Footwear should have some space to allow for normal swelling of the feet and layers of insulation when needed (for example, thicker socks in cold weather or an insole to improve comfort).

You should appoint a competent person to take responsibility for monitoring all aspects of the RPE you use to do your work.

As well as making sure the RPE you select is suitable to minimise the risk of workers breathing in asbestos fibres, you also need to make sure it is suitable for:

You must make sure that reusable coveralls are maintained in good working order and decontaminated or disposed of to prevent asbestos fibres spreading.

Suitable PPE is required for any work where there is a risk of exposure to asbestos fibres. The types of PPE that are commonly used when working on or near asbestos are shown in Table 1.

After use, RPE should be cleaned and stored in a sealable container in a safe place away from areas contaminated with asbestos. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and storage.

You must make sure PPE used in asbestos removal or asbestos-related work is disposed of as asbestos waste when the work has been completed, so far as is reasonably practicable. This is why it is preferable to use disposable coveralls.

Disposable shoe covers are designed to fit over the top of shoes or boots to minimise contamination of shoes and boots (Figure 4). They should cover the whole shoe or boot, and should be secured above the ankle.

A competent person is someone who has the appropriate skills, training, knowledge, and experience to perform the task or role.

We recommend you keep written records about your RPE. Records of RPE are sometimes called a respiratory protection programme.

RPE is only effective if it fits properly and is used according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. This includes positive-pressure systems (for example, PAPR or SARs). Tight fitting masks need to be fit tested in negative pressure mode. RPE should form a tight seal to the wearer’s skin.

You must ensure the outside of the container is decontaminated before it is removed from the area where asbestos work is being carried out.

Asbestosmask

They help to minimise the risk of asbestos fibres getting stuck under fingernails or getting into cuts and grazes, which can be difficult and painful to decontaminate.

You should consider any medical conditions that your workers may have when you are deciding on the most appropriate RPE.

The RPE you select for your workers must provide protection from exposure to asbestos and any other harmful substances at work.

A safety equipment supplier, occupational hygienist, or consultant may be able to help you select the most suitable RPE for your work and workers. They may use information provided by RPE manufacturers or suppliers that can help in selecting the correct type of respirator and filter.

You should make sure that each worker has their own RPE where practicable. Having individual RPE minimises the risk that respiratory infections (for example, COVID-19) will spread between your workers.

After you replace the battery in your Oculus Go or Pico G2/Pico 4KS/Pico Neo 3 controller, you may need to sync it to the headset again before it starts working.

You must make sure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of your business or undertaking.

You must make sure that other people who may be in the workplace (for example, visitors) wear PPE that minimises risks to their health and safety.

You must replace PPE whenever it becomes worn out, no longer provides adequate protection, or is past its use-by date. Replacing PPE should be assessed based on need.

If it is not reasonably practicable to dispose of contaminated reusable footwear as asbestos waste, the footwear must be decontaminated in a decontamination area.

You must ensure the outside of the container is decontaminated before it is removed from the area where asbestos work is being carried out.

Leg cuffs of coveralls should be worn over the top of shoe covers. They should not be tucked into the top of shoe covers.

Gloves create a protective barrier between a worker's hands and potential contaminants, such as dust, fibres, and other harmful substances.

Asbestos waste can only be disposed of at authorised disposal sites. Check with your local authority on where these sites are and any requirements the sites may have.

Protective footwear should be stored upside down when not in use to minimise the risk of asbestos contaminating the inside of shoes and boots. You should provide storage that allows footwear to be stored in this way.

New or inexperienced workers should be supervised in putting on and using PPE until they have shown they are competent to do so unsupervised.

When you assess which PPE to use, think about what new risks it may create. Ask your workers for their views on how new risks could be eliminated or minimised.

RPE should be labelled so it is easy to tell who it belongs to. This minimises the risk that a worker uses someone else’s RPE.

The RPE you provide for your workers must have an appropriate filter. Particle filters are classified into three groups (Table 6).

Asbestosclothing

You should arrange for your workers to have a fit test for RPE before they start working with or near asbestos. Fit testing should be done in line with the recommendations set out in Fit-testing procedures ISO 16975-3. Consider contacting a specialist or the supplier of the RPE to fit test your workers.

Pico G2/4KS: Press the Home button. The indicator light will begin blinking. When the light turns off, the controller is synced.

Negative-pressure respirators use one or more filters to purify the air that is breathed in. Inhaling creates negative pressure, which draws contaminated air through the filter. Examples of negative-pressure respirators are shown in Figures 5–7.

Facial differences mean that one kind of RPE is unlikely to fit all. These differences can be significant between people of different genders and of different ethnicities.

Asbestos suitand mask

This guidance covers all workers that work in environments where there is a risk of exposure to asbestos fibres. Examples include:

Disposable gloves are recommended for most work with or near asbestos, especially if large amounts of asbestos fibres are present. You must make sure PPE used for asbestos removal or asbestos-related work is disposed of as asbestos waste when the work is completed, so far as is reasonably practicable. This is why it is preferable to use disposable gloves.

Coveralls are a type of protective clothing used to reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres’ when working with or near asbestos. They provide a barrier between a worker’s body and potential hazards (for example, dust, fibres, and other contaminants).

You must make sure that reusable gloves are maintained in good working order and decontaminated or disposed of to prevent asbestos fibres spreading.

Your workers may need other types of PPE in addition to PPE for working with or near asbestos. The types of PPE your workers need to use will depend on the type of work they are doing.

AsbestosPPE Kit

PPE is the last line of defence and is not meant to be the sole method of reducing risk. PPE provides protection for workers when other reasonably practicable control measures cannot adequately eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety.

Experienced workers may also need to be supervised in putting on and using PPE if changes are made to the PPE being used, or if they have not used the PPE recently.

Appropriate RPE should be selected by a competent person that is knowledgeable of the working conditions and the limitations of RPE.

You must provide PPE to your workers if you are the PCBU that is directing the carrying out of work at a workplace (unless PPE has been provided by another PCBU).

Low protein (powder free) latex gloves may reduce the risk of workers developing a latex allergy or skin problems compared with standard latex gloves.

This guidance provides information about personal protective equipment (PPE) for working with or near asbestos. It can help persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to meet their duties under:

To notify WorkSafe of work that involves a worker breathing compressed air, use the Notification tool and select Report particular hazardous work.

Disposable coveralls should not have external pockets, Velcro fastenings, or other features that are difficult to decontaminate.

For more information about the health risks of asbestos and the history of asbestos management in New Zealand see Asbestos in New Zealand

Asbestosgoggles

Asbestos may not be the only harmful substance your workers could be exposed to at work. Consider any other harmful substances when you carry out your risk assessment.

Gumboots are generally the best option because they do not have laces and can be easily decontaminated. You should select the most appropriate safety footwear for the work that is being carried out.

You must provide your workers with training on how to properly wear or use PPE, and how to store and maintain it. Training should be delivered by a competent person.

Your respiratory protection programme should be reviewed regularly to check that your requirements are still being met. Keep track of any changes you make as a result of your reviews.

Twist the top of the bags tightly, fold the necks over (a ‘gooseneck twist’) and seal with adhesive tape so that the contents are fully enclosed (Figure 13). Clearly mark the bag as asbestos waste.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is any equipment that will help to protect the user against health or safety risks at work. Examples of PPE are shown in Figure 2.

If there is more than one PCBU with a duty to provide workers with PPE, you will need to consult with each other to make sure suitable arrangements are in place to provide that PPE.

For more information about the health risks of asbestos and the history of asbestos management in New Zealand see Asbestos in New Zealand

Positive-pressure respirators prevent contaminated air being inhaled even if there is a leak in the seal between the face and the facepiece (Table 5). They are generally used where the risk of asbestos exposure is high.

It is not reasonable to expect a worker to keep money aside from each pay period for future PPE purchases. There is a risk that workers may wear PPE that is past its use-by date, especially if they have not accrued enough allowance to cover an expensive item.

Positive-pressure RPE may be more suitable for workers that have medical conditions that make negative-pressure RPE difficult to use.

A fit check is a check to make sure that there is a good seal between the respirator and the face. You should make sure that your workers do a fit check each time a respirator is put on. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when carrying out a fit check.

If your workers are likely to wear RPE regularly, you should encourage them to have a medical assessment. A medical assessment can help to determine if:

Gloves forasbestosremoval

PPE must be suitable for the nature of the work and associated risks. It must also be a suitable size and fit so it is reasonably comfortable to wear.

Protective footwear should fit in much the same way that a worker’s normal shoes do. They should not be too tight or too loose.

Your decision about the type of RPE suitable for your workers should be informed by your risk assessment. Your risk assessment should consider the amount of any harmful substances in the air, as well as their form (for example, fibres, particles, or vapour).

Reusable gloves should only be used where necessary (for example, if disposable gloves will not be durable enough for the work being carried out).

In this guidance, ‘you’ means the PCBU. A PCBU is an individual or a company, but it can also be other types of organisations. More information about PCBUs is available at Who or what is a PCBU?

You must make sure that your workers wear appropriate RPE whenever they are working with or near asbestos. The greater the risk of exposure to asbestos, the higher the level of protection the RPE should provide.

Positive-pressure respirators use an independent supply of air that is suitable for breathing (for example, an air cylinder). They always maintain a positive pressure inside the facepiece. Examples of positive-pressure respirators are shown in Figures 8–10.

Asbestosfiresuit

All asbestos waste, including used disposable PPE, should be double bagged in heavy-duty (minimum 200 micron) plastic bags.

Reusable coveralls should only be used where necessary (for example, PPE for emergency services that needs to protect against fire as well as asbestos fibres).

Protective footwear used for working with or near asbestos should not have laces or eyelets. Laces and eyelets can easily become contaminated with asbestos fibres and are difficult to decontaminate.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) helps to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful substances in the air. When working with or near asbestos, RPE can help to minimise the risk of workers breathing in asbestos fibres.

Oculus Go: Make sure the headset is nearby and then press and hold both the back button and the Oculus button at the same time until a light starts to blink on the controller. When the blinking stops it is reconnected and you may resume training.

There is no overall rule about when filters on respirators should be changed – each situation will be different. You should ask the manufacturer or a competent person when and how filters should be changed.

Workers must tell their supervisor as soon as they notice any problems with their PPE (for example, if it does not fit properly or is broken).

Breathing in airborne asbestos fibres can cause them to get trapped in the lungs, leading to serious health issues such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. The health risks increase when:

Workers can choose to provide their own PPE, but only if they genuinely volunteer to do so for their own comfort or convenience. If a worker chooses to provide their own PPE, you must still make sure that the PPE will provide appropriate protection for the worker.

Tyvekasbestossuits

You should make sure that your workers replace filters if they are damaged, or if they notice a change in their ability to breathe easily.

You should be prepared to provide other people in the workplace with instructions or training about how to wear the PPE correctly. They must wear or use PPE in accordance with any information, training, or reasonable instruction you provide.

To determine the appropriate RPE to use, you need to know the harmful substances (including asbestos fibres) workers could be exposed to and the amounts. This information is needed to choose the most suitable type of RPE and filter(s) to use.

PPE must be clean, hygienic, and in good working order. You must make sure that PPE is maintained, repaired, or replaced so that it continues to minimise risk to the worker that uses it.

Disposable coveralls should meet the minimum requirements for chemical protective clothing resistant to penetration by airborne solid particles (as described in Standard Protective clothing for use against solid particulates BS EN ISO 13982-1).

If it is not reasonably practicable to dispose of or decontaminate contaminated reusable gloves (for example, if reusable gloves will be kept in the work area), they must: