Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Use of Plant and Tools
PPE: the last line of defence
PPE protects the individual wearer but does nothing to remove the hazard, so it sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls. Employers must provide suitable PPE without cost to workers, and workers must use it correctly and report damage. Standard construction PPE includes a hard hat, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, eye and hearing protection, gloves and respiratory protection as the task requires.
Traps with PPE
- PPE does not replace other controls. A question offering "issue hearing protection" as the answer to a noisy machine is usually wrong where engineering controls are feasible.
- Fit and compatibility matter - a hard hat must suit the wearer, and respiratory protection requires fit testing and a clean-shaven seal.
- Inspection and maintenance are duties: damaged harnesses, cracked helmets or scratched eyewear must be replaced, not repaired.
Plant and tools
Only trained, competent and where required licensed people may operate plant. High-risk work licences cover cranes, forklifts, elevating work platforms, pressure equipment and some rigging. Daily pre-start checks, guarding of moving parts, isolation and lock-out/tag-out before maintenance, and correct use of the right tool for the job are core requirements.
Power tools and electrical safety
Use residual current devices (safety switches) on construction circuits, inspect leads for damage, keep tools dry, and never use a tool with a damaged cord. Tools must be switched off and isolated before changing blades or bits.
Worked example
A worker finds a grinder with a frayed cord. The correct response is to tag it out of service, remove it from use and report it - not to tape the cord or continue with gloves on. Gloves protect hands, not against electrocution.
Rule of thumb
Before picking up any tool or machine, ask three questions: am I trained and authorised, has it been checked today, and is the guarding and isolation in place?