This guide offers advice for PCBUs on what to consider when selecting protective clothing and outlines requirements for providing and maintaining protective clothing for workers.
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Protective clothing
This guide is for PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking) who provide their workers with protective clothing.
The guide offers advice on what to consider when selecting protective clothing and outlines requirements for providing and maintaining protective clothing for your workers. It will help you to meet your obligations regarding providing protective clothing under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016.
Protective clothing is a type of PPE (personal protective equipment). Protective clothing is any clothing specifically designed, treated, or made to help minimise risk to a worker’s health and safety while working.
Examples of protective clothing include:
PPE is the last resort
PPE should only be used as a last line of defence after all other reasonably practicable actions have been taken to eliminate or minimise risks.
Risks must be managed firstly by elimination, or if this is not reasonably practicable, through minimisation. You can minimise risk by using substitution, isolation, or engineering control measures. If it is not reasonably practicable to minimise using those control measures, you can use administrative controls, and then, PPE to reduce any remaining risks to workers’ health and safety.
For more detailed information on controlling health and safety risks at work generally, see our quick guide: Identifying, assessing and managing work risks [PDF, 404 KB] (PDF 404 KB)
The Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 require PCBUs to provide workers with PPE (such as protective clothing) that is:
PCBUs must also provide workers with information and training about how to properly wear or use PPE, and how to store and maintain it.
As a PCBU you must provide all necessary protective clothing for your workers. You cannot pass on the cost of providing necessary protective clothing to your workers, or make them provide their own. This includes the cost of replacements because of wear and tear or accidental damage or loss.
Workers can choose to provide their own protective clothing. If they do, you must make sure it provides suitable protection and is compatible with any other clothing or PPE you require them to wear or use. A worker can change their mind about providing their own protective clothing at any time. If they do, they need to give you reasonable time to arrange alternative protective clothing for them.
Other persons in your place of work (such as visitors or volunteers) must also be provided with appropriate PPE, including protective clothing. They should also get training and instruction on how to use or wear it.
Protective clothing is worn specifically to help minimise risk to a worker’s health and safety while working. It can be used to protect against a specific or general workplace hazard (after all other reasonably practicable control measures have been put in place to eliminate or minimise the risk).
Regular clothing or footwear is not protective clothing. For example, a worker’s everyday clothing such as pants or jeans worn at work are not generally considered protective clothing.
Uniforms or other clothing worn solely to identify a person as an employee, are not normally considered protective clothing.
You must provide appropriate changing facilities for your workers to put on and take off their protective clothing and other PPE.
You need to know what the hazards are before you can consider potential protective clothing options. Remember that all hazards you identify must have all other reasonably practicable control measures applied first (see PPE is the last resort). The table below lists examples of hazards your workers might be exposed to where protective clothing may be able to provide additional protection. Your workers will also be able to help you to identify workplace hazards.
Body areaPotential hazard/injury examples Head and neckTable 1: Potential hazard/injury examples
When thinking about the hazards you have identified, you should also consider:
The table below lists possible protective clothing options for various parts of the body. Your workers, PPE supplier, and a health and safety professional will be able to offer advice on the best options for your situation (see Get expert advice).
Body areaPotential clothing examples Head and neckSee our quick guide: Protecting your workers’ eyes
EarsSee our guidance: Hearing protection [PDF, 639 KB] (PDF 639 KB)
Hands and armsTable 2: Protective clothing examples
Figure 1: Protective clothing examplesProtective clothing must be compatible with other PPE workers may need to wear or use at the same time. For example:
Sometimes protective clothing itself may create a new risk. For example:
Any new risks identified as a result of PPE requirements must also be managed.
Never assume that one type of protective clothing will suit all workers. When selecting protective clothing you need to consider the individual requirements of your workers, as well as considering what will provide the best protection.
Ask your supplier what they can offer to meet the PPE needs of a wide range of body types. They may be able to add to their range
Engage with your workers when choosing or changing protective clothing
Talk with your workers before selecting or changing protective clothing options. If your workers help choose it, they will be more likely to wear it and there is a greater chance of you getting it right the first time. Workers may need to try out different clothing options before making a final selection.
You need to continue to engage with your workers to make sure that protective clothing remains fit for purpose and is not creating new risks.
For general information on worker engagement, see our quick guide: Worker engagement and participation
Figure 3: Example of well-fitting protective clothing and poorly fitting protective clothingIn addition to engaging with your workers, your PPE supplier and a workplace health and safety professional should be able to provide advice on the best protective clothing options for your situation.
Most protective clothing has limitations on the level or type of protection it will provide, for example:
Your supplier or workplace health and safety professional should be able to give you specific advice on the most appropriate type based on the level of protection your workers need.
You can find a list of workplace health and safety professionals on the HAZANZ register(external link) or contact the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society(external link).
Other things to think about when choosing protective clothing include:
Choose clothing made of materials that will last a reasonable time based on its intended use and working conditions.
Make sure that you have easy access to replacement protective clothing when needed. Ideally you should have spares available or be able to source replacements quickly and easily.
Standards New Zealand set minimum requirements for protective clothing. You should make sure you select protective clothing that meets AU/NZ Standards. Your supplier should be able to tell you whether a product meets those requirements.
Workers must be provided with all necessary information, training and instruction on:
Workers should know the purpose and limitations of all protective clothing they are required to wear.
They should know:
[PDF, 404 KB]
(PDF 404 KB) for more information)Train workers on how to correctly wear protective clothing. This includes:
Manufacturer’s instructions should always be available to workers.
Give workers information and training on correct storage and maintenance of their protective clothing.
Proper care and maintenance is essential to make sure protective clothing continues to provide protection.
Storage
Workers must have access to appropriate storage facilities where:
Cleaning
PCBUs must provide protective clothing that is clean and hygienic. Cleaning should be carried out according to manufacturer instructions.
Some protective clothing may need re-treating or re-coating after being cleaned (eg re-waterproofing).
Decontamination
Protective clothing that has been exposed to harmful substances (such as fuel, grease or paint) will need to be decontaminated after use.
Decontamination should be carried out by someone with the right training and knowledge to do it properly and thoroughly.
Note: Clothing contaminated with asbestos requires special treatment. See our guidance: Personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with asbestos.
Inspection
PCBUs must make sure protective clothing is kept in good working order. Protective clothing should be regularly inspected.
It should be checked for:
Maintenance and lifespan
Protective clothing with an expiry date, or a required maintenance schedule, should be logged and monitored to make sure it is maintained or disposed of at the right time.
Damaged or defective protective clothing needs to be fixed or replaced as needed.
Protective clothing should never be used after it has expired or reached the end of its usable lifespan.Shared, rented, or single use protective clothing must still be:
Usually protective clothing is provided for the use of an individual. But if protective clothing is only needed for a short time, it may not be cost effective to issue every worker with their own protective clothing.
Shared protective clothing must be properly cleaned and disinfected before it is used again to make sure there are no health risks to the next person. Shared items still need to fit each user properly to provide full protection.
If you are renting protective clothing you must check yourself that it is working as it should before using.
Any protective clothing that is designed for single use (such as disposable coveralls or disposable gloves) should not be reused.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) - protecting your workers' eyes
Respiratory protective equipment – advice for businesses
Identifying, assessing and managing work risks
Hearing protection
Personal protective equipment – a guide for businesses
Religious or cultural attire and health and safety
Worker engagement and participation
Personal protective equipment (PPE) to use when working with asbestos
Personal protective equipment (external link)
Duty to engage with workers (external link)
Reasonably practicable(external link)
AS/NZS 4501.1:2008
Australian/New Zealand Standard
Occupational protective clothing
Part 1: Guidelines on the selection, use, care and maintenance of protective clothing(external link)
AS/NZS 4501.2:2006
Australian/New Zealand Standard
Occupational protective clothing
Part 1: General requirements(external link)
For more information Disposable Surgical Gown Manufacturer, Striped Isolation Gown, please get in touch with us!