Mitigating the risks in the workplace is the duty of the PCBU. A risk assessment should be carried out to identify the hazards and levels of risk associated.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is any clothing or equipment a worker uses or wears to minimise health and safety risks. PPE includes items such as:

The PCBU is responsible for:

  • providing a worker with PPE unless it has already provided by another PCBU
    • for example, a business may not need to provide PPE if the worker’s labour hire company provided them with it
  • covering the costs of all PPE
    • PCBUs must not charge, levy or deduct from an employee's wage any costs associated with the supply and maintenance of PPE
    • PCBUs may provide a PPE allowance, as long as it covers the cost of all required PPE
  • ensuring all PPE (including PPE purchased by a worker through a PPE allowance) meets the standards required under the law and is:
    • selected to minimise risk to work health and safety
    • suitable for the nature of the work and any hazard associated with the work
    • a suitable size and fit and reasonably comfortable for the person wearing it.
  • PCBUs are not required to cover costs of clothing, shoes and equipment not considered as PPE.

Worker’s responsibilities

  • Workers must use or wear it in accordance with any information, training and instruction in the use, maintenance and storage
  • not intentionally misuse or damage the PPE
  • inform the business of any damage, defect or need to clean or decontaminate the PPE
  • inform your manager if the PPE is uncomfortable, does not fit properly or they have an adverse reaction using it.

Further information:

PPE

Code of practice-Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work.

Emergency Plans

A PCBU must prepare an effective emergency plan for the workplace. The purpose of the emergency plan is to plan for, and thus minimise, the effects of any dangerous occurrence or near miss at a workplace resulting from the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals.

The emergency plan must be provided to the emergency services organisation if the quantity of hazardous chemicals stored and used at the workplace exceed manifest quantities. The table below list manifests quantities and shows the link between GHS classes and categories and equivalent classes of dangerous goods under the ADG Code. The person must revise the plan in accordance with any recommendations the primary emergency services organisation provides about its effectiveness.

Refer to the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service(external site)(external site) for further information about lodging of emergency plans.

See also - Emergency response

First Aid

Every workplace has a legal responsibility for ensuring adequate first aid provisions.

Depending on a few factors, the exact configuration of your first aid equipment and the number of trained first aiders will vary. These factors include the size of your workforce, the location and the risks associated with the nature of the work.

All workers must have access to at least one first aid kit in the workplace. Keep first aid kits close to areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness, as well as inside work vehicles if workers are expected to travel as part of their job.

See also - First Aid