to take reasonable care not to put other people - fellow employees and members of the
public - at risk by what you do or don't do in the course of your work
 to co-operate with your employer, to make sure you get proper training and that you
understand and follow the company's health and safety policies
 follow the training you have received when using any work items your employer has given
you
 not to interfere with or misuse anything that's been provided for your health, safety or
welfare
 to report any injuries, strains or illnesses you suffer as a result of doing your job, your
employer may need to change the way you work
 to tell your employer if something happens that might affect your ability to work, like
becoming pregnant or suffering an injury. Your employer does of course also have a legal
responsibility for your health and safety and they need to know about something before
they can find a solution
 to tell someone (your employer, supervisor, or health and safety representative) if you
think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone’s health and safety at serious
risk.

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REFERENCES:
ONLINE REFERENCE:
1. Health and Safety Law, What you Need to Know
2. nidirect.gov.uk Employees Health and Safety Responsibilities
3. https://www.maybo.co.uk/blog/personal-safety-your-responsibility/

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 ENG-6201 Occupational Health and Safety
WEEK 2 – PERSONAL SAFETY
This course introduces the student to the study of workplace occupational health and safety.
The student will learn safe work practices in offices, industry and construction as well as how
to identify and prevent or correct problems associated with occupational safety and health in
these locations as well as in the home. The course is designed to assist the student with the
implementation of safe healthy practices at work and at home.

https://www.security.ky/blog/personal-safety-workplace/

PERSONAL SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

As a business owner you are legally responsible for making sure your workplace is safe for
your staff.

You should implement safe work systems (including incident reporting and support) and
train your staff in workplace personal safety so that everyone knows what to do in the event
of an accident.

To ensure the long-term safety of your staff a risk management policy is recommended,
where you identify safety risks to staff and develop a management plan to minimize them.

You will also need a personal safety continuity plan in order to make sure your business stays
up and running even in the event of a personal safety breach.

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This guide explains the steps you should take to help make your workplace safe for your
staff.

Safe Work Systems in The Workplace

It is important to implement systems to ensure your staff's safety in the workplace. This
includes procedures for staff working early and leaving late and for staff working at night,
alone or in isolation, who are exposed to a higher safety risk. You will also need to implement
safe practices for staff who travel, telecommute from home, or work away from the office.

Working early and leaving late

If you or your employees usually work early or leave late, follow these suggestions:
Before entering the workplace

 Park in a populated well-lit area as close as possible to your workplace.

 Look for anyone loitering in the vicinity.
 Check for signs of forced entry attempts. If you're unsure that your workplace is safe,
contact police immediately. Do not enter the premises.

Before leaving the workplace

 Advise someone that you are working late. Let them know what time you expect to be
home.
 Take a note of anyone loitering outside the workplace.
 If suspicious, use alarm systems if available; otherwise contact the police.

Working alone, at night or in isolation

Working alone, at night or remotely increases the risk of any job. The following factors
should be considered when assessing the risks:

Staff training

 Implement specific procedures for staff working alone, for example establishing
regular contact via phone or radio.
 Include appropriate behavior about working alone in your code of conduct.

Personal alarm

 Provide staff with monitored personal duress alarm.

Retreat

 Provide a safe retreat or secure location.

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Security services

 Provide security services where appropriate (e.g. random patrols, a security officer
at the end of the shift or during the whole shift).

Travelling staff

Consider implementing a business travel plan, including:

 adequate communication systems (i.e. mobile phones and email)
 an itinerary accessible to other staff
 optimal times for travel to avoid possible safety risks
 maintaining health while travelling (i.e. during air travel).

Telecommuting

Lighting, ventilation, wiring and desk installations for remote workers must meet safe work
requirements. Remote workers should also work in a safe way (i.e. not be distracted by
interferences and take regular breaks).

To ensure the safety of remote workers:

 implement a remote worker policy
 give a risk assessment questionnaire to the worker to complete
 visit the worker's home and carry out a risk assessment.

Workplace harassment

Harassment can involve physical contact, verbal comments and non-verbal actions such as
offensive gestures and inappropriate emailing. Staff can be both psychologically and
physically affected by workplace harassment.

To ensure staff are aware of appropriate behavior in the workplace:

 include information in your induction training for new or returning staff
 provide workplace harassment and anti-discrimination training for all staff
 include business conduct standards in your code of conduct.

REFERENCES:
ONLINE REFERENCE:
1. https://www.maybo.co.uk/blog/personal-safety-your-responsibility/
2. https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/employing/employee-rights/personal-
safety/training

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 ENG-6201 Occupational Health and Safety
WEEK 2 – PERSONAL SAFETY
This course introduces the student to the study of workplace occupational health and safety.
The student will learn safe work practices in offices, industry and construction as well as how
to identify and prevent or correct problems associated with occupational safety and health in
these locations as well as in the home. The course is designed to assist the student with the
implementation of safe healthy practices at work and at home.

https://www.security.ky/blog/personal-safety-workplace/

WORKPLACE STAFF TRAINING

As an employer you are legally required to develop a staff training program. An important
part of this training is to ensure your staff's safety while undertaking their duties. You can
undertake staff training either in-house or externally.

As part of your risk management plan you should be fully aware of what personal safety risks
are faced by your staff. Training can then address these risks.

For new staff, personal safety training will be part of work health and safety inductions.

STAFF AND PERSONAL SAFETY TRAINING

It is important training addresses the personal safety risks faced by your staff. Training
modules may include:

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  security and cash handling procedures, including cash in transit code of practice
(PDF, 762KB)
 working early and leaving late
 working alone or in isolation
 travelling staff
 what to do in the event of a security breach
 managing hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods
 personal protection equipment training if appropriate.

WORK SUPERVISION

Employers are legally required to provide staff with adequate supervision to ensure their
personal safety in the workplace. You should include procedures for worker supervision in
your training program. Staff may need to be supervised while undertaking the following
activities:
 handling hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods
 operating mechanical equipment
 working under stressful conditions
 dealing with threatening or difficult customers (i.e. in the food and beverage industry)
 working early or leaving late.

PERSONAL SAFETY INCIDENT REPORTING AND SUPPORT

Businesses are legally required to report 'notifiable' workplace incidents involving personal
safety, which include:
 death
 serious bodily injury
 work-caused illness
 dangerous events
 dangerous electrical events
 serious electrical incidents
 major accidents.

As a part of your safe work systems and staff training plan you should outline the support
procedures you will implement in the event of an incident involving the personal safety of
your staff.

INCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION

You must investigate workplace incidents even if they do not result in serious injury. To
investigate the incident, you have to establish the facts - who was involved, when it
happened, and why. This information should be used to prevent further incidents.

You can appoint a trained safety advisor (TSA) - previously called a workplace health and
safety officer - or an elected health and safety representative to carry out an internal

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investigation and make recommendations. A Serious about Safe Business pack can help you
develop a system to ensure the safety of your personnel. It includes advice on:
 achieving commitment from managers
 consulting with staff
 safe work procedures
 training and supervision
 reporting incidents
 workers' compensation and return-to-work programs.

INCIDENT REPORTING TO WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY

Businesses are required by law to report serious injury or illnesses to Workplace Health and
Safety. If the incident involves death, you must notify WHS immediately by phoning. You also
need to keep a record of all incidents reported to WHS for at least 5 years.

SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS

In the event of an armed hold-up or robbery, you should consider trauma counselling for
staff involved. Staff should also be notified of their right to workers' compensation insurance.
Find out more about specialist support services.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE

All employers must have workers' compensation insurance. If one of your staff experiences
a work-related injury, workers' compensation insurance will cover their medical costs and
lost wages.

PERSONAL SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT

Developing a risk management plan for your business is an effective way to provide a safe
workplace for your staff and prevent safety incidents. A risk management plan includes an
assessment of risks, a business security plan incorporating staff safety, measures to control
risks, and staff training in risk identification and management.

IDENTIFYING SAFETY RISKS

To prepare for the possibility of a safety breach, you should identify internal and external
risks to your staff. For example, if your business operates late at night and has a lot of cash
on site you may be at high risk from an armed hold-up.

RESPONDING TO THREATS

Safety threats can impact negatively on your staff and your business, especially if they are
not dealt with in a responsive and effective manner. Some of the threats you may need to
respond to include:

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  confrontations and harassment
 burglary
 armed robbery
 theft of assets
 internal security issues
 suspicious mail packages
 bomb threats.

Develop a response plan to address each threat faced by staff in your business.

DEVELOPING A BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN

Business continuity planning addresses how your business can prepare for and to continue
operate in the event of a personal safety incident.

A business continuity plan that addresses workplace personal risk management could cover:
 creating and maintaining a safe workplace
 an incident response and recovery plan
 business insurance
 staff training.

TYPES OF PERSONAL SAFETY RISKS

All businesses are different and there are many factors which can create and influence
personal safety risks. These factors can include building design and layout, money security
and handling, civil unrest, staff working patterns and crime.

STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
Business owners should train staff to identify and report personal safety and security risks.
In the event of a security breach, the first priority is the security of staff.

REFERENCES:
ONLINE REFERENCE:
1. https://www.maybo.co.uk/blog/personal-safety-your-responsibility/
2. https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/employing/employee-rights/personal-
safety/training
3. https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/employing/employee-rights/personal-
safety/incidents
4. https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/employing/employee-rights/personal-
safety/risk-management

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 ENG-6201 Occupational Health and Safety
WEEK 2 – PERSONAL SAFETY
This course introduces the student to the study of workplace occupational health and safety.
The student will learn safe work practices in offices, industry and construction as well as how
to identify and prevent or correct problems associated with occupational safety and health in
these locations as well as in the home. The course is designed to assist the student with the
implementation of safe healthy practices at work and at home.

http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/topics/workplace/personal_protection_equipment/index.html

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What is PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing or equipment designed to be worn by

someone to protect them from the risk of injury or illness. PPE can include:
 hearing protective devices, such as ear muffs and ear plugs
 respiratory protective equipment
 eye and face protection, such as safety glasses and face shields
 safety helmets
 fall arrest harnesses for working at heights
 skin protection, such as gloves, gauntlets and sunscreen
 clothing, such as high visibility vests, life jackets and coveralls
 footwear, such as safety boots and rubber boots.

Where does the use of PPE fit in the risk management process?

The use of personal protective equipment is lowest on the list of control priorities. These
controls should not be relied on as the primary means of risk control until the options higher
in the list of control priorities have been exhausted.

Therefore, PPE should only be used:

 as a last resort, where there are no other practical control measures available
 to be a short-term measure until a more effective way of controlling the risk can be used
 together with other controls measures such as local exhaust ventilation
 by itself during maintenance activities.

There may be specific PPE requirements for working with harmful substances or in certain
work activities. Read more about PPE for working with:
 asbestos
 infectious diseases
 engineered or natural stone containing crystalline silica in the stone benchtop industry.

Who pays?

If PPE is required, the person conducting the business or undertaking must provide it to
workers free of charge.

However, there may be circumstances where the payment for it can be negotiated.
In deciding who should provide PPE consider:
 the availability of equipment
 whether the equipment can generally be used outside work, such as sunglasses or boots
 the need for a personal fit
 the requirements in the relevant industrial award or enterprise agreement regarding
provision of PPE.

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Selection

When choosing PPE consider these factors:

Worker
 Check the PPE is a suitable size and fit for each worker. Respiratory protective equipment,
for example, requires a good facial seal.
 If PPE is comfortable to wear and workers are involved in choosing it, they will be more
likely to use it.
 Individual circumstances of workers may affect choice. For example, wearing of
prescription glasses, allergies such as latex allergy and some medical conditions.
 Consider workers’ medical conditions, which can influence whether they can use certain
items of equipment.
Work task
 Match the PPE to the hazard, remembering that a work task may expose workers to more
than one hazard. For example, welders may need protection from harmful welding gases
and fumes, as well as ultraviolet radiation, hot metal and sparks.
 How the work is carried out and the level of risk to the worker. For example, a more
protective respirator may need to worn where the level of air contamination is very high.
 How long PPE will need to be worn.
 Work demands of the work activity. For example, the level of physical activity or dexterity
required.
 Make sure PPE that is to be worn at the same time can be used together.

Work environment
 Understand the impacts of a hot and humid work environment.

If you are protecting against exposure to a substance such as a hazardous chemical or a

biological substance, consider how the substance can enter the body. For example, where a
chemical can be absorbed through the lungs and skin, skin protection as well as respiratory
protection may be required.

Choose PPE that meets current Australian Standards.

Do not reuse single use PPE for example, disposable gloves.

Maintenance

Proper care and maintenance is essential to ensure PPE continues to provide the necessary
level of protection.
 Look for broken or damaged components before using PPE and repair or replace it as
needed.
 Replace PPE that has expired or reached its usable lifespan.
 Clean reusable PPE after use and store in a clean area such as a cupboard, drawer or
resalable container.
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 Report broken, damaged or contaminated PPE.

Sharing PPE

Most PPE is provided for the personal use of a worker. However, PPE may be shared in some
circumstances, for example where PPE is only required for limited periods.

Shared PPE must be properly cleaned and disinfected before it is used again to ensure there
are no health risks to the next person. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for
appropriate methods.

Information, training and instruction

Workers must be provided with enough information, training and instruction on when to
use PPE and how to:
 use, fit and wear it including any adjustments that may be needed
 carry out repair or replace parts
 clean and store it correctly.

When wearing more than one item of PPE to protect against substances, such as hazardous
chemicals or biological substances, it is important to put on and remove each item correctly.
If hands could become contaminated when removing PPE, it is important to wash them
thoroughly to prevent accidental contamination.

Watch this film about how to put on and take off PPE.

4
REFERENCES:
ONLINE REFERENCE:
1. Personal protective equipment at work (HSE)
2. Frequently asked questions about personal protective equipment (PPE)
3. Personal protective equipment for veterinarians
4. Respiratory protective equipment
5. https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/injury-prevention-safety/managing-risks/personal-
protective-equipment-ppe