SECTION 14 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

SECTION 14 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TULANE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL REVISION DATE: 9/1/03 Return to Table of Contents, EH&S Policies & Procedures Manual SECTION CONTENTS I. Personal Protective Equipment (p.1) A. Hazard Assessment Certification Program B. Hazard Assessment C. Training D. Appropriate Equipment II. Types of Personal Protective Equipment (p.3) A. Head Protection B. Eye and Face Protection C. Hearing Protection D. Hand Protection E. Foot Protection III. Protective Clothing (p.7) A. Selection B. Types of Protective Clothing IV. Safety Belt/Harness Protection (p.9) A. ANSI Approval B. Training V. Compliance (p.10) ADDITIONAL READING Employee Training Section 3 Ergonomics Section 11 Hazard Communication Section 12 Hazardous Materials Safety Section 29 Respiratory Safety Section 15 FORMS REFERENCED Employee Safety Training Acknowledgment Personal Protective Equipment Assessment 04F-OEHS 11F-OEHS I. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to assess work areas to determine whether hazards are present, or are likely to be present, that necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall Personal Protective Equip./ Page 1 / SECTION 14

select and require use of PPE that affords protection against 1) hazards inherent in the type of work performed by the employee, 2) hazardous materials used by the employee, and/or 3) hazards present in the employee s work environment. Under no circumstance shall an unprotected person be knowingly subjected to a hazardous environmental condition. PPE must be properly fitted and must be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition. A. Hazard Assessment Certification Program In response to OSHA requirements, OEHS has developed a Personal Protective Equipment- Hazard Assessment Certification Program (PPE-HACP) to assist units in meeting OSHA compliance standards. This program addresses the issues of 1) hazard assessment, 2) employee training, and 3) use of appropriate personal protective equipment as a safeguard against potential head, face, eye, hand, or foot injuries. (A unit is a department, section, center, or program or any number or configuration of these components.) Supervisors/principal investigators are responsible for implementation of the PPE-HACP. The cost of implementation and maintenance (training, equipment, record keeping) shall be borne by the respective units. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety ( OEHS) shall procure and make available appropriate audio/visual and printed materials for use in training. B. Hazard Assessment 1. Units shall assess (in writing) work areas to determine whether there are hazards that may necessitate the use of personal protective equipment. Form 11F-OEHS, Personal Protective Equipment Assessment (located in Appendix E of this manual) must be used for this purpose. The form must be certified by the unit representative performing the assessment. The original shall be forwarded to OEHS with a copy retained in the unit. 2. Reassessments must be conducted every two years or whenever a new hazard warrants reassessment. A reassessment of the work area should include a) a look at new equipment or processes; b) a review of any accident records; and c) a reevaluation of previously chosen PPE. Reassessments must be forwarded to OEHS with a copy retained in the unit. C. Training 1. All employees required to use PPE shall be trained to know: a) when PPE is necessary; b) how to select PPE; c) how to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE; d) the limitations of PPE; e) the proper care, maintenance, and storage; and f) how to properly dispose of PPE. 2. Before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE, an employee must demonstrate: a) an understanding of PPE use and limitations; b) proper donning and doffing of PPE; and c) adequately demonstrate to his/her supervisor/principal investigator an ability to use PPE. 3. All training must be documented using an Employee Safety Training Acknowledgment form (Form 04F-OEHS located in Appendix E of this manual), the original of which shall be forwarded to OEHS with a copy kept in the unit. 4. Training shall be done when a new employee is hired, periodically, and whenever new hazards or new PPE are introduced into the work area. Personal Protective Equip./ Page 2 / SECTION 14

5. If there is reason to believe that any employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required, the employee must be retrained. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where: a) changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; b) changes in the types of PPE to be used render previous training obsolete; c) inadequacies in an employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill. D. Appropriate Equipment Unit supervisors/principal investigators are responsible for choosing the appropriate PPE for employees under their supervision given the identified potential hazards to which such employees might be exposed. The equipment must fit properly. Defective or damaged equipment must not be used. II. Types of Personal Protective Equipment A. Head Protection B. Eye and Face Protection C. Hearing Protection D. Hand Protection E. Foot Protection II. TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT A. Head Protection 1. Proper head protection is to be worn by employees when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects. 2. Protective helmets designed to reduce electrical shock hazard must be worn by each employee when near exposed electrical conductors that could contact the head. 3. Protective helmets purchased after July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z89.1-1986 or shall be demonstrated to be equally effective. Protective helmets purchased before July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z89.1-1969 or shall be demonstrated to be equally effective. 4. The purchase, selection, use, and associated cost of required head protection is the responsibility of the unit involved. 5. All head protection must be kept clean. Cracked head gear must be replaced. Head suspension straps and sweat bands must be properly maintained in a safe and sanitary manner. 6. Any non-compliance or injury resulting from failure to wear the proper head protection that occurs after the orientation period shall subject the violator and/or the unit to disciplinary action. Personal Protective Equip./ Page 3 / SECTION 14

B. Eye and Face Protection 1. Employees in occupations such as painting, vehicle repair or service, carpentry, construction, plumbing, landscape, maintenance, metals trade, chemistry and any occupation that involves hazards such as from flying particles, or potentially injurious light radiation are required to wear appropriate safety glasses/goggles and/or face protection at all times while such work is being done. For protection against molten metal, chemical gases or vapors, or chemical splash, safety goggles or face shields must be worn. 2. Custodial employees are required to wear safety goggles or face shields when using abrasive or caustic cleansers. 3. Food Service employees must wear safety glasses/goggles when there is a possibility of injury from caustic cleaning materials, flying particles, hot fat splatters and other associated hazards. 4. Management level employees subject to occasional visits to areas requiring eye protection, such as machine, welding, metals and carpentry shops, boiler and equipment rooms, power houses, construction areas, chemical labs, and other areas that could cause injury to the eye are required to wear eye protection. 5. Approval and Selection of Eye Wear: a. Each employee shall use eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Protective eye and face devices shall comply with ANSI Z87.1, 1998. Detachable side protectors (e.g. clip-on or slide-on shields) meeting the pertinent requirements are acceptable. b. Employees who wear prescriptive lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards must wear eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or must wear eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses. The frames must have side shields and brow guards that meet the ANSI standard. c. Each employee must use equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for the work being performed for protection from injurious light radiation. Proper eye protection selection shall be in accordance with ANSI standards. d. Eye and face PPE must be distinctly marked to facilitate identification of the manufacturer. 6. The purchasing, selection, use, and associated cost of required eye and/or face protection is the responsibility of the unit. 7. All eye protection must be kept clean and properly stored in a place where it will not get dirtied or scratched. Badly scratched, damaged, or defective items must not be used and must be replaced. 8. The American Chemical Society s Committee on Chemical Safety has issued a statement that the formerly perceived risks of wearing of contact lenses in laboratories were based on rumors, and after careful study by knowledgeable consultants, has refuted these risks. The Personal Protective Equip./ Page 4 / SECTION 14

studies have suggested that contact lenses do not increase risks but can actually minimize or prevent injury in many situations. The committee is of the consensus that contact lenses can be worn in most work environments provided the same approved eye protection is worn as is required of other workers in the area. 9. Any non-compliance or injury resulting from failure to wear the proper eye protection that occurs after training shall subject the violator and/or the unit to appropriate disciplinary action. C. Hearing Protection Hearing protectors shall be provided in accordance with OSHA s Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Section 1910.95, Subpart G, Occupational Noise Exposure. All employees operating noisy equipment (e.g., equipment rooms, wherever operating chipping hammers are used, etc.), or performing their duties in noisy work areas, are covered by this policy. 1. OEHS is responsible for monitoring noise exposure when notified of a potential noise problem. If a noise problem is verified, OEHS shall advise the unit of actions necessary to reduce exposure. Such actions would include an effective hearing conservation program when noise levels exceed an 8 hour TWA of 85 dba. Exposure to impulse or impact noise must not exceed 140 dba peak sound pressure level. a. All control measures including earplugs or ear muffs must be approved by OEHS. Engineering controls are preferable; however, personal hearing protective devices may be used while engineering aspects are being implemented. b. Hearing tests for employees receiving excessive exposures or exposures above the regulatory limit can be handled through the Occupational Medicine Clinic. 2. Supervisors and/or foremen running units that are producing noise levels exceeding OSHA standards shall be held responsible for: a. correcting the problem or ensuring that sound dampening devices are installed; b. establishing a policy regarding the purchasing, handling and associated costs of hearing protectors after consultation with OEHS; c. training employees as to the proper type of hearing protectors needed to reduce exposure to levels that are acceptable. Employee and instructor must sign a statement verifying that the information was presented to and understood by the employee. (See, Form 04F-OEHS, Employee Training Acknowledgment & Trainer Certification); d. making certain that employees under their supervision adhere to simple safety practices. 3. All hearing protectors must be kept clean, sanitary, properly stored, and kept in good condition. Where possible, single-use ear plugs shall be used because they are generally more acceptable to employees and require no maintenance program. Personal Protective Equip./ Page 5 / SECTION 14

4. Once an employee is trained, any non-compliance or injury resulting from a failure to wear the proper hearing protection, shall subject the violator and/or the unit to appropriate disciplinary action. D. Hand Protection 1. Each employee is required to wear hand protection when his/her hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes. 2. Hand protection shall not be worn while working with tools such as drills, saws, grinders, or other rotating machinery, and when moving equipment that might catch the hand protection and pull the worker's hand into a hazardous area. 3. Selection of the appropriate hand protection shall be based on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified. 4. Purchasing, selection, use, and associated cost of hand protection is the responsibility of the unit involved. 5. All hand protection must be kept clean. Inspect gloves before use. Badly worn, torn, or damaged items must be replaced. 6. Barrier creams and lotions can provide some skin protection but should never be a substitute for gloves, protective clothing, or other protective equipment. These creams should only be used to supplement the protection offered by protective equipment. 7. Wash hands upon removal of gloves whenever possible especially if using hazardous materials, infectious materials, radioactive materials, etc. 8. Any non-compliance or injury resulting from failure to wear the proper hand protection that occurs after the orientation period shall subject the violator and/or the unit to appropriate disciplinary action. E. Foot Protection 1. Each employee shall wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling and rolling objects, objects piercing the sole, or where an employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards. This is especially applicable to Facilities Services staff who are involved with materials handling. 2. Protective footwear purchased before July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z41.1-1967. Protective footwear purchased after July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z41.1991. 3. Appropriate shoes, offering protection for both feet and toes, shall be worn in areas where hazardous chemicals are in use. Clogs, perforated shoes, sandals, and cloth shoes do not provide protection against spilled chemicals. In some cases, safety shoes are required. Shoe covers may be required for work with especially hazardous materials. Shoes with conductive Personal Protective Equip./ Page 6 / SECTION 14

soles are useful in preventing buildup of static charge, and insulated soles can protect against electrical shock. 4. The purchase, selection, usage, and associated cost of required foot protection is the responsibility of the unit involved. 5. All required foot protection must be kept in good condition and must be replaced if defective or damaged. 6. Any non-compliance or injury resulting from failure to wear the proper foot protection that occurs after the orientation period shall subject the violator and/or the unit to appropriate disciplinary action. III. Protective Clothing A. Selection B. Types of Protective Clothing III. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Protective clothing, although not specifically covered in OSHA's Final Rule on personal protective equipment (PPE), is covered by other OSHA standards including the General Duty Clause, the Laboratory Standard, etc. It shall be addressed in the same manner as eye/face, head, foot, and hand protection in the Personal Protective Equipment-Hazard Assessment Certification Program. Any noncompliance or injury resulting from failure to wear protective clothing that occurs after the orientation period shall subject the violator and/or the unit to appropriate disciplinary action. A. Selection Selection of the appropriate protective clothing shall be based on an evaluation of the task(s) to be performed, conditions, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified. Criteria such as resistance to physical hazards, flexibility and ease of movement, chemical and thermal resistance, and ease of cleaning and disposal should be taken into consideration. 1. Careful consideration must be given to comfort and fit of PPE. PPE that fits poorly shall not afford the necessary protection. Care must be taken to ensure the right size is selected. 2. Some garments made from synthetic fibers are highly resistant to corrosive chemicals. However, certain synthetic fibers and plastic materials used in personal protective clothing can, owing to friction during use in very low humidity areas, generate static electricity and therefore their use in fire restricted areas or working with flammables could present a possible fire ignition source. Garments should therefore be selected based on their resistance to the chemicals most frequently handled in a work area. Personal Protective Equip./ Page 7 / SECTION 14

3. When hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste or extensive heat are involved, OEHS should be contacted when selecting protective clothing. 4. Purchasing, selection, use, and associated cost of protective clothing is the responsibility of the unit involved. 5. PPE alone should not be relied on to provide protection against hazards, but should be used in conjunction with guards, engineering controls, and sound work practices. B. Types of Protective Clothing 1. Coveralls Light Duty, Synthetic and Natural Fibers. General work coveralls made from synthetic and natural fibers provide protection for mechanics, machinists, maintenance employees, etc., who are exposed to dirt, grease and grime. Static-free fabrics do not cling and are recommended in the presence of explosive materials that could be ignited by static electric sparks. Some coveralls are treated for fire resistance. Because synthetic fabrics with high tensile strength are resistant to mild chemicals, acids, paint and grease, they are appropriate for oil and chemicals workers. Coveralls with attached hoods are particularly suitable for boiler maintenance crews. 2. Aprons Light Duty, Synthetic and Natural Fibers. These aprons are made from various kinds of serviceable fabrics for general duty shielding of the wearer and his street clothing from dirt, dust, chips and other essentially non-hazardous materials. The bib type protects the chest area as well as lower part of the body. The waist type is secured at the waist for protection of the abdomen and legs. The split-leg type in both bib and wrist styles is divided as far as the crotch and fastened around each leg to give the wearer greater freedom of movement. Synthetic fabric aprons are long wearing and resist deterioration caused by acids, caustics and many chemicals. These aprons may also be static free/fire resistant (static sparks in the presence of explosive vapors, dusts, etc.). 3. Coat or Jacket 4. Suit Light Duty, Synthetic and Natural Fibers. Light-duty coats in a variety of fabrics and styles protect workers and their clothing from dirt, dust, paint, mild chemicals, caustic fumes, etc. Static-free fabrics do not cling and are recommended in the presence of explosive gases, vapors and dusts. Some coats are treated for fire resistance. Long coats or short jackets woven from synthetic fibers are acid and caustic resistant, making them especially serviceable for the laboratory. Recommended uses: to protect outer clothing in general duty work and in operations with mild chemicals. Chemical, Liquid and Dust Hazards. Lightweight, waterproof suit designed for general maintenance, utility and repair work is generally self-ventilating to allow warm clothing to be worn underneath it and consists of a jacket, overall and sometimes a hood. Suits are of plastic, natural and synthetic rubber and synthetic-coated fabric. The materials may also be sufficiently flame resistant. Recommended uses: suitable for use in the presence of dangerous dusts such as may be encountered in radiation survey work. Personal Protective Equip./ Page 8 / SECTION 14

5. Coveralls Chemical and Liquid Hazards. Coveralls made of impervious materials protect personnel who may be exposed to splashes or sprays of solvents, oils, acids, alkalis and other chemicals. These protective garments cover the entire body except the head, hands and feet. Fluid resistant clothing is appropriate for personnel exposed to blood and body fluids. The proper material must be selected for the particular hazard involved. Recommended uses: suitable for acid handlers, lab workers, washers, etc. All PPE shall be kept clean and properly maintained at regular intervals so that the PPE provides the requisite protection. Damaged or badly worn clothing is to be replaced. Clothing contaminated with chemicals, blood or body fluids, etc., must not to be taken home for laundering but shall be sent to a commercial laundering facility. Contaminated PPE that cannot be decontaminated must be disposed of in a manner that protects employees from exposure to hazards. Cost of decontaminating and/or replacing contaminated protective clothing is the responsibility of the unit. IV. Safety Belt/Harness Protection A. ANSI Approval B. Training IV. SAFETY BELT/HARNESS PROTECTION Where required by OSHA, body belts, chest harnesses, body harnesses and suspension belts are to be used for operations where there is a danger from falling and/or from other general industry or construction industry practices. All persons so exposed, including management personnel, are required to wear proper protective devices. Disciplinary action may be taken against an employee who does not comply, or an employee whose non-compliance results in an injury. A. ANSI Approval All such devices shall bear the ANSI A 10.14 approval. B. Training Supervisors/principal investigators must train employees in the proper use of protective equipment. Employee and instructor must sign a statement that the information was presented to and understood by the employee. (See, Form 04F-OEHS, Employee Safety Training Acknowledgment) Personal Protective Equip./ Page 9 / SECTION 14

All equipment must be kept clean, in good repair, and must be properly stored. V. Compliance V. COMPLIANCE Departmental Safety Representatives (DSR) help to ensure that the units they represent are in compliance with regulatory standards and Tulane University policies and procedures regarding personal protective equipment and the Personal Protective Equipment-Hazard Assessment Certification Program outlined in this section. DSRs collect and submit to OEHS the training documentation, PPE assessments, and other required documentation prepared by unit supervisors/principal investigators. DSRs help ensure that the necessary measures have been taken by supervisory and other unit personnel to correct problems discovered during unit inspections. If corrections are not made despite deadlines and warnings from the DSR, the DSR shall report the unit's non-compliance to the Unit Head. If the problem remains unresolved, OEHS shall consult with the Unit Head, and if the problem is not resolved at that point, OEHS may refer the matter to the University's Environmental Health & Safety Operations Committee for consultation. Unit's should note that grant proposals that require certification of compliance with environmental health and safety regulations must be sent to OEHS for verification before grant may be funded. The Director of OEHS shall not certify a grant if the applicant is not in compliance with policies related to any of the following topics: OSHA Hazard Communication, OSHA Laboratory Standard, Animal Handling Health Surveillance Program, Fire Safety, Radiation Safety, Hazardous Materials and Waste, and Biosafety. End of Text Return to Section 14, Page 1 Outline Personal Protective Equip./ Page 10 / SECTION 14