COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the PPE Requirements & Safety Standards in Concreting Operations course. This training is designed to give you a good understanding of the essential role that personal protective equipment (PPE) plays in managing risks associated with concreting work. With concreting sites presenting a wide range of physical, chemical, and environmental hazards, knowing how to select, use, and maintain the correct PPE is critical for legal compliance, worker safety, and the overall efficiency of operations.

This course begins by examining the role of PPE within the broader framework of risk management in concreting environments. You will explore the most common hazards—such as cement burns, slips on wet surfaces, manual handling injuries, and exposure to dust or noise—and learn the shared responsibilities of employers and workers under Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation to ensure proper PPE usage.

A solid grounding in Australian Standards and legal requirements is vital for anyone involved in concreting operations. This section provides an overview of relevant WHS Act and Regulation obligations, key PPE-related standards such as AS/NZS 4501 for occupational protective clothing and AS/NZS 2210 for safety footwear, and the specific PPE responsibilities placed on principal contractors under construction site rules.

Understanding the hazards specific to concreting work is critical when determining appropriate PPE. This section identifies risks such as exposure to silica dust, the danger of heavy plant movement, trip hazards, and environmental challenges like UV radiation and wet weather, ensuring you can match PPE choices to real-world risks.

Risk assessment forms the basis of smart PPE selection. Here, you will learn how to perform PPE-specific risk assessments, choose the right equipment for each identified hazard, and involve workers in PPE selection to improve compliance and comfort.

Head protection is non-negotiable on concreting sites. This section explains when hard hats are mandatory, what features they must have under AS/NZS 1801, and how to inspect, maintain, and replace them appropriately to ensure ongoing protection.

Protecting the eyes and face from concrete splashes, airborne dust, and flying debris is a major priority. You will explore the correct selection, fitting, and maintenance of safety glasses, goggles, and face shields, with reference to the AS/NZS 1337 standard.

Noise is a common hazard on concreting sites. This section addresses how to protect hearing from the damaging effects of power tools, pumps, and jackhammers, with guidance on selecting, fitting, and maintaining compliant hearing protection in line with AS/NZS 1270.

Hands are highly vulnerable in concreting operations. This section highlights the importance of choosing appropriate gloves—whether chemical-resistant or cut-resistant—how to store and care for gloves, and the signs that gloves need to be replaced.

Proper foot protection is essential in environments where crushing, slipping, or puncture risks are common. This section outlines the requirements for safety boots under AS 2210.3, key features to look for, and how to maintain footwear to ensure ongoing protection.

Skin protection is often overlooked but is crucial in concreting work. This section covers the risks of cement burns, dermatitis, and UV exposure, and explains how to mitigate these risks through protective clothing, sunscreen use, and adopting good skin care practices.

Respiratory protection becomes necessary when working in dusty environments or where airborne chemicals are present. You will learn how to select suitable disposable masks or respirators, the importance of correct fit-testing, and maintaining compliance with AS/NZS 1716.

Fall protection is critical when working at heights, particularly on formwork decks or elevated platforms. This section covers the selection, inspection, and use of fall arrest equipment such as harnesses and lanyards, in accordance with AS/NZS 1891.

Visibility is a major safety factor on busy construction sites. This section explains how to choose and maintain appropriate high-visibility garments that meet Australian standards for day and night work, ensuring workers remain visible around moving vehicles and machinery.

Proper inspection, maintenance, and storage practices significantly extend the life of PPE and maintain its effectiveness. You will learn how to conduct thorough inspections, keep inspection records, and store PPE in a way that protects it from degradation.

Training workers in the correct use of PPE is not a one-off event—it must be ongoing. This section explains the importance of induction and refresher training, correct fitting demonstrations, and the worker’s duty to report damaged or unsuitable equipment.

Extreme weather conditions pose additional challenges for PPE use. Here, you will learn how to modify PPE practices to address heat stress, dehydration risks, wet weather hazards, and how to adapt schedules to maintain worker safety in harsh conditions.

Enforcing PPE compliance is part of building a safety culture. This section outlines supervisory responsibilities for addressing non-compliance, the steps to take when workers refuse or incorrectly use PPE, and how to apply fair and consistent disciplinary procedures.

The course concludes with a focus on continuous improvement in PPE systems. Gathering feedback, trialling new PPE innovations, and fostering a proactive safety culture ensures that PPE use evolves with site conditions and that workers remain protected across all concreting operations.

By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to select, use, monitor, and improve PPE practices on concreting sites, supporting a safer, healthier, and legally compliant work environment.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to PPE and Safety in Concreting Operations

• The role of PPE in risk management
• Common hazards in concreting work environments
• Employer and worker responsibilities under WHS law

2. Australian Standards and Legal Requirements for PPE

• Overview of WHS Act and Regulation requirements
• Key Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4501, AS/NZS 2210)
• Site-specific PPE requirements and principal contractor obligations

3. Identifying Hazards in Concreting Work

• Manual handling, exposure to cement dust, falls, plant movement
• Slips, trips, falls on wet surfaces
• Environmental hazards: UV exposure, weather, noise

4. Risk Assessment and Selection of PPE

• How to perform a PPE risk assessment
• Matching PPE selection to identified hazards
• Consulting workers on PPE choices and suitability

5. Head Protection for Concreting Sites

• Requirements for hard hats under AS/NZS 1801
• Situations where head protection is mandatory
• Inspection, maintenance, and replacement guidelines

6. Eye and Face Protection Requirements

• Protecting against concrete splashes, dust, and impact
• Selecting safety glasses, face shields, and goggles
• Standards compliance (AS/NZS 1337) and inspection routines

7. Hearing Protection in Noisy Environments

• Noise hazards from pumps, saws, and jackhammers
• Selecting earplugs, earmuffs, or noise-cancelling headsets
• Understanding noise exposure limits and compliance with AS/NZS 1270

8. Hand Protection for Concreting Activities

• Risks to hands during concrete placement and formwork handling
• Choosing chemical-resistant and cut-resistant gloves
• Correct use, storage, and disposal of gloves

9. Foot Protection on Construction Sites

• Safety boot requirements
• Selecting boots compliant with AS 2210.3
• Caring for and replacing damaged or worn footwear

10. Skin Protection from Cement Exposure and UV Radiation

• Dangers of concrete burns and skin irritations
• Using protective clothing, barrier creams, and sunscreen
• Wearing long sleeves, high visibility vests, and wide-brimmed hats

11. Respiratory Protection During Concreting Activities

• Identifying airborne risks: silica dust, cement dust, exhaust fumes
• Selecting disposable masks or reusable respirators
• Fit-testing, maintenance, and compliance with AS/NZS 1716

12. Fall Protection Equipment in Elevated Work Areas

• Use of harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points for formwork decks
• Correct fitting, inspection, and storage of fall arrest systems
• Compliance with AS/NZS 1891 for fall protection gear

13. High Visibility Clothing for Safe Site Access

• Visibility requirements for workers near moving plant and vehicles
• Selecting Class D/N rated garments (day/night)
• Maintaining clean and effective hi-vis PPE

14. Inspection, Maintenance, and Storage of PPE

• Conducting pre-use and post-use PPE inspections
• Recording PPE inspections and replacement schedules
• Storing PPE to prevent damage or contamination

15. Training and Competency in PPE Use

• Providing initial and refresher PPE training
• Demonstrating correct fitting, use, and limitations
• Worker obligations to report defects and request replacements

16. Safe Use of PPE During Wet Weather and Hot Conditions

• Adapting PPE for heat stress, dehydration, and storm conditions
• Using cooling garments, hydration strategies, and waterproof gear
• Adjusting work schedules during extreme weather

17. Managing Non-Compliance and Enforcement of PPE Use

• Addressing refusal or improper use of PPE
• Supervisory responsibilities for PPE enforcement
• Implementing disciplinary procedures when necessary

18. Continuous Improvement in PPE Systems and Safety Culture

• Gathering feedback on PPE effectiveness from workers
• Trialling new PPE technologies or designs
• Promoting a proactive PPE and personal safety culture

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.