1.1 Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the clothing and gear a worker wears to create a barrier between the body and a hazard that cannot be completely removed by safer methods of work. On farms, in workshops, in carpentry and masonry work, hazards such as sharp edges, flying chips, dust, noise, chemicals, heat, wet ground and falling objects are part of daily tasks. Wearing the right PPE, fitting it properly and looking after it keeps the worker able to work safely today and in the years ahead. PPE is the last line of defence: it is used together with safe work methods, guards and good housekeeping, never instead of them.

1.1.1 PPE requirements

PPE requirements describe which items a worker must wear for a given task, and what qualities each item must have to give real protection. The choice starts with identifying the hazard: a worker spraying pesticide in a greenhouse tomato crop needs a different set of items from a worker chopping firewood or grinding a blunt hoe blade. Protection is only effective when the item matches the hazard, fits the wearer and is in good condition.

Qualities that suitable PPE must have

• Suited to the hazard: An item must be designed for the danger it faces. Ordinary cotton gloves protect against splinters but not against pesticide concentrate, which needs chemical-resistant gloves.
• Correct fit and size: Loose boots cause trips and tight gloves reduce grip and tire the hand. Each worker should be issued PPE that fits their body.
• Comfort and freedom of movement: If PPE is hot, heavy or restricts movement, workers tend to remove it. Light, breathable fabrics and adjustable straps encourage consistent use.
• Good condition: Items must be free from cracks, holes, worn soles, torn seams and loose straps. Damaged PPE gives a false sense of safety.
• Compatibility with other PPE: Items worn together must not interfere with each other. Goggles must seal properly with a respirator, and ear muffs must fit with a hard hat.
• Durability and ease of cleaning: PPE used daily should survive repeated washing, sunlight and rough handling without losing its protective ability.

Responsibilities for providing and wearing PPE

• Employer or farm manager: Identifies hazards, supplies suitable PPE to workers at no cost to them, replaces damaged items and makes sure supervisors enforce its use.
• Worker: Wears the issued PPE for every task that needs it, reports damaged or missing items and does not alter or share items that are fitted personally, such as respirators.
• Supervisor: Checks PPE before work begins, corrects wrong use and sets the example by wearing PPE at all times.
• Training: Every worker must be shown how to put on, adjust, use, clean and store each item before starting work.
• Signs and records: Notices at work areas show which PPE is compulsory there, and issue records show who received which items and when.

1.1.2 Importance of PPE

PPE matters because many injuries and illnesses in agricultural and technical work happen quickly or build up silently. A single splinter, splash or stone chip can cause permanent harm, while repeated exposure to dust or noise gradually damages lungs and hearing. Example: at a tree nursery, a worker who wears goggles while pruning thorny seedlings and gloves while handling treated soil avoids eye injuries and skin infections that would otherwise keep them away from work.

• Prevents injuries: A barrier between the body and sharp, hot, heavy or abrasive objects stops cuts, punctures, burns, crush injuries and eye damage before they happen.
• Protects long-term health: Respirators, ear protection and chemical-resistant clothing reduce slow harm such as lung disease, hearing loss and chemical skin conditions that appear after months or years of exposure.
• Reduces costs and lost time: Fewer accidents mean less spending on treatment, less sick leave and fewer work stoppages. A farm packhouse whose workers wear gumboots and gloves while washing produce and crates loses fewer working days to infections and slips.
• Meets the duty of care: Employers have a moral and legal duty to provide a safe workplace, and workers have a duty to look after their own safety and that of others. Supplying and wearing PPE shows that this duty is being taken seriously.
• Protects others: Contaminated clothing can carry pesticides or germs home. Wearing and correctly removing overalls and gloves protects family members and co-workers from exposure.
• Builds a safety culture: When everyone wears PPE, including supervisors and visitors, safe behaviour becomes normal. A school farm where teachers and learners wear the same protective gear teaches good habits that learners carry into their careers.
• Improves confidence and productivity: Workers who feel protected concentrate better and work more steadily, which raises both quality and output.

1.1.3 Uses and care

Each item of PPE has a specific use, and it only protects when it is put on correctly, used for the right task and kept clean and in good repair. Poor care is a common reason for PPE failure: gloves left wet crack, goggles with scratches reduce vision, and masks with clogged filters stop working. Example: a farm worker who mixes cement for a nursery water-tank base and rinses the gumboots afterwards, since wet cement burns the skin, will use the same pair safely for much longer than one who leaves lime and cement to dry on them.

Correct use of PPE

1. Identify the hazards of the task. Decide whether the job involves dust, chemicals, noise, sharp tools, falling objects or wet ground, so that you pick the right items.
2. Inspect each item. Look for cracks, holes, worn soles, torn seams, broken straps and blocked filters. Replace damaged items instead of using them.
3. Put on items in a sensible order. Wear overalls first, then boots with trouser legs worn outside for splash work, then respirator, goggles or face shield, ear protection, hat or helmet, and gloves last.
4. Adjust for fit. Tighten straps, check that the respirator seals around the nose and chin, and make sure gloves cover the cuffs of the overalls without gaps (when spraying overhead, wear the sleeves over the gloves so liquid cannot run inside).
5. Use for the whole task. Keep PPE on from the start until the task and clean-up are finished. Do not lift goggles or lower masks to talk or rest in the work area.
6. Remove carefully. Wash the gloves with soap and water while still wearing them, take off the other items without touching their contaminated outside, and remove the gloves last by peeling them inside out.
7. Wash hands and face. Wash with soap and clean water after removing PPE, especially after handling chemicals, manure, soil or cement.
8. Report problems. Tell the supervisor about any damage, discomfort or missing items before the next task.

Care and maintenance of PPE

• Cleaning after use: Wash rubber boots and gloves with soap and water, wipe goggles and face shields with a soft cloth and mild soap, and wash overalls separately from household clothing.
• Drying: Dry items in shade with good airflow. Direct hot sun makes rubber and plastic brittle, and damp storage encourages mould and odour.
• Regular inspection: Check items before each use and do a thorough check at set intervals. Test gloves for pinholes by filling with air or water and pressing gently.
• Filter and cartridge care: Replace respirator filters when breathing becomes difficult or when the manufacturer's guidance says so. Store masks in a sealed clean container.
• Safe storage: Keep PPE in a clean, dry cupboard or on labelled hooks away from chemicals, fuel and sunlight. Hang overalls and do not fold gloves or boots in ways that crease them.
• Repair and replacement: Small faults such as loose straps may be fixed, but cracked lenses, split gloves, worn soles and damaged helmets must be replaced immediately.
• Disposal of contaminated items: Heavily contaminated disposable gloves, masks and overalls should be disposed of as the farm's waste rules require, not burned in the open or reused.