Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Page last updated at 1pm 15 December 2022

On this page:

Sourcing PPE
Safe PPE use and resources
Fit testing and use of P2 / N95 respiratory masks

Sourcing PPE

For a list of readily available commercial sources of PPE (including surgical face masks, P2/N95 respirators, eye and face protection, gowns and more) refer to the Queensland Government’s What’s on Offer website, that has been designed to connect buyers with suppliers.

Safe PPE use and resources

The following resources are available to support safe PPE use:

Video – Correct use of PPE

Fit testing and use of P2 / N95 respiratory masks

Infection Control Expert Group Guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers in the context of COVID-19 with key recommendations:

All health care workers should follow standard and transmission-based precautions as described in the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2021).
Healthcare workers who wear P2/N95 respirators should complete fit testing before first use, and perform a fit (seal) check each time they are used. In situations where fit testing has not yet been carried out, and a P2/N95 respirator is recommended for use, a fit-checked P2/N95 respirator is preferred to a surgical mask.
All healthcare workers providing direct patient care or working within the patient/client/resident zone for individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should have access to P2/N95 respirators.
For healthcare workers providing direct patient care or working within the patient/client/resident zone for individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the choice between P2/N95 respirator or surgical mask should be based on an assessment of risk of transmission.
Assessment of risk of transmission of COVID-19 to healthcare workers should include consideration of:
- the individual patient/client/resident’s pre-existing likelihood of COVID-19
- patient/client/resident factors
- physical location of care.

Queensland Health Guidance document for Fit testing of P2/N95 masks in respiratory protection programs outlines:

the difference between fit checking and fit testing
qualitative fit testing (a facial fit testing giving pass or fail results that relies on the wearer’s subjective response to aerosolised test agent)
quantitative fit testing (objective numerical fit testing results through the use of special particle counting breathing zone, which does not rely on the subject’s response to a test agent)