KINGSTON GENERAL HOSPITAL
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY MANUAL
Subject: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Prepared/Reviewed by: Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness,
Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)
Issued by: President & Chief Executive Officer / Number: 02-015
Page: 1 of 5
Original Issue: 1988.03
Reviewed: 2012.04
Revised: 2012.08
Preamble
This policy is intended to protect all workers from exposure to workplace hazards through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is not a substitute for more effective control methods. Personal protective equipment will be provided, used, and maintained when it has been determined that its use is required to ensure the safety and health of workers.
Applicability
This policy applies to all workers including:
1. KGH employees,
2. Credentialed and appointed staff,
3. Affiliates (individuals not employed by the hospital who perform specific tasks at the hospital, including contractors and employees and subcontractors of contractors, supplied labour/temp agency staff, vendors, consultants, working visitors, learners, volunteers, and any other persons carrying on work, research or education activities at KGH).
Where Manager/Supervisor is referenced, this includes all those who have charge of a workplace/work area in the hospital, or authority over a worker. This includes both KGH and non-KGH employees who function in a ‘supervisory’ capacity under the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
Policy
1. PPE should only be considered when other means of protection against hazards are not practical or where engineering controls alone are not adequate for worker protection.
2. In situations where required PPE may adversely affect an employee’s health, the worker should consult the Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness Department.
3. This policy addresses general PPE requirements, including eye and face, head, foot and leg, hand and arm, body (torso) protection. Separate programs exist for hearing protection (see Admin Policy # 02-025 Hearing Conservation Program), respiratory protection (see Admin Policy #02-091 Respiratory Protection Program) and infection prevention from exposure to blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious agents (see Infection Control Manual).
4. For PPE required to protect workers against hazards associated with hot work, see Admin Policy # 02-077 Utility Shutdowns//Hot Work.
5. For contractors and subcontractors performing construction and facilities repair work on KGH premises, see the admin policy # 02-195 Contractor Health & Safety Program and the Contractor Health & Safety Manual (Appendix C of policy #02-0195) for more information on PPE requirements.
6. The PPE policy identifies:
Responsibilities and Procedures
Hazard assessment
PPE Selection
Cleaning and Maintenance of PPE
Worker Training
7. The Joint Health and Safety Committee/Health & Safety Rep and Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness Department are responsible for providing advice and direction in preventing/controlling hazardous exposures.
Responsibilities and Procedures
1. Supervisor Responsibilities: Supervisors are responsible for the implementation and administration of the PPE policy and procedures. Supervisor responsibilities are as follows:
1.1. Conduct and maintain records on workplace hazard assessments, to determine the presence of hazards which necessitate the use of PPE. Review/update PPE hazard assessment when:
a job changes
new equipment is used
there has been an incident/accident
an employee requests it
a JHSC/Health & Safety Rep Inspection report requests it
or at least every year
1.2. Ensure appropriate PPE is available, accessible, and maintain records on PPE assignments.
1.3. Ensure workers have received the necessary training, guidance, and assistance to properly use, care, and clean approved PPE.
1.4. Review, update, and evaluate the overall effectiveness of PPE use, training, policies and procedures.
1.5. Ensure workers properly use and maintain their PPE, and comply with PPE policy. Willful disregard of this policy is cause for disciplinary action.
1.6. Notify the JHSC/Health & Safety Rep when new hazards are introduced, or when processes are added or changed. Changes to safety procedures must be made in consultation with the JHSC.
1.7. Ensure defective or damaged PPE is immediately disposed of and replaced.
2. Worker Responsibilities: The PPE user is responsible for the following:
2.1. Wear PPE properly as required by relevant policy and/or Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
2.2. Attend required training sessions.
2.3. Properly care for, clean, maintain, and inspect PPE as required.
2.4. Adhere to PPE policy. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
2.5. Inform the supervisor of the need to repair or replace PPE.
Hazard Assessment
1. Supervisors will conduct a walk-through survey of each work area to identify potential sources of work hazards.
2. Each survey will be documented and should identify the work area surveyed, the person conducting the survey, findings/potential hazards, and date of the survey.
3. Any new PPE requirements that are developed will be communicated to the appropriate employees and the JHSC in writing and a record shall be kept.
Selection of PPE
1. Once the hazards of a workplace have been identified, supervisors will determine if the hazards can first be eliminated or reduced by methods other than PPE (i.e. methods that do not rely on worker behavior, such as engineering controls).
2. Should other control strategies not be practical or adequate, the supervisor shall, in consultation with Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness Department and the JHSC/Health & Safety Rep if applicable, determine the suitability of existing PPE and select new or additional equipment if deemed necessary. PPE selection must consider the multiplicity of exposures and simultaneous exposures.
3. Where PPE is necessary for protection against chemicals or other hazardous materials, consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to determine recommended PPE.
4. All personal protective clothing and equipment will be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed and will be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition. Only those items of protective clothing and equipment that meet CSA, NIOSH or ANSI standards will be procured or accepted for use:
· Eye and Face Protection CSA Z94.3
· Head Protection CSA Z94.1
· Hand Protection -selection must be based on the performance characteristics of the glove in relation to the tasks to be performed.)
· Hearing Protection (see Admin Policy # 02-025 Hearing Conservation)
· Respiratory Protection (see Admin Policy # 02-091 Respiratory Protection Program)
· Foot Protection CSA Z195-02:
× All workers performing activities where they are exposed to potential impact injuries must wear footwear that provides adequate protection against toe impact (i.e. have steel toes) and comply with CSA Standard Z195-(latest version). Depending on level of risk, your safety shoe/boot must be either:
× Grade 1 -- withstands impact of 125 joules (equivalent of a 50 lb. object dropped at a height of 22 inches)
× Grade 2 -- withstands impact of 90 joules (equivalent of a 50 lb. object dropped at a height of 16 inches)
× See Admin Policy # 02-099 Safe Footwear for general footwear required on KGH premises,
5. Workers required to wear PPE will be informed and trained on the proper use of the required PPE. Careful consideration should be given to the comfort and fit of PPE.
Cleaning and Maintenance of PPE
It is important that all PPE be kept clean and properly maintained. Cleaning is particularly important for eye and face protection where dirty or fogged lenses could impair vision.
1. Workers must inspect, clean, and maintain their PPE according to the manufacturers’ instructions before and after each use.
2. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that users properly maintain their PPE in good condition.
3. PPE must not be shared between workers unless it has been properly cleaned and sanitized. PPE will be distributed for individual use whenever possible.
4. In cases where the worker provides their own PPE, the supervisor must ensure that it provides adequate protection from workplace hazards, and that it is maintained in a clean and reliable condition.
5. Defective or damaged PPE will not be used and will be immediately discarded and replaced. NOTE: Defective equipment can be worse than no PPE at all.
6. PPE must be stored in a manner in which it is protected from damage, readily accessible, and kept clean.
7. Contaminated PPE that cannot be decontaminated should be disposed of in a manner that protects workers from exposure to hazards.
Training
1. The supervisor will ensure that any worker required to wear PPE, will receive training in the proper use and care of PPE before being allowed to perform work requiring the PPE.
2. Periodic retraining should be offered to PPE users as needed. The training will include, but will not necessarily be limited to, the following:
· When and what PPE is necessary
· How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE
· The limitations of the PPE
· The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE
3. Training should include demonstrated ability to use PPE properly.
4. Training of each worker will be documented and maintained by the supervisor. Where training is tracked corporately (e.g.N95 respirator training), the supervisor should be aware of the training status.
5. Factors which may indicate a need for re-training include:
· the worker’s habits or knowledge indicates a lack of the necessary understanding, motivation, and skill (i.e., uses PPE improperly)
· new equipment is installed
· changes in the work place make previous training obsolete
· changes in the types of PPE to be used make previous training obsolete
Authorizing Signature
______
Leslee J. Thompson
President and Chief Executive Officer