Forest Operations > Organisational Requirements > Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment

On your work site you will be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Signs will be in place or procedures will specify what PPE is required for specific tasks.

PPE that is likely to be required while operating machinery/equipment or carrying out other tasks relating to harvesting and haulage may include:

Day/night high visibility clothing;
Steel cap safety boots;
Hard hats;
Safety glasses;
Gloves;
Ear plugs and/or ear muffs.

Day and night high visibility clothing

The main reason workers are struck by machinery is that the operator working a machine did not see the other worker. Knowing where all your work mates are at all times is vitally important. The use of high visibility clothing (vest, shirt or coats) must have reflective strips to improve your ability to see other people on site at day and night (Fig 4).

Fig 4

Fig 4. Day/Night Hi Vis

Steel Cap Safety Boots

Safety Boots (Fig 5) are to protect your toes from heavy falling objects such as machine components or rolling logs etc. Some organisations may require you wear ankle high lace-up boots. Safety boots must also have non slip tread.

Fig 4

Fig 5. Safety Boots

Hard hats

You are required to wear a hard hat (Fig 6) at all times when you are outside of a vehicle or machine in the forest. A hard hat is to protect your head from falling objects and from knocks and bumps while carrying out maintenance on machinery. When you first receive your hard hat it is important to:

Check that the date on the inside is current;
Store it correctly to avoid damage;
Do not decorate it with marker pens or paint etc.

Any of these could cause the helmet to deteriorate and place you at risk of injury.

Fig 4

Fig 6. Hard hats

Safety Glasses

Safety glasses (Fig 7) are used to protect your eyes from airborne particles, (e.g. dust, sparks, hazardous substances). Specialised eye protection is also required when doing some jobs such as welding.

Fig 4

Fig 7. Safety Glasses

Gloves

Gloves (Fig 8a) are used to protect your hands when carrying out maintenance on hot or sharp components. Make sure you use petroleum resistant gloves (Fig 8b) when topping up or replacing machine fluids. Leather gauntlets (Fig 8c) should be used to protect you when you are handling hot components or undertaking welding or grinding.

Fig 4

Fig 8a. Riggers Gloves

Fig 4

Fig 8b. Petroleum Resistant Gloves

Fig 4

Fig 8c. Leather Gauntlets

Ear plug/muffs

When noise levels reach and exceed 85db, ear plugs/muffs must be used to protect your hearing. Ear plugs (Fig 9b) / muffs (Fig 9a) must be fitted correctly and offer the correct noise reduction level. Many pieces of equipment such as angle grinders or chainsaws produce noise levels well over 100db.

Fig 4

Fig 9a. Ear Muffs

Fig 4

Fig 9b. Ear Plugs

Forest Entrance

When entering your work site, make sure you observe the signage at the entrance for the appropriate PPE that you will need before proceeding to you specific work area (see Fig’s 10a and 10b below).

Fig 4

Fig 10a. Obey the signs.

Fig 4

Fig 10b. Don’t enter the forest if you don’t have PPE.