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- Your hat should cover your forehead and neck if it is a sunny day. Where there is a possibility of something falling on your head, a safety helmet should be worn.
- In sunny weather you should apply an SPF30+ sunblock. You might think you want to get a good tan – but remember that Australia has the highest rate of melanoma cancer in the world. Insect repellent is also a useful precaution.
- Wear sunglasses in sunny weather. Use Australian Standard compliant sunglasses as they are tinted and provide eye protection from penetration of objects as well as protection from the effects of the sun.
- If you or another worker near you are cutting anything and are causing chips of material to fly, or sanding and creating dust, you should wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.
- Sometimes you may need to wear a mask. This is the case when you are using powdery materials (such as cement, lime or plaster), creating dust, or when chips may be flying.
- You should wear gloves if you are handling any sharp tools or materials. Gloves also provide protection from hazards such as animal, snake and insect bites.
- Wear long sleeves. These will give you protection from the sun and from cuts, scratches and burns when handling materials.
- Don't wear shorts. Wear overalls because these protect you from the sun and sharp objects.
- Safety boots are essential on any building site. Always wear them.
- Noise is measured in 'decibels'. Wear earmuffs to protect your ears if there is regular noise that is louder than 85 decibels, or occasional sounds that are louder. Use earmuffs rather than earplugs. On a building site your hands are often dirty, so it's unclean to put earplugs into your ears. Also they're impossible to adjust when you wear gloves.
© Commonwealth of Australia, reproduced with the permission of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.