Health and Safety Forum

Knowledge Network | Health and Safety Forum

PPE requirements for visitors to worksites

  • PPE requirements for visitors to worksites

    Posted by Rebeca Clifton on 28 May 2024 at 1:58 pm

    We are reviewing our PPE requirements for visitors to MLL worksites and are interested in how other EDBs define “suitable” PPE consistent with: SMEI RE 3.2071 (2.1301) Suitable personal protective equipment shall be worn by persons visiting a worksite who are not part of the work party.

    Currently we require visitors to worksites (e.g. leadership team, directors) to be escorted at all times by a competent person and kept at a safe distance from hazardous areas. Visitors who do not have safety footwear (but have full cover footwear) are permitted into non hazardous areas of the site . High visibility jackets must be worn at all times. If entry into hazardous areas is required then the person escorting will ensure that full PPE is worn including safety footwear and hardhat.

    We are considering implementing a rule requiring visitors to wear arc rated workwear, and there is divided opinion on that, so am keen to know what others have in place.

    Thanks, Rebeca

    Christopher John Davies replied 8 months, 2 weeks ago 6 Members · 8 Replies
  • 8 Replies
  • Christopher John Davies

    Member
    28 May 2024 at 2:04 pm

    hard hat, specs, full body cover (arc and flame), protective footwear on all work sites.

  • Stephen Small

    Member
    28 May 2024 at 2:08 pm

    We expect all work-site visitors to wear exactly the same PPE as the workers on the worksite (including the natural fibre clothing worn under arc-rated full body cover as per SM-EI), this is more about consistency and visible safety culture than actual risk (as PPE should be the last line of defense).

    The only deviation from this is if we use additional specialist Temporary Traffic Management contractors who do not enter our working space (TTM is on the periphery only), as their issued PPE often is not arc-rated. Our own TTM workers wear arc-rated PPE the same as the rest of our workers.

  • Rebeca Clifton

    Member
    28 May 2024 at 2:19 pm

    Thanks Christopher.

  • Rebeca Clifton

    Member
    28 May 2024 at 2:20 pm

    Thanks Stephen. Yes that’s the angle we’re coming from in terms of consistency and visible safety culture rather than risk management.

  • Stephen Albrecht

    Member
    29 May 2024 at 8:32 am

    We make no distinction between workers or visitors regarding PPE requirements. We set minimum PPE requirements and minimum arc flash PPE requirements. Minimum PPE requirements are set at a basic level with other PPE based on task specific risk assessment.

  • Rebeca Clifton

    Member
    29 May 2024 at 11:30 am

    Thanks Stephen.

  • Rhys Thomas

    Member
    29 May 2024 at 12:54 pm

    We are the same, the PPE should be the same as the workers on the site.

Log in to reply.