Appendix B Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessment Instructions

Transcription

1 Appendix B Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessment Instructions This document provides guidance on completing a PPE hazard assessment. It includes the process for identifying hazards and PPE for the eyes, face, head, hands, feet, torso, respiratory system, and hearing. Personal protective equipment is the least effective hazard control. If possible PPE should be used in conjunction with other controls such as substitution to a lesser hazardous substance, engineering controls, warnings, and administrative controls. Based on the hierarchy of controls, PPE is a last resort. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that a hazard assessment be conducted of workplaces to identify hazards and how to control those hazards. Potential hazards may be physical or healthrelated. A comprehensive hazard assessment should identify hazards in both categories. Examples of physical hazards include moving objects, fluctuating temperatures, high intensity lighting, rolling or pinching objects, electrical connections, sharp edges, etc. Examples of health hazards include overexposure to harmful dusts, chemicals, radiation, etc. There are three pages to the University of Notre Dame s PPE Hazard Assessment. The first page documents the hazards while the second and third provide the PPE requirements and other controls. Once completed, the last page must be signed by the individual completing the PPE hazard assessment. This is to satisfy the OSHA Standard, 29 CFR Subpart I Personal Protective Equipment. When completing the assessment, if necessary contact Risk Management and Safety (RMS) at if you have any questions regarding the process, identifying hazards, controls, or the proper PPE. Completed assessments must be accessible to employees and inspectors (RMS or regulatory agency). General Guidelines The PPE hazard assessment can be conducted for an area, a specific task, or specific hazard. The assessment must be updated when changes occur that may affect the PPE requirements. In addition to completing the PPE hazard assessment, it is also a requirement to: Identify and provide appropriate PPE for workers Train workers in the use and care of the PPE Maintain PPE, including replacing worn or damaged PPE Periodically review and evaluate the effectiveness of the PPE program.

2 The first page of the PPE hazard assessment identifies the types of hazards and what body part could potentially be affected by those hazards. When reviewing the remainder of these instructions, you will note circles with numbers. These will be used as reference guides in this document and are not on the working forms. Figure 1 PPE HAZARD ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS STEP 1: Inform Affected Employees of the Process Affected personnel from the work area that is being assessed should be involved in the process. Discuss the reasons for the survey and how the assessment will be conducted. Inform them that the review will include applicable procedures, a walkthrough of the area to identify potential hazards and a discussion on the PPE currently in use, to determine if it is appropriate. Step 2: Review Relevant Safety Alerts for Information Reports of work related injuries or illnesses, near miss events and reported safety concerns are sources of data that can provide helpful information for assessing hazards. A number of safety alerts are available on the Risk Management and Safety web site at this link.

3 Step 3: Conduct a Walkthrough Survey The purpose of the walkthrough is to identify sources of hazards to employees. Observe the workplace for the: Layout of the workplace Location of the employees Work operations Hazards Places where PPE is currently used including the device and reason for use Using the PPE Hazard Assessment form on page 1, identify the type of hazard(s) present and associate the hazard by body part. Consideration should be given to the following basic hazard categories: Physical Hazards Mechanical, Thermal, Radiation, Electrical Chemical Hazards Particulate, Liquids, Gases Other Hazards Not Identified on the Worksheet Complete the first page of the form by entering: The work area by building and room number (If possible) A description of the task, hazard or area as appropriate The name of the person completing the assessment Place a checkmark ( ) in the column with the identified hazard and the row identifying which body part(s) could be affected by the hazard. Each body part has been identified with a number in this training document (See Figure 1 and 2). The circled number corresponds to a section on page 2 of the PPE Hazard Assessment to assist in the use of this training information (See Figure 3). If there is a hazard affecting the eyes identify PPE for the eyes on page 2. Identify all the body parts that could credibly be affected by the hazard. If there are no hazards place a checkmark in the no hazard row. Example During the walkthrough it is noted that employees must routinely use sharp knifes to prepare food in their work. There is a potential cut hazard associated with the task. On the first page of the PPE Hazard Assessment: 1. Identify the appropriate hazard in the columns. For this example it would be: Mechanical Cuts, Stabs 2. Place a checkmark in the column for the hazards corresponding to the body part that the Mechanical Cuts, Stabs would impact. For this example the hazard would impact one s hands and fingers. (you may

4 check more than one body part if it applies) 3. If any of the hazards do not exist, place a check mark in the row marked No Hazards under the corresponding to the hazard(s). Figure 2 Step 4: Select PPE After considering and planning for other controls from the list of the Hierarchy of Controls select the PPE which provides at least the minimum level of protection required to protect employees from the hazards. Engineering Controls may alleviate some PPE requirements. Using pages 2 and 3 of the PPE Hazard Assessment form (Figures 3 and 4) place a checkmark ( ) in the appropriate body part section identifying the appropriate PPE. If PPE requirements can be abated through engineering or administrative controls, please specify those controls under column labeled Other Controls. For help with proper PPE selection, consult the glove compatibility chart on the RMS Website or other internet resources, contact Unit/Department Safety Coordinator, or contact RMS at Example Refer to Figure 3 Continuing with the example, we noted that there are hazards affecting the fingers and hands. PPE should be identified. In this case, cut-resistant gloves should be used.

5 Finally the bottom of page 3 requires a signature and date of the person completing the PPE Hazard Assessment (See Figure 4). This is a regulatory requirement. Figure 3

6 Figure 4 Signature of Preparer and Date Required by OSHA. Step 6: Document Accessibility and Communication Once the PPE hazard assessment(s) are completed and signed/dated, store them either electronically or as a hard copy in a location easily accessible to employees and inspectors. Step 7: Revise Protocols If the PPE hazard assessment identifies different PPE requirements, update the appropriate workplace protocols with this information. Step 8: Reassess the workplace as necessary. The PPE Hazard Assessment is required to be updated when the hazards change through new/modified experiments or processes or where there were injuries with inadequate PPE noted. The PPE hazard assessment should be periodically reviewed to ensure accuracy.