Personal Protective Equipment Training

Personal protective equipment training is frequently treated as the whole obligation. It is one element of several.

Where PPE is relied on to control a risk, the duty holder generally has to provide it, provide it in a form suitable for the person and the work, maintain it so it stays effective, give information, training and instruction in its use, and take reasonable steps to make sure it is actually used.

The maintenance and use elements are where organisations come unstuck. Equipment issued once, never replaced, and worn inconsistently is not a control that anybody could rely on.

Workers carry obligations here too, including using the PPE they have been trained in and telling somebody promptly when it is damaged or no longer fits.

Safe Work Australia publishes the PPE duties. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s work health and safety course and HR policy templates.