Personal protective equipment
Long trousers
Wear long trousers whenever you are working outdoors. They are worn to protect the body from damage (for example,scratches) and from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. They are best made from tightly-woven natural fibres.
Inspect clothing on a regular basis (daily if using every day). Look for any tears or holes and general wear and tear.
- Loose clothing near moving machinery parts can become caught and cause serious injury. Wear snug fitting trousers to avoid becoming caught.
- Wash work clothes separately when they are contaminated, for example, when you've been handling chemicals.
Long-sleeved shirt
Wear a long-sleeved shirt whenever you are working outdoors. It is worn to protect the body from damage (for example, scratches) and from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. It is best made from tightly-woven natural fibres.
Inspect clothing on a regular basis (daily if using every day). Look for any tears or holes and general wear and tear.
- Loose clothing near moving machinery parts can become caught and cause serious injury.
- Wash work clothes separately when they are contaminated, for example, when you've been handling chemicals.
Chemical spray suit
Chemical spray suits should be worn to protect the head, arms, upper body and legs from injury, especially when using any chemicals. There are different spray suits for different purposes. When you are working with chemicals, always check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for information on the correct precautions to use.
Ear muffs
Ear muffs protect your hearing from damage from loud noises above 85 decibels, such as those generated by equipment and machinery. Continuous exposure to loud noise can lead to deafness.
When wearing ear muffs, make sure that they fully cup over your ears. Otherwise, their effectiveness could be reduced.
When not in use, store ear muffs in a clean, dry place. Inspect ear muffs regularly for any signs of damage caused by general wear and tear. Damaged ear muffs should be repaired immediately or, if the damage is too extensive, they should be replaced.
Well-used ear muffs can get quite soiled - you might want to get your own personal set.
Make sure your ear muffs are of an equivalent (or higher) decibel rating to the machinery being used.
Safety glasses
Safety glasses protect the eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, flying particles or fragments and chemical splashes.
Most people are aware of the problems the sun can cause with the skin, but it is not as well known that the sun can also damage the structures in and around the eye. You should always wear protective sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. Make sure your protective glasses comply with the standard AS/NZS 1336:1997.
It is a good idea to store your glasses in a proper case or cover, when you're not wearing them. This will keep them in one piece and prevent unnecessary scratches.
Safety goggles
Safety goggles should be worn to protect the eyes from flying objects, and splashes, fumes, gasses, vapours and dusts from horticultural pesticides. It is important that they are tight-fitting and make a good seal around the eyes.
Work boots (steel-capped)
Steel-capped boots protect the feet from crushing and impact injuries and puncture wounds.
Wear steel-capped boots whenever there is a potential risk of injury to the feet, for example during any construction or other heavy work, or whenever you're working with tools.
For field activities that do not involve any heavy work (eg collecting plant specimens or observing animals), you can wear normal leather boots without steel caps. Make sure that the boots are the correct size and fit comfortably.
Keep boots in good condition. Inspect regularly for holes and damage caused by general wear and tear.
Work socks
It's a good idea to wear quality wool or cotton socks to absorb sweat and help avoid blisters.
Gumboots
Gumboots protect the feet from chemical burns and poisoning. They are made of rubber or, preferably, PVC. Gumboots are also known as Wellingtons, water boots and rubber boots.
Wear gumboots whenever there is a risk of contamination to the feet. Make sure that they are the correct size and fit comfortably.
When working with hazardous substances it is important that boots are unlined. Avoid lining materials such as leather, canvas or cloth because of their absorbency.
Keep gumboots in good condition. Inspect regularly for holes and damage caused by general wear and tear. Wash your gumboots immediately after use and as needed, using soap and water. Hang them upside down when not in use.
Wear your trouser or overall bottoms outside of the boots to prevent any chemical from running into the boot.
Leather work gloves
Leather gloves protect the hands from abrasions/cuts, burns, infection, dermatitis and injuries associated with extreme temperatures. They are very useful for general duties and should always be worn if your hands are likely to be hurt.
Gloves are particularly useful when handling animals - they can save your hands from a bite if an animal is agitated! Make sure that they're fitted enough to allow you to do some finer hand movements, such as measuring an animal or tying it into a cloth bag.
Leather gloves are essential when cutting fencing wire - the wire has sharp ends and the galvanised coating is rough on the hands.
Keep work-gloves in good condition. Inspect regularly for holes and damage caused by general wear and tear. Replace as necessary.
Work-gloves should not be used when handling hazardous substances as leather is very absorbent.
Extra-value tip:
Use an antiseptic soap to wash your hands before eating!
Sunblock
Sunblock or sunscreen protects the skin by blocking out the sun's UV (ultraviolet) rays. These would otherwise burn and damage the skin. Always use 30+ sunblock as this is the best available.
Apply liberally to exposed skin before heading outdoors. Re-apply at least every four hours. Re-apply more regularly when working around water or perspiring heavily.
Sunblock should not be your only protection against the sun. A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirt and long pants should also be worn. Exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer.
Store sunblock below 30°C
Avoid contact with eyes and mouth. Discontinue use if irritation occurs or a rash appears.
Latex gloves
Wear latex gloves when handling low-toxicity chemicals and whenever there is a risk of contamination to hands. Latex gloves will protect hands from infection, and are very hygienic.
Put gloves on carefully to avoid damaging them. Make sure they fully cover the hands. Latex gloves are generally disposable and come in a variety of strengths.
Do not re-use. Disposable latex gloves have a very short life. Discard immediately if gloves develop a tear or a hole.
Wide-brimmed hat
A wide-brimmed hat protects the head, face and neck from the sun's harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat on your head whenever you are outdoors.
A hat should not be your only protection. Safety glasses, a long-sleeved shirt, long
pants and sunscreen should also be worn.
Exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer.
It is best to hang your hat up somewhere so that it can be easily found when you're ready to go outside. Depending on the type of material your hat is made from, you may be able to wash it.
Fly net
A fly net fits over your hat and keeps flies and other insects away from your face.
Safety helmet
A safety helmet protects the head from falling or flying objects and should be worn when carrying out tasks like overhead pruning.
Face shield
Face shields protect the whole face from flying fragments and splashes. They can be used as a substitute for safety glasses. Wear a face shield when using a brushcutter or chainsaw, when you are working in prickly bushes at face height or wherever flying particles or splashing from chemicals may occur. It will help prevent injuries such as embedded objects, cuts and scratches, and burns or irritation from chemicals, light, steam, dust, mist or vapours.
Store your face shield where it won't get damaged or scratched. Keep the shield clean and free of any grime. You should wash your face shield with soap and water immediately after use and as needed. It can also be cleaned by soaking for two minutes in a mixture of 30 ml chlorine bleach in 4 L of water.
Apron
An apron should be worn to protect the body and clothing from splashes and spills, for example, when mixing horticulture pesticides that are corrosive or cause burns. This means they must be long enough to cover the body from the shoulder to mid-calf and made from chemical-resistant material, for example, PVC.
Always wash down your apron after use and hang it up when not in use.
Gaiters
Gaiters are worn as extra protection for your lower legs (from knees to ankles). They are usually made from heavy cloth or leather.
Waders
Waders help keep you dry and warm if you are working in a watery environment. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but usually have built-in feet and come up to chest height.
Overalls
Overalls should be worn to protect the arms, upper body and legs from abrasions/cuts, allergic reactions and injuries, for example, when working with horticultural pesticides.
Harness
A harness should be worn to protect the back, neck, shoulders and upper body from strain and stress injuries, for example, when operating equipment such as line trimmers and brushcutters.
Wetsuit
A well-fitting wetsuit protects your body against heat loss when you are working in water. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Ear plugs
Small plugs that fit inside your ear canal. They protect your hearing by blocking out noise from, for example, noisy machinery.
Chemical gloves
Chemical gloves should be worn to protect the hands from abrasions/cuts, burns, infection, dermatitis and injuries associated with extreme temperatures, for example, when handling horticultural pesticides that are corrosive or cause burns. Chemical gloves should be made from chemical-resistant material, for example, PVC, be unlined, waterproof, elbow length for maximum protection and worn on the outside of clothing. Never wear rubber products when handling horticultural pesticide because they can react with some substances and dissolve.
Check that the gloves haven't perished or developed holes.
Insect repellent
A cream or spray that you apply to your skin to stop insects biting you.
Dust mask
A dust mask should fit comfortably over your nose and mouth. It can be used to lessen the amount of dust and non-toxic air contamination you breathe in.
Dirty or contaminated masks should never be re-used. This mask should not be worn when dealing with toxic gases; a respirator should be used instead.
Face mask
A face mask should be adjusted to fit comfortably over your nose and mouth. It can be used to prevent you breathing in dust, fumes, micro-organisms and toxic air contamination.
It is important to use the right type of filter, for example, activated charcoal filters remove dangerous chemical vapours while particle filters are used for chemical dust.
