Warehouse injuries come from a short list of hazards: blades and strapping, forklifts and pedestrians sharing aisles, dropped cartons, racking at head height, and — in cold stores — the cold itself. Equipping a warehouse, distribution centre or 3PL team means covering each of those with gear people will actually keep on for an eight-hour pick shift. Here is what we recommend, from our own Auburn warehouse to yours.
Cut-resistant gloves
Cut resistance is now graded A to F under AS/NZS 2161.3 and EN 388:2016. For most picking and carton handling a Cut C glove is right; step up to Cut D for regular box-cutter use and steel strapping. A higher rating isn’t automatically better — a stiff glove that comes off to scan a label protects no one.
- ATG MaxiCut® Ultra DT™ with AD-APT® 52-3455 — Cut C, breathable, dotted palm for all-day picking.
- NXG™ Black Dog Cut D P-8175 — Cut D for box cutters and strapping.
- NXG™ Therm Cut C XT T-3212 — Cut C with a thermal liner for cold stores.
- Maxisafe Black Knight Dri-Grip GDG291 — Cut B with grip for wet or oily handling.
Compare more models and the old “Level 5” scale on our cut-resistant glove guide.
Safety footwear
Pickers walk kilometres a shift, so weight and cushioning matter as much as the toe cap. Composite toes are metal-free — useful where metal detectors are in use — and don’t conduct cold. All safety footwear should be certified to AS 2210.3.
- Hard Yakka X Range Low Composite Toe Safety Shoe Y60364 — low-cut composite-toe safety shoe.
- Puma Airtwist Safety Shoe 644657 and Puma Elevate Knit 643167 — sneaker-style safety shoes.
- uvex 1 x-flow safety shoes 6539 — lightweight ventilated safety shoe.
- Blundstone Women’s Safety Jogger #883 — women’s fit.
See our full warehouse safety boot guide for mid-cut and zip-side options.
Hi-vis for shared vehicle and pedestrian zones
Wherever forklifts, reach trucks or delivery vehicles share space with people on foot, everyone on foot should be in hi-vis. Indoors under good lighting, a Day (Class D) vest is often enough; for dock areas, yards and night shifts, choose Day/Night (Class D/N) with retroreflective tape. Your site’s traffic management plan should set the rule.
- Syzmik Unisex Hi Vis Zip Basic Vest ZV999 — lightweight zip vest, Class D/N per Syzmik, sizes XS to 7XL.
- DNC Hi Vis Day/Night Safety Vest H-Pattern Taped 3804 — H-pattern taped vest with hook-and-loop closure.
- Hi-vis polos and shirts for staff who prefer a garment to a vest: see our hi-vis shirt guide.
Head protection: bump caps vs hard hats
A bump cap is not a hard hat. Bump caps are tested to EN 812 and protect against knocks and scrapes on racking, low beams and vehicle undersides — they don’t protect against falling objects. Where stock is moved overhead or anything could fall from racking, use a hard hat certified to AS/NZS 1801.
- ProChoice Bump Cap Black/Grey BCBG — baseball style, EN 812, foam insert, adjustable strap.
- Dodge Bump Cap - Neon Yellow with Reflective Silver Strip (Each) — hi-vis yellow with a reflective strip, EN 812.
- Hard hats for mezzanines and racking work: hard hat guide.
Eye protection
Strapping that snaps, stretch-wrap and dust from opening cartons all reach eyes. Clear, anti-fog safety glasses certified to AS/NZS 1337.1 are the warehouse default.
- ProChoice Fusion Safety Glasses Clear Lens 9200 (Pack of 12) — budget clear glasses for whole teams.
- uvex pheos Safety Glasses Clear 9192-305 — wraparound clear lens.
- EPIC® SG52 anti-scratch, anti-fog glasses — for moving between cold and ambient zones.
More options, including over-specs for prescription wearers, in our warehouse safety glasses guide.
Knee protection
Low-level picking and packing means a lot of kneeling on concrete.
- ProChoice Proflex Knee Pads Soft Shell KPSS — soft, non-marking shell that flexes with the knee; suits interior floors.
- ProChoice Turtle Back Knee Pads Hard Shell KPHS — hard shell with gel padding for rougher surfaces.
- Hard Yakka Legends Shaped Knee Pads Y22980 — contoured pads that fit Hard Yakka knee-pad pockets.
Cold-store and freezer wear
Freezer rooms need insulated, waterproof layers that still let a picker move. The Bisley H Taped Hi Vis Freezer Hooded Jacket BJ6454HT and matching Freezer Pants BP6451T carry 687 gsm of insulation with sealed seams and reflective tape, and pair well with the NXG Therm gloves above.
Warehouse PPE checklist
- Cut C gloves for general picking; Cut D where box cutters or steel strapping are used daily.
- AS 2210.3 safety footwear for everyone on the floor.
- Hi-vis for anyone on foot in vehicle zones — Day/Night for docks, yards and night shifts.
- Bump caps under low racking; AS/NZS 1801 hard hats wherever objects could fall.
- Clear AS/NZS 1337.1 safety glasses for strapping and carton work.
Frequently asked questions
What cut rating do warehouse gloves need?
For most picking and carton handling, Cut C under AS/NZS 2161.3 is the right level. Choose Cut D for regular box-cutter use and steel strapping, and Cut E–F only for glass or sheet-metal handling.
Is a bump cap the same as a hard hat?
No. Bump caps are tested to EN 812 and only protect against knocks and scrapes. Wherever objects could fall from racking or overhead, workers need a hard hat certified to AS/NZS 1801.
Do warehouse workers need Day/Night hi-vis?
Indoors under good lighting a Day (Class D) vest is often enough. For loading docks, yards and night shifts, choose Day/Night (Class D/N) with retroreflective tape. Follow your site’s traffic management plan.
Can you supply PPE for a whole warehouse team?
Yes — we supply carton quantities with trade pricing and account terms, with fast dispatch from our Sydney warehouse or collection from Auburn NSW by arrangement.
Kitting out a crew? Trade pricing and account terms are available — contact us or call 0457 545 175. Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $200; collection from our Auburn NSW warehouse by arrangement (call first), 7:30am–3:30pm Mon–Fri.