Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes items such as safety glasses, respirators, hard hats and gloves. Employers provide PPE to employees when certain tasks expose them to hazardous chemical or mechanical processes. With proper use and maintenance, PPE can reduce and even eliminate occupational injuries and illnesses.
This publication outlines the requirements necessary to implement and maintain an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliant PPE program.
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
Provide employees with eye protection and/or face shields when they use any machinery or perform any process that produces potential eye hazards from flying particles, chips, sparks, dust and from caustic liquid splashes. Additionally, have easily accessible emergency eyewash stations close to areas where there is a risk of injury to the eye or face, particularly from caustic liquid splashes. Protective eye and face devices must comply with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z-87.1-1989 or be equally effective.
Safety Glasses (Typical Eye Protection)
Eye protection and face shields should fit comfortably, and should be easy to clean and capable of being disinfected. The fit should be snug enough to protect properly without restricting the user’s movements. Clean eye protection regularly and check daily for cracks, scratches or pits. Badly chipped, scratched or pitted lenses indicate that the surface is broken, which greatly reduces impact resistance.
When standard safety glasses are the choice for eye protection, they must have side shields. Depending on the hazards, an eye doctor may fit an employee with safety glasses that incorporate optical correction into the protective lenses.
Cup goggles provide added protection in situations when a severe impact hazard coexists with a danger of particles entering the eyes from all directions. When worn in conjunction with a face shield, cup goggles have good protection against injuries from caustics liquid splashes. Employees who require vision correction may use goggles that fit over their corrective glasses without disturbing them.
Typical Cup Googles
FOOT PROTECTION
Employees must wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries from falling or rolling objects, foot exposure to electrical hazards or hazards from objects piercing the sole. Protective footwear must comply with ANSI Z41-1991 or be equally effective.
Typical Protective Footwear
HAND AND ARM PROTECTION
Employees must wear hand and arm protection whenever exposed to the following hazards.
1. Absorption of harmful substances through the skin.
2. Severe cuts or lacerations.
3. Severe abrasions.
4. Punctures.
5. Chemical and thermal burns.
6. Harmful temperature extremes.
Use the following factors to select the appropriate hand and arm protection.
1.The performance of the hand and arm protection relative to the tasks performed.
2.The conditions present.
3. The duration of use.
Typical Impact Resistant and Anti-Vibration Gloves
HEAD PROTECTION
Provide hard hats to employees when there are potential impacts or penetration from falling or flying objects or electrical shock and burns. Hard hats for protection against impact and penetration of falling objects must meet the requirements of ANSI Z89.1-1986. Hard hats for protection against electrical shock and burns must meet the requirements of ANSI Z89.2-1971.
Hard Hat (Typical Head Protection)
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
Respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are supplied to employees when the workplace air is contaminated with excessive concentrations of harmful dusts, fumes, mists, gases or vapors. OSHA requires a written respiratory protection program for the safe use, inspection and maintenance of respirators.
The respirator program must include the following.
1. Procedures for selecting respirators.
2. Medical evaluations of employees who use respirators
3. Fit-testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators.
4. Procedures for the proper use of respirators in routine and emergency situations
5. Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding and otherwise maintaining respirators
6. Procedures to ensure that there is adequate air quality, quantity and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators
7. Training for employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations, the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing, the limitations of respirators and maintenance procedures
8. Procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
There are many different kinds of respirator programs available including hands-on and eLearning. Make sure you select one that is OSHA compliant and is the best fit for your facility.
Half Mask Respirator (Typical Repository Protection)
HEARING CONSERVATION
One of the most commonly violated OSHA standards is excessive noise, which can cause permanent hearing damage. Below are the OSHA standards of permissible noise exposure.
Permissible Noise Exposures
Duration per day, hours Sound level dBA slow response
8 …………………………………………………………………………. 90
6 …………………………………………………………………………. 92
4 …………………………………………………………………………. 95
3 …………………………………………………………………………. 97
2 …………………………………………………………………………. 100
1½ ………………………………………………………………………. 102
1 …………………………………………………………………………. 105
½ ………………………………………………………………………… 110
¼ or less ……………………………………………………………… 115
There are two different instruments used to measure noise exposures: The sound-level meter and the dosimeter. A sound-level meter is a device that measures the intensity of sound at a given moment. A dosimeter is like a sound-level meter, except that it stores sound-level measurements and integrates these measurements, providing an average noise exposure reading for a period of time, such as an eight-hour workday.
Since sound-level meters measure sound at only one point in time; it is necessary to take a number of measurements at different times during the workday. If noise levels fluctuate, the amount of time noise remains at each of the various measured levels must be determined. It may also be necessary to take several measurements at different locations in the workplace.
To measure sound with a dosimeter, a microphone is attached to an employee’s clothing and the exposure measurement is read at the end of a time period. Since the dosimeter is worn by the employee it measures noise levels in those locations in which the travels. Also, position a sound-level meter within the immediate vicinity of the exposed to obtain an individual exposure estimate.
When noise levels are equal to or exceed the eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA, a Hearing-Conservation Program must be developed and include the following.
1. Measure the noise levels in work areas for intensity and duration, with the results kept for two years.
2. Notify employees who are exposed to a minimum noise level of 85 dBA for eight hours.
3. Provide baseline audiometric examinations of employees who are exposed to a minimum noise level of 85 dBA for eight hours and annual exams thereafter, with the results kept for the duration of the employee’s employment.
4. Supply, at no cost to employees, choices of hearing protection that will attenuate (absorb) noise and keep its level below OSHA standards for permissible exposure.
a) Hearing protection is required for the following employees.
(1) Employees exposed to a minimum of 85 dBA for eight hours.
(2) Employees who have not had an audiometric exam and may be exposed to a minimum of 85 dBA for eight hours.
b) Employees, along with their supervisor, should decide which type of hearing protector is most suitable for their work environment.
6. At greater than 90 dBA exposure, implement engineering controls, such as enclosing noisy equipment, or administrative controls, such as limiting time of exposure.
7. Provide training to exposed employees, which includes:
a) The effects of noise on hearing.
b) The purpose of hearing protection, the pros and cons of different types of hearing protection and how to fit, use and care for hearing-protection equipment.
Ear Muffs (Typical Hearing Protection)
HAZARD-ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
A Hazard-Assessment Program is an analysis of various functions within the workplace to determine where the use of PPE is required. Identify the following hazards that are either actually present or likely to be present in each operation.
1. Impact
2. Penetration
3. Compression (rollover)
4. Chemical
5. Heat
6. Harmful dust
7. Light (optical) radiation
If any of the listed hazards are found, complete the following.
1. Verify the hazard in writing.
2. Select the types of PPE that will protect against the identified hazard.
3. Inform employees of the PPE selection.
4. Require employees to use the PPE.
5. Ensure that any PPE provided to employees is of the correct type and properly fits each
6. Provide training on how to use PPE.
7. Remove any damaged or defective PPE from service. The following section outlines a Hazard Assessment Program.
HAZARD-ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
Employer name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
City, State, ZIP code: ________________________________
Phone Number: _____________________________________
Prepared by: ______________________________________
PURPOSE
The purpose of this program is to assess the workplace to determine which potential hazards require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
RESPONSIBILITY
____________________________ is responsible for the program and has authority to make decisions to ensure the success of the program.
____________________________ will develop written instructions covering each of the elements in this program and will update the instructions as necessary.
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
Employees must use appropriate eye and/or face protection when exposed to the following hazards.
1. Flying particles
2. Molten metal
3. Liquid chemicals
4. Acids or caustic liquids
5. Chemical gases or vapors
6. Potentially injurious light radiation
An assessment of this facility has been completed and employees ARE ( ) ARE NOT ( ) required to wear eye and face protection. Required PPE will be used in the specific situations and locations listed below.
____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
FOOT PROTECTION
Employees must wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of injuries from the following.
1. Falling or rolling objects
2. Objects piercing the sole
3. Foot exposure to electrical hazards
An assessment of this facility has been completed and employees ARE ( ) ARE NOT ( ) required to wear foot protection. Required PPE will be used in the specific situations and locations listed below.
____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
HAND AND ARM PROTECTION
Employees must wear hand and arm protection whenever there is hand and arm exposure to the following hazards.
1. Absorption of harmful substances through the skin
2. Severe cuts or lacerations
3. Severe abrasions
4. Punctures
5. Chemical burns
6. Thermal burns
7. Harmful temperature extremes
An assessment of this facility has been completed and employees ARE ( ) ARE NOT ( ) required to wear hand and arm protection. Required PPE will be used in the specific situations and locations listed below.
____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
HEAD PROTECTION
Employees must wear hard hats when working in areas where there is a potential for head injury from the following hazards
1. Falling objects
2. Electrical shock and burns
An assessment of this facility has been completed and employees ARE ( ) ARE NOT ( ) required to wear head protection. Required PPE will be used in the specific situations and locations listed below.
____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
Employees must use respirators when excessive concentrations of harmful dusts, fumes, mists, gases or vapors have contaminated the workplace air. An assessment of this facility has been completed and employees ARE ( ) ARE NOT ( ) required to use respirators. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
TRAINING
Provided training to each employee who must use PPE. Training will include the following.
1. Which functions require PPE and which PPE is necessary.
2. How to use the PPE properly
3. The limitations of PPE Proper care, maintenance and life of the PPE.
4. The supervisor must certify in writing that each employee has received and understands the training.
5. The certification record will identify the following.
a) Type of PPE training.
b )Name of employee.
c) Dates of training.
d) Signature of employee
____________________________ will provide all appropriate training employees who must use PPE to perform their assigned duties.
TRAINING CERTIFICATION RECORD
PPE training topic: __________________________________
Trainer: ___________________________________________
Date: _________________________________
This certifies that the following employees received training on the proper use of necessary PPE on the dates listed below.
Employee Name Signature Date
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
John Sadlouskos 