RIRDC - Research Compendium 1993

Rural Industries
Research & Development Corporation

Research Compendium 1993 - 1994

Research Project

AN INVESTIGATION OF PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

Objectives

To survey Australian farmers' current usage and acceptance of personal protection equipment (PPE).
To conduct a comparative test between various makes of PPE.
To present a series of feature articles within Farming Ahead.

Background

There is a need for the industry and farm sector to address issues of community concern such as spray drift, operator health, transport and storage and proper disposal of chemical containers. Other personal protection issues such as operation of noisy equipment must also be addressed through education of farmers and equipment operators.

Research

Questions were asked in the National Agricultural Survey in 1992 on personal protection equipment usage. A comparative test was conducted in two parts. Firstly a laboratory test was conducted by Work Cover technicians and included a sample of respirators, eye goggles and gloves commonly used in agriculture which were tested against Australian standards. The second part included a test panel review of the products by 14 farmers as to practical useability.

Outcomes

Articles were published in the magazine 'Farming Ahead' to educate farmers on the effectiveness and useability of protective equipment, to stress the need to dispose carefully of chemical containers, and to alert farmers to the risks of industrial deafness associated with use of farm equipment. A ready reference chart was produced and distributed.

Implications

The information generated from this project has been received as credible and practical and should assist in real uptake at the farm level. There is scope for further work on Personal Protection Equipment and repackaging of the existing report to reach further into agriculture.

RIRDC Project No: KDI-5A

RESEARCHER: Mr Geoff Hamilton

ORGANISATION: Kondinin Group

51 Gurwood Street

WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650

PHONE: 069 21 4047

FAX: 069 21 4182

PUBLICATIONS:

Farming Ahead Magazines No 19, 1993

Farming Ahead Magazines No 21, 1993