PPE for Workshops and Factories: How to Choose the Right Protection
Updated: 25 September 2026
Cutting, grinding, machining, welding, handling chemicals and operating industrial equipment can expose workers to very different hazards. Personal protective equipment (PPE) can help reduce the risk of injury or illness, but only when the protection is appropriate for the task, fits the person using it and is worn correctly.
For workshop managers, supervisors and tradespeople, the starting point should not be choosing a pair of gloves or grabbing the nearest respirator. Start by identifying the hazard, controlling it as effectively as reasonably practicable, then determine what PPE is needed for any remaining risk.
Quick answer
Good PPE selection starts with the hazard rather than the product. Consider the task, exposure, worker, fit, other PPE being worn, manufacturer instructions and workplace controls. PPE should support higher-level controls rather than becoming the only thing standing between the worker and the hazard.
Safety: PPE is not a substitute for controlling the hazard
Australian WHS guidance places PPE near the bottom of the hierarchy of control measures. Where reasonably practicable, risks should first be eliminated or reduced using measures such as substitution, isolation and engineering controls. Administrative controls and PPE can then be used for risks that remain. Always base PPE decisions on your workplace risk assessment, applicable WHS requirements, safety data sheets and equipment or PPE manufacturer instructions.
What counts as PPE?
PPE is equipment or clothing worn to help protect a person from a health or safety risk. In factories, fabrication shops and general workshops this can include:
- safety glasses, goggles and face protection
- hearing protection such as earplugs and earmuffs
- respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
- task-appropriate gloves, sleeves and hand protection
- head protection
- safety footwear
- protective clothing, welding apparel and high-visibility clothing
- specialist PPE required for particular processes or hazards.
The correct combination depends on what the worker is doing and what hazards are present. One set of “general workshop PPE” will not cover every task.
Match the PPE to the hazard and task
| Typical hazard or task |
PPE that may need to be considered |
Important selection questions |
| Cutting, drilling, grinding or flying particles |
Safety glasses, goggles and/or face protection |
What can strike the eyes or face? Is impact, dust, splash or optical radiation involved? Does the protection work with hearing protection or RPE? |
| Hazardous noise |
Earplugs or earmuffs |
What does the noise assessment show? Is the protector suitable for the exposure and worker? Can it be worn consistently with other PPE? |
| Dusts, fumes, mists, vapours or gases |
Appropriate respiratory protective equipment |
What contaminant is present and at what level? What filter or air supply is required? Does the respirator need fit-testing? Are there limitations on where it can be used? |
| Sharp materials, abrasive handling or chemical contact |
Task-specific gloves or hand/arm protection |
Is the glove material suitable for the hazard? What cut, abrasion, puncture, heat or chemical resistance is required? Could gloves create an entanglement hazard? |
| Welding, hot work and sparks |
Appropriate eye/face protection, gloves, protective clothing, hearing protection and RPE as required |
What process is being performed? Are heat, sparks, radiation, fumes and noise all being controlled? |
| Falling or moving objects and foot hazards |
Head and foot protection appropriate to the identified risk |
What impact, penetration, crushing or other hazards are present? Is the PPE appropriate for the site and task? |
This table is a starting point only. It does not replace a workplace risk assessment, applicable WHS requirements, safety data sheets or manufacturer instructions.
Five things to check when selecting PPE
1. What is the actual hazard?
Identify what could cause harm before choosing the protection. “Grinding” alone is not enough information. The task may involve flying particles, noise, sparks, dust, vibration and contact with the workpiece, each of which may require a different control.
2. Can the risk be controlled before PPE is needed?
Consider whether the hazard can be eliminated, substituted, isolated or reduced with engineering controls. Examples might include guarding, local exhaust ventilation, extraction, acoustic enclosures or changing the work process. PPE can then help manage residual risk.
3. Is the PPE suitable for both the worker and the task?
Size, fit and comfort matter. Poorly fitting PPE can reduce protection and is less likely to be worn consistently. Consider the worker, duration of the task, physical workload and environmental conditions as well as the hazard itself.
4. Does all the PPE work together?
PPE should be checked as a system rather than item by item. Safety glasses can interfere with some respirator seals, earmuff performance can be affected by other head-worn equipment, and a face shield may need to work alongside eye or respiratory protection.
5. Can it be used, maintained and replaced correctly?
Workers need appropriate information and instruction on fitting, using, cleaning, storing and inspecting PPE. Damaged, contaminated or worn-out PPE should not simply remain in service because it is still sitting in the cupboard.
Eye and face protection
Cutting, drilling, grinding, machining and chemical handling can expose the eyes and face to flying particles, dust, splashes or other hazards. The appropriate protection might involve safety glasses, goggles, a face shield or a combination, depending on the task.
The protection should suit the identified hazard and remain compatible with other equipment being worn. Explore AusTech eye and face protection.
Hearing protection
Hearing protection can help reduce exposure where hazardous noise remains after other controls have been considered. Selection should be based on the workplace noise risk and the suitability of the protector for the person, task and other PPE being used.
See AusTech hearing protection or read our guide to protecting hearing in loud work environments.
Respiratory protective equipment
Dust, welding fumes, mist, vapour and gases are not interchangeable hazards, and neither are respirators. RPE selection must consider the contaminant, exposure conditions, work task and limitations of the respirator or filter.
Tight-fitting respirators rely on a good seal against the wearer's face. Workers using this type of RPE need an appropriate fit-test for the specific respirator, and a fit-check should be carried out each time it is worn. Facial hair in the sealing area can prevent a reliable seal.
For more detail, see our guide to selecting the right respirator.
Important: gloves and rotating machinery
Do not assume gloves are safer for every machine task. Gloves, loose clothing, jewellery and other items can become caught in exposed rotating parts such as shafts, chucks, spindles and workpieces. Whether gloves should be worn must be determined from the machinery hazards, guarding, task, operating procedure and manufacturer guidance.
Hand and arm protection
Gloves differ significantly in their resistance to cuts, abrasion, puncture, heat and chemicals. A glove that works well for general material handling may be unsuitable for another task.
When chemicals are involved, consult the relevant safety data sheet and glove manufacturer's information rather than assuming any general-purpose glove will provide suitable protection. Browse AusTech hand protection.
Head, foot and protective clothing
Falling objects, impact hazards, hot work, sharp material, visibility requirements and other site-specific risks may require head protection, safety footwear, protective clothing or specialised apparel. As with every PPE category, selection should be matched to the identified hazard rather than treated as a generic workshop uniform.
2026 update: airborne contaminant exposure limits
From 1 December 2026, Australia's Workplace Exposure Limits for airborne contaminants replace the existing Workplace Exposure Standards framework. This makes it particularly important for businesses using or generating dusts, fumes, gases, vapours and mists to understand their airborne hazards and review the controls used to manage them.
Respiratory protection may form part of that control approach, but RPE should not be treated as a replacement for effective higher-order controls such as substitution, isolation or local exhaust ventilation where those measures are reasonably practicable.
A practical PPE check before starting work
- Have the hazards associated with the task been identified?
- Have higher-order controls been considered or implemented?
- Is the PPE suitable for the specific hazard and task?
- Does it fit the individual worker correctly?
- Does it remain effective when worn with the worker's other PPE?
- Has the PPE been inspected for damage, wear or contamination?
- For tight-fitting RPE, has the wearer been fit-tested to that respirator and completed the required fit-check?
- Have relevant safety data sheets and manufacturer instructions been checked?
- Does the worker understand how to use, clean, store and replace the PPE?
- Could the PPE itself introduce another hazard, such as entanglement, restricted vision, heat or interference with other equipment?
PPE works best as part of the whole safety system
Good PPE management is not simply about keeping safety glasses, gloves and respirators on a shelf. The strongest approach starts with understanding the job, controlling hazards as effectively as practicable and then selecting PPE for the risks that remain.
Correct fit, compatibility, training, inspection and maintenance all matter. If the task changes, the material changes or a new process is introduced, the PPE requirements may need to change as well.
Reviewing PPE for your workshop?
AusTech supplies safety equipment for fabrication, machining, welding and general workshop applications. Browse our Safety range online, or contact AusTech if you need help identifying product options for a particular application. PPE selection should always be based on your workplace risk assessment, applicable requirements and manufacturer guidance.
Shop Safety Contact AusTech
Sources and further reading
Safe Work Australia: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and WHS duties
Safe Work Australia: Managing WHS risks and the hierarchy of control measures
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland: Personal protective equipment
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland: Respiratory protective equipment
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland: Noise
Safe Work Australia: Workplace Exposure Limits for airborne contaminants
WorkSafe Victoria: Controlling entanglement risks