Who should provide me with relevant personal protective equipment (PPE)such as dust masks, gloves and eye protection?
The employer must provide relevant personal protective equipment – failure to do so can attract an on the spot fine. Additionally it is an offence for an employer to require staff to purchase there own PPE; refer OHS Act section 22. When a risk assessment identifies that the wearing of PPE is necessary to protect them from a hazard, the employer must supply and ensure staff and others exposed to the hazard wear their supplied PPE. There have been cases where employees have been fined for not wearing the supplied PPE. If it is not reasonably practicable for an employer to eliminate a risk, then the risk must be controlled. If this requires personal protective equipment then the employer (DET) must provide each person who is at risk with personal protective equipment. Source: Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, Chapter 2, Clause 15.
