PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to present the principles for proper selection of personal protective equipment and to establish procedures for its use.
SCOPE
University wide.
PROCEDURES
I. Responsibilities
1. Departments
It is each department’s responsibility to ensure that the provisions of this policy are understood and practiced by their employees. Specifically, the department will:
a. Assist the Office of Environmental Health and Safety in assessing the workplace to determine if hazards are present or likely to be present in order to identify areas and work activities where personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be used and to complete a Job Hazard Assessment Certification Form. See Appendices A and B for guidelines.
b. Provide employees with the appropriate type and size of personal protective equipment. Employees with allergies to latex or other PPE material must be accommodated with alternate materials. PPE is provided without cost to the employee.
c. Control the issuance and
storage area of protective equipment to ensure that it is sanitary, in reliable
condition, and used properly.
d. Ensure the use of protective
equipment when required.
e. Provide for medical
evaluation as applicable. Medical evaluations are to be provided at no cost to
the employee.
2. Office of
Environmental Health and Safety
a. Assess each department's workplace to determine if hazards are present or likely to be present in order to identify areas and work activities where personal protective equipment is to be used.
b. Assist Departments with
completing a written certification of hazard assessment, and with the proper
selection of protective equipment.
c. Provide approval for
protective equipment after completion of the hazard assessment and upon receipt
of documentation of medical clearance from a qualified health care provider, as
applicable.
d. Provide training on the
selection, proper use and maintenance of personal protective equipment.
e. Maintain the written
certifications of hazard assessment and training.
3. Employees
a. Use and maintain protective equipment as required.
b. Be trained as deemed
necessary.
c. Be capable of demonstrating
the ability to use PPE properly.
II. Equipment
Personal protective
equipment is issued for specific types of hazards. Personal protective
equipment must meet national standards (ANSI) and/or NIOSH certification where
applicable.
Appendix A serves as a general guideline for the proper selection of various types of personal protective equipment. Appendix B is to be used to determine the hazards in each work area and selection guidelines for the appropriate personal protective equipment.
1. Eye
Protection
a. Eye protection is required in work locations and during activities where eye hazards or potential eye hazards exist. These hazards may include flying particles, molten metal, and chemicals such as acids or caustic liquids, gases, vapors or light radiation. Work areas where these hazards may be found include shop areas, laboratories, garages, groundwork, construction sites, chemical use, machining, carpentry, welding, hazardous waste management, and laser operations.
b. Contact lenses do not
provide eye protection from chemical assault. Contact lenses may cause
materials or particles on the surface of the eye to become trapped. Some
chemicals cause pain and spasms that make lens removal difficult. Contact
lenses must not be worn where exposures to chemicals may occur unless chemical
splash goggles are worn.
c. Protective eye and face
devices shall comply with ANSI Z87.1-1989.
2. Head
Protection
a. Head protection is required in work locations and during activities where head injury hazards or potential for head injury hazards exist. These hazards may include absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns and temperature extremes. Work areas where these hazards may be found include utility rooms, power plants, construction activities, and rigging.
b. Protective helmets shall
comply with ANSI Z89.1-1986.
3. Hand
Protection
a. Hand protection is required
in work locations and during activities where injuries to the hands, chemical
exposures or electrical contact or potential for hazards to the hands exist.
Work areas where these hazards may be found include construction activities,
hot work, maintenance activities, custodial activities, materials handling,
waste management, chemical handling and blood or body fluid exposures.
b. Gloves used with chemicals
must be selected to provide protection from the specific chemical to be used.
Permeation and degradation rates must be considered.
4. Foot
Protection
a. Foot protection is required in work locations and during activities where foot injury hazards or the potential for foot injuries exist. These hazards may include falling and rolling objects, objects piercing the sole, or electrical hazards. Work areas where these hazards may be found include warehouses, maintenance areas, power plants, construction activities, material handling, landscaping, machine shops, drum and cylinder handling, and vehicle repair.
b. Protective footwear shall
comply with ANSI Z41-1991.
5. Body
Protection
a. Body protection is required in work locations and during activities where injuries to the body, chemical exposures, blood and body fluid exposures or the potential for hazards to the body may exist. Examples include laboratories, welding, fire fighting, and hazardous materials emergency response.
b. Permeation and degradation
rates must be considered when body protection is required for chemical
exposures.
6. Hearing
Protection
Hearing protection is required in work locations and during activities where elevated noise levels exist. Examples include power plants and the incinerator. Consult the Hearing Conservation Program for specific guidelines.
7. Respiratory
Protection
Respiratory protection is required in work locations and during activities where respiratory hazards or potential respiratory hazards exist. Examples include power plants, tuberculosis, some maintenance and custodial activities, and hazardous materials emergency response. Consult the Respiratory Protection Program for specific guidelines.
8. Miscellaneous
Protection
Other work locations and activities where hazards or potential hazards exist may require additional personal protective equipment and specific training. Examples of additional protective equipment may include surgical masks, welding aprons, metatarsal guards, safety belts, lanyards, cryogenic gloves, and electrical insulating cloths or mats. Specific review is required to identify when additional protective equipment is needed.
III. Training
1.
Training must be provided for all employees who must wear PPE; topics
include:
·
When PPE is necessary
·
What PPE is necessary
·
How to properly don, doff, adjust and wear PPE
·
Limitations
·
Proper care, inspection, maintenance, useful life, and disposal
2. Training must be provided to employees before they are allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.
3. Employees must be retrained when there are changes in the workplace which impact the use of PPE; when there are changes in the types of PPE to be used; or when inadequacies in an employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained understanding or skill.
4. Written certification verifying that the employee has received and understood the subject training is required.