Organization:
Subject: Personal Protective Equipment Policy / Date:
Scope: Facility Wide / Reviewed by:
Effective Date: / Approved By:
Supporting Documents: / OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.132, Personal Protective Equipment, Rev. 9/09. Hazard Assessment and PPE Selection; PPE Training Certification; Hazard Assessment Certification.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to protect the employees of this organization from the occupational hazards within the workplace by first assessing the hazard to determine if personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary. Where hazards necessitate use, this organization:

  1. Selects, and has each affected employee use the types of personal protective equipment that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment.
  1. Trains employees on the use of the appropriate PPE.

It is the goal of this company to control and reduce hazards usingthe hierarchy of controls. The process used, in this order, includes: try to eliminate the hazard first, then engineer it out, then reduce exposure through administrative measures, and as a last resort where hazards are still present or when additional protection is necessary,require employees to wear PPE.The scope of this program includes PPE for eye, face, head, foot and hand protection. If respirators and/or hearing protection are necessary, their use will be covered by the company’s Respiratory Protection Program and the Hearing Conservation Program, respectively.Additionally, where needed, biological hazardsare covered under the bloodborne pathogen standard and respective Infection Control Program.

Responsibility

The person responsible for coordinating this program is ______(insert the job title). This person will ensure that hazard assessments are conducted, appropriate PPE is assigned, and affected employees receive training. The person responsible will also be in charge of maintaining the documentation for this program.

Department supervisors should advise the person responsible of any changes in PPE purchases or use (e.g., new procedures/processes requiring different PPE; omission of a job/task). Additionally, supervisors should consult with the person responsible before purchasing any new PPE.

This organization provides, at no expense to the employees, the initial issue of the type of PPE which is suitable for the work to be performed as required by the PPE standard. The employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that the employer permits such items to be worn off the jobsite. This organization also provides replacement equipment if necessary due to wear and tear on the previous equipment or if the equipment is lost due to the work environment.

Employees are required to use, as appropriate, all of the personal protective equipment provided by the employer, unless use is deemed as optional. Where PPE is provided for each position rather than individual, the employees are to disinfect shared PPE after each use. Employees will conduct inspection, cleaning and maintenance of PPE at intervals according to the manufacturer’s instructions. They will not use damaged or defective equipment. Individuals with questions about the PPE Program and Policy should address them to the responsible person named above.

Hazard Assessmentsand Selection of PPE

Each job/task performed will be assessed to determine foot, head, eye, face and hand hazards present and the proper PPE that should be worn. The assessments will include observation of the following sources of hazards:

  1. Impact: Flying chips, objects, dirt, particles, collision, and motion hazards.
  2. Penetration: Falling/dropping objects, sharp objects that cut or pierce.
  3. Compression: Rollover or pinching.
  4. Chemical: Splashing, burns, fumes.
  5. Temperature Extremes: Sparks, splashes from molten materials, burns from high/low temperatures.
  6. Harmful Dust: Dirt, particles, asbestos, lead.
  7. Light Radiation: Welding, cutting brazing, lasers, furnaces, lights.

Selecting the most suitable protection for employees takes into consideration the following elements:

  1. Ability to protect against specific workplace hazards;
  2. Should fit properly and be reasonably comfortable to wear;
  3. Should provide unrestricted vision and movement;
  4. Should be durable and cleanable;
  5. Should allow unrestricted functioning of any other required PPE.
  6. Defective or damaged PPE shall not be used.

The attached Hazard Assessment and PPE Selection is completed for each job or task to determine if present hazards necessitate the use of PPE (for face, eye and hand protection only; R325.60007). The person conducting the hazard assessment will also survey jobs that are non-routine or periodic. In some cases these assessments may not be completed until the jobs are scheduled. Hazard assessments will be updated/evaluated whenever conditions or procedures change.

Training

The responsible person will make certain that all affected employees receive training on:

a)When and why personal protective equipment is necessary;

b)What personal protective equipment is necessary;

c)How to properly don, doff, adjust and wear the personal protective equipment;

d)Limitations of the personal protective equipment; and

e)Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the personal protective equipment.

Each employee will demonstrate that he or she understands the training and the ability to use the equipment properly before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE. Verification will be provided through a written PPE Training Certification that contains the name of the employee trained, date(s) of training, and the subject of the certification.

Training will be repeated under the following conditions:

  1. Employee does not demonstrate the understanding and skillrequired to use the PPE.
  2. Changes in the workplace that make previous training obsolete, require additional types, or necessitate additional uses of PPE.
  3. A new assignment for employeeor change in job assignment/equipment.
  4. The repeated incorrect use of failure to use equipment.
  5. Introduction of new PPE.

Certification

The Hazard Assessment Certification certifies that this organization has conducted appropriate hazard assessments. This certification will include: a) The workplace evaluated; b) The person who certifies that the evaluation has been performed; and c) The date of the hazard assessment.

Source:

OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.132 – September, 2009

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