Personal Protective Equipment Toolbox Talk

Accidents can happen on any day. The day they are most likely to happen is the day health and safety have been forgotten. Health and safety can’t have days off!

By starting each day with a quick 5-10 minute toolbox talk, it serves as a reminder about the importance of health and safety at work. It gets peoples minds focused on the hazards and risks they are about to face. It reminds them of what they need to do to stay safe. It starts the day with a positive health and safety attitude.

Informal toolbox talks can often be missed or carried out too infrequently. The benefit of a daily toolbox is that it becomes part of a routine. Part of the working day.

Carried out daily, toolbox talks become part of a habit. A habit that will help the team develop a positive health and safety attitude. A habit that creates a safer work environment.

Growing a positive health and safety culture.

What business doesn’t want a positive health and safety culture? It keeps your workers safe, keeps your business out of trouble, and can save you money. That’s a triple win! So why do some businesses have poor health and safety records? Because growing a positive health and safety culture takes time and effort, and everyone’s involvement.

Your health and safety culture is the values, attitudes, competency and behaviours of everyone in the business. Regular toolbox talks can form part of the health and safety management system to grow your health and safety culture in a positive way.

Why have this talk?

In some instances, dangers arising from hazardous activities can only be controlled using personal protective equipment, known as PPE.

What will this talk cover?

The importance of PPE and how to use it correctly to ensure effective protection.

Personal Protective Equipment Toolbox Talk

Personal Protective Equipment Toolbox Talk

Legal requirements

The legislation requires any employer who identifies it as necessary to supply PPE and ensure that it is used at work wherever the risk to health and safety cannot be controlled in other ways.

What you should know about PPE

PPE is equipment or clothing designed to protect the user from known hazards in the workplace. The most commonly worn items of PPE are safety footwear, gloves, safety glasses or goggles and hi-vis clothing. You might also use helmets, ear protection (for noise), respirators and safety harnesses.

PPE is designed to only protect the user.

All PPE must be worn in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and be in good condition to be fully effective.

Anyone using PPE needs to be aware of why it is needed, when it is to be used, repaired, or replaced. They should also be aware of the limitations of the PPE they use, for example safety gloves can come with different cut levels. A different cut level may be required depending on the risk involved of the task.

What must the employer do?
  • Organise work activities to avoid the use of PPE wherever practical, for example using local exhaust ventilation rather than asking workers to wear respirators.
  • Assess requirements and make sure the PPE selected is suitable for the task.
  • Ensure any necessary PPE fits the wearer and is made to the correct standards.
  • Supply the employee with the PPE and replace defective or lost PPE at no cost.
  • Instruct and train employees in the use of PPE and explain the limitations where necessary.
  • Where more than one type of PPE is used, to make sure they are compatible and can comfortably be used together.
  • Ensure that all PPE is maintained and stored properly.
What must the employee do?
  • Always wear the PPE supplied for the task.
  • Use the PPE in accordance with instructions given.
  • Return any PPE to the storage area after use.
  • Take reasonable care of your PPE.
  • Report any defects or loss to your manager.
Questions for employees
  • Can you name the PPE that is applicable to your workplace and work activities?
  • What should you consider when using multiple items of PPE at any one time?
  • Who has responsibility for the issue, use and maintenance of PPE?

Contact us if you have any questions.

 

Print

You may also like...