Personal Protective Equipment Training Outline
Employers must protect employees from workplace hazards such as machines, hazardous substances, and dangerous work procedures that can cause injury.
We have looked at the jobs we do and the hazards and have considered implementing reasonable engineering and work practice controls to eliminate and reduce hazards. When this can not be done, we then require employees to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Since we work on various customers’ sites, a specific job hazard and PPE hazard analysis will be done before we begin work. Below are the typical hazards and the PPE that is required.
Examples of PPE
· Eye - safety glasses, goggles
· Face - face shields
· Head - hard hats
· Feet - safety shoes
· Hands and arms – gloves
· Hearing - earplugs, earmuffs
Our PPE Program
1. Assessed the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of PPE and selected the PPE to be used.
2. Provide training to each employee who is required to use PPE
a. When PPE is necessary
b. What type of PPE is necessary
c. How to properly put on, take off, adjust, and wear
d. Limitations of the PPE
e. Proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal
In addition to this document, which is our training program, the employee will be shown how to inspect, wear and care for the PPE assigned.
Eye Protection
Hazard Assessment: We require the use safety glasses due to the following hazards that are not able to be controlled by other means.
Eye protection is necessary when:
· Dust, caustic soda or other flying particles/liquids my contact eyes.
Safety glasses are made with metal/plastic safety frames and may require side shields. They are used for moderate impact from particles. Goggles protect eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area immediately surrounding the eyes from impact, dust, and splashes. The goggles we provide fit over corrective lenses. Face Shields protect the face from nuisance dusts and potential splashes or sprays of hazardous liquids, however, face shields do not protect from impact hazards.
The eye protection we provide must be placed over the eyes or face when worn. The lenses must be kept clean. If the lenses material becomes scratched or otherwise damaged the item must be replaced. Contact your supervisor for a replacement.
Inspect the item prior to use. Clean with water or other soap solution. Do not use solvents.
Hearing Protection
Hazard assessment shows that we may work in areas with intermittent noise. Ear plugs are available. These plugs block the path of noise. The employee inserts these plugs into the ear as follows.
Ear plugs are disposable and should be replaces after each use. Contact your supervisor if you have questions.
Head Protection
Hazard assessment shows that we may work in areas with low overhead hazards or items that might fall onto the head, thus hard hats need to be worn. The causes of head injuries are:
· Falling objects
· Bumping head against fixed objects, such as exposed pipes or beams
· Contact with exposed electrical conductors
There are several classes of hard hats. We provide a class E& G hard hat. This hard hat is rated to provide general service which means it provides good impact protection and also provides protection against falling objects and high-voltage shock and burns.
These hard hats are made of plastic and have an adjustable suspension. The suspension must be installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations. These recommendations are included with the hard hat.
The hat must be kept clean. Inspect the hat prior to use and if damage is noted, the hat must be replaced. Contact your supervisor for a replacement.
Clean with water or other soap solution. Do not use solvents.
Safety Shoes
Hazard assessment shows that we may work in areas with items that can fall onto a person’s feet, thus safety shoes need to be worn. In addition, due to the nature of the areas we work in, a substantial shoe with a good sole is required to provide support while walking. The causes of foot injuries are:
· Falling objects or being contacted by heavy objects such as barrels or tools that might roll onto or fall on employees’ feet
· Slippery surfaces
· Stepping on sharp or uneven surfaces
Safety shoes must have a label indicating they are an approved safety shoe. The sole must be intact with good traction surfaces. The uppers must not have open seams or other damage that breaches the protection the uppers are intended to provide. The employee is required to provide safety shoes that meet these requirements and replace them when worn out or damaged. Shoes must be inspected periodically to confirm they are not worn or damaged and in need of repair or replacement.
Hand Protection
The hazard assessment shows that we may do work that expose the hands to injury. These injuries included:
· Abrasions
· Cuts
· Chemical Exposures
Types of Gloves -- Leather or fabric gloves are provided to protect the hands from abrasions and cuts. Chemical resistant gloves are Butyl which provides the highest permeation resistance to gas or water vapors; or Nitrile which provides protection against a wide variety of solvents, harsh chemicals, fats and petroleum products and also provides excellent resistance to cuts, snags, punctures and abrasions.
Gloves must be kept clean and inspected prior to use. If damage is noted or the gloves are contaminated with chemicals, they must be replaced. Contact your supervisor for a replacement.
Summary
Your supervisor will review the actual PPE you will use and show you how to wear the PPE. If you have any questions, ask your supervisor. All PPE is supplied with an instruction sheet. Review that sheet prior to using the PPE.