To appropriately manage waste, workers will come in contact with many materials that could be hazardous to their health. As such, a variety of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been designed to provide the necessary protection for them and their co-workers. The more potentially hazardous the material, the greater the need for PPE.
This documents offers guidance for waste management workers in Pacific Island Countries to ensure PPE is be worn or used to protect the body from severe injuries and illnesses, and reduce workers' exposure to workplace hazards resulting from chemicals, physical, airborne, or other workplace hazards.
If a hazard exists and warrants the use of PPE, the employer must: undertake a hazard assessment and determine the level of PPE required; provide PPE to employees/workers; train workers to use and care for PPE; maintain, or replace worn or damaged PPE; and regularly review, update and evaluate the effectiveness of their PPEs.
Employees or workers should: properly wear PPE; attend PPE training; care, clean and maintain PPE; and inform their supervisors of the need to repair or replace PPE.
For more information please contact [email protected].