Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out clear, practical requirements for selecting, using and maintaining personal protective equipment (PPE) in plastering work across Australian construction and maintenance sites. It helps businesses control exposure to dust, manual handling injuries, slips, trips and falls, and other common plastering hazards while demonstrating compliance with WHS duties.

Plastering tasks routinely expose workers to airborne dusts, repetitive manual handling, sharp tools, wet and uneven surfaces, and overhead work. Without the right PPE—and a consistent method for using it—workers are at increased risk of respiratory issues, eye injuries, skin irritation, musculoskeletal strain and slips, trips and falls. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, easy-to-follow framework to ensure PPE is correctly selected, worn, inspected and maintained for all plastering activities, from mixing compounds and sanding surfaces to working at height and cleaning up.

Developed with the Australian WHS regulatory environment in mind, the procedure translates legal obligations into practical on-site actions. It clarifies who is responsible for providing, fitting and checking PPE; sets minimum PPE requirements for common plastering tasks; and embeds PPE checks into daily pre-starts and supervision. By implementing this SOP, businesses can significantly lift their safety performance, reduce the likelihood of injury and non-compliance, and create a professional, safety-focused culture within plastering teams and subcontractor groups.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, correct use of PPE across all plastering tasks, reducing preventable injuries and incidents.
• Reduce worker exposure to plaster dust, chemical additives and noise, supporting long-term health and wellbeing.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS legislation and PPE-related Australian Standards during audits, inspections and tenders.
• Standardise PPE expectations for employees, labour hire workers and subcontractors, minimising confusion and disputes.
• Streamline induction and toolbox talks with a clear reference document that supervisors can use for training and reinforcement.

Who is this for?

• Plasterers
• Leading Hands and Team Leaders (Plastering Crews)
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Small Building and Renovation Business Owners
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Inhalation of plaster dust and fine particulates during mixing, sanding and cutting
• Eye injuries from airborne dust, splashes and flying debris
• Skin irritation and dermatitis from contact with wet plaster, additives and cleaning chemicals
• Noise exposure from power sanders, mixers and associated equipment
• Hand injuries from sharp tools, blades and abrasive surfaces
• Foot injuries from dropped tools, materials and contact with wet, slippery surfaces
• Head injuries from overhead work, falling objects and working in confined ceiling spaces
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, dusty or cluttered floors and work platforms

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Supervisors, Workers, Contractors)
• 4.0 Hazard Identification for Plastering Tasks
• 5.0 PPE Requirements by Task (Mixing, Applying, Sanding, Cutting, Working at Height, Cleanup)
• 6.0 Selection and Fit of PPE (Respirators, Eye Protection, Gloves, Footwear, Hearing Protection, Protective Clothing)
• 7.0 Pre-use Inspection, Maintenance and Replacement of PPE
• 8.0 Safe Work Steps for Donning, Wearing and Doffing PPE
• 9.0 Hygiene Practices and Decontamination (Dust and Chemical Residues)
• 10.0 Training, Competency and Supervision Requirements
• 11.0 Managing Non-compliance and Refusal to Wear PPE
• 12.0 Recordkeeping, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
• 13.0 Emergency Response Considerations (Eye Injuries, Dust Inhalation, Skin Exposure)
• 14.0 Review and Revision History

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) – Part 3.2 General Workplace Management and Part 3.1 Managing Risks to Health and Safety
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 2161 series: Occupational protective gloves
• AS/NZS 2210.1: Safety, protective and occupational footwear
• AS/NZS 1801: Occupational protective helmets
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors