Page: 1 of 14 Table of Contents I. Purpose 2 II. Scope 2 III. Definitions 2 IV. Policy Statement 2 V. Procedure 4 VI. Related Information 7 VII. History 14 VIII. Responsible University Division/Department 14 IX. Responsible Administrative Oversight 14 Page 1 of 14
Page: 2 of 14 I. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to minimize injury to University employees through proper selection, use, and care of personal protective equipment (PPE). II. Scope This Policy applies to all Villanova University personnel, contract personnel and visitors in applicable University facilities and / or operations. It is designed to ensure that individuals receive the correct PPE in the right size or style, understand its use, care, and disposal, and that it is readily available. This Policy addresses eye, face, head, foot, hand and body (torso) protection. Separate programs exist for respiratory and hearing protection and for PPE used for confined space entry, fall protection, and electrical exposures. PPE will be purchased and provided at no cost to employees. III. Definitions EHS: Villanova University Environmental Health and Safety Department Engineering Controls: Methods that are built into the design of equipment or a process to minimize the hazard. Engineering controls are a very reliable way to control worker exposures as long as the controls are designed, used and maintained properly. Hazard Assessment: Process of identifying the hazards associated with defined task and prescribing personal protective equipment and other relevant protection measures which must be employed to reduce the risk from hazards. PPE: Personal Protective Equipment Page 2 of 14
Page: 3 of 14 IV. Policy Statement A. Department Chairs, Deans, Directors Responsibility for the health and safety of staff and students and the implementation of this Policy resides with department heads. They shall assure the following actions are taken to assure compliance. 1. Allocate sufficient funds for purchase and maintenance of PPE. 2. Assure risks arising from work activities are identified and assessed. 3. Assure supervisors are aware of and fully discharge their responsibilities required by this policy. 4. Assure that the appropriate PPE is provided to/required by students exposed to identified hazards. B. Director of EHS The Director is responsible for the development, implementation and administration of Villanova University s PPE policy. They shall assure the following actions are taken: 1. Conduct workplace hazard assessments to determine required PPE. 2. Maintain PPE hazard assessment records. 3. Recommend appropriate PPE for purchase and use. 4. Conduct training of supervisors and PPE users on proper use, care, and cleaning of approved PPE. 5. Review, update and conduct hazard assessments whenever: a job or process changes. new, or substantially modified, equipment is introduced. there has been an injury or illnesses that indicates a failure of PPE in use. a supervisor and/or University Safety Committee member requests a reassessment. C. Supervisors/Faculty Supervisors/Faculty have the primary responsibility to implement and enforce PPE use and policies. They shall: 1. Assist and provide specialized knowledge to EH&S representatives in conducting hazard assessments. Page 3 of 14
Page: 4 of 14 2. Assure that employees attend training, properly use and maintain their PPE and follow University PPE policies. 3. Notify the Department Head / Director and EH&S when new hazards are introduced, or when processes are added or changed. 4. Assure that defective or damaged PPE is immediately removed from service and replaced. 5. Authorize the use of employee owned PPE. Such equipment must meet all applicable standards, codes or regulations. 6. Assure that all visitors to their area wear the appropriate PPE. 7. Implement the University s disciplinary procedure to offenders of the PPE Policy. D. Affected Employees The PPE user is responsible for the following requirements under this Policy: 1. Attend required training sessions. 2. Properly wear PPE as required. 3. Care for, clean and maintain PPE as required. 4. Inform the supervisor/faculty member of the need to repair or replace damaged, worn or defective PPE. E. Visitors Appropriate PPE shall be provided to all visitors to mitigate any hazard in the areas visited. F. Students Students shall purchase or obtain the necessary and approved PPE designated by the department for the course. Students must be trained in the proper usage and care of the required PPE. Training may be provided by the faculty. G. Contractors All contractors must comply with applicable PPE requirements of Federal, State, and Local regulations and the Villanova Contractor Safety Policy. Contractors must supply their own PPE and their safety programs may be subject to review by EH&S and the applicable Project Manager. Page 4 of 14
Page: 5 of 14 V. Procedure A. EH&S, in conjunction with supervisors, will conduct an initial walk-through survey of each work area to identify sources of work hazards. Each survey will be documented using the Hazard Assessment Certification Form (Section VI). Hazard Assessment forms will be maintained in the EH&S Office. In conducting the surveys, consideration must be given to the elimination of the hazard through engineering controls or substitution of less hazardous materials or processes. The use of PPE will be considered only when other means of protection against the hazard are not adequate or feasible. PPE will be used in conjunction with other controls unless no other means of hazard control exists. B. PPE Selection After hazards have been identified, EH&S will determine the suitability of the PPE available and as necessary select new or additional equipment to adequately protect the user from the identified hazard(s). Affected employees will be informed of the PPE selection and provided PPE by the University at no charge. Careful consideration will be given to the comfort and proper fit of PPE to assure that the right size is selected. If an individual employee has a medical condition which may affect his / her ability to wear the required PPE, or develops a medical condition while wearing PPE, (s)he should contact the Director, EH&S as soon as practicable. C. PPE Use PPE must be inspected prior to and as appropriate during each use for defects such as holes, tears, scratches, signs of material deterioration, cracks, poor closure or any other sign of degradation that might influence performance. PPE with defects should be immediately removed from service and replaced or repaired. Potentially contaminated PPE shall not be worn in offices, lunch rooms, etc. Page 5 of 14
Page: 6 of 14 The following requirements apply: Head Protection Hard hats in areas where falling overhead objects, material or electrical installations could present hazards to employees heads Bump caps are not substitutes for hard hats. Eye and Face Protection Protection against impact, particles, chemical splash, molten materials, or flash for face, neck, and eyes. Contact lenses and normal prescription eye glasses are not considered protective. Appropriate eye protection must be worn where eye protection is required. Hand Protection Proper type of glove to protect hands from abrasion, temperature extremes, chemicals, particulates, radiation, or bloodborne pathogens. Foot Protection Sturdy leather shoes with closed toes where objects could present a chemical or physical hazard to the foot. Safety shoes/boots must meet ANSI standards. D. Selection and Use of PPE in Laboratories Specialized PPE requirements are included in the Chemical Hygiene Plan, Bio-safety Protocol or the Radiation Safety Management Plan. Page 6 of 14 E. Cleaning and Maintenance PPE performance depends on proper care: A. PPE should be stored in a manner to protect it from factors that might degrade its performance (sunlight, heat, extreme cold, excessive moisture, chemicals, or dust, and physical distortion). B. PPE repairs may only be conducted by qualified individuals. Contact EH&S for assistance. C. It is important that all PPE be kept clean, particularly for eye and face protection where dirty or fogged lenses could impair vision. D. PPE should not be taken home.
Page: 7 of 14 F. Training Any employee required to wear PPE will receive training in the proper use and care of PPE before being assigned to any task requiring the use of PPE. Periodic retraining will be conducted by EH&S to both PPE users and their supervisors. The training will contain, at minimum, the following elements: When PPE in required to be worn. What PPE is required How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE The limitations of the PPE in use The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of PPE After the training, the employees will demonstrate that they understand how to use PPE properly, or they will be retrained. Retraining will also be conducted when changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete or changes in the types of PPE to be used render previous training obsolete. The training will be documented, and records maintained in the Office of. These records shall contain the name of each employee trained, the date(s) of the training, name of the trainer, and a syllabus of the training conducted. VI. Related Information/Forms A. Personal Protective Equipment purchased for use at the University must conform to the latest edition of the following standards: 29 CFR 1910.132, General requirements for PPE 29 CFR 1910.138, Hand protection 16 CFR 1203, CPSC Safety Standards for Bicycle Helmets American National Standards Institute, Z87.1 (eye and face protection) International Safety Equipment Association, Z89.1-2009 (hard hats and head protection) American National Standards Institute, Z41 (occupational foot protection) National Fire Protection Association 70E (arc flash protection) B. PPE Hazard Assessment Certification Template: Page 7 of 14
Page: 8 of 14 PPE Hazard Assessment Certification Form Sheet 1 of 5 Name of work place: Villanova University Work place address: 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA Department(s): Assessment conducted by: Date of assessment: Job/Task(s): The presence a hazard is indicated by a Y in the Present column. This indicates the required protection is mandatory. Eye and Face Protection Chart Present Source Assessment of Hazard Protection Required Projectiles Exposure to flying fragments, objects, large chips, particles, sand, dirt, etc. Spectacles with side protection, goggles, face shields. Chemical Splashes Exposure to splashes of general chemicals, solvents and cleaning agents. Spectacles with side protection, goggles, eyecup and cover types. Chemical splashes Exposure to splashes of acids, bases or corrosive agents. Spectacles with side protection or goggles with a face shield. Dust/Smoke Exposure to nuisance dust or furnace operations. Spectacles with side protection or goggles. Welding: Electric arc Exposure to optical radiation. Welding helmets or welding shields. Typical shades: 10-14. Welding: Gas Exposure to optical radiation. Welding goggles or welding face shield. Typical shades: gas welding 4-8, cutting 3-6, brazing 3-4. Cutting, Torch brazing, Torch soldering Exposure to optical radiation. Spectacles or welding face shield. Typical shades, 1.5-3. Page 8 of 14
Page: 9 of 14 Glare Poor vision. Spectacles with shaded or specialpurpose lenses, as suitable. Laser/optical radiation Exposure to possible severe damage from laser radiation. Select eye protection on the basis of the exact narrow waveband being Bio-aerosols/Bloodborne Pathogens transmitted. Spectacles with solid side protection, or face shields. Exposure to blood, or other potentially infectious material. Electric arc flash Exposure to the intense energy of an electric arc flash. Arc Hood that meets the protective values listed in NFPA 70 E. Page 9 of 14
Page: 10 of 14 Sheet 2 Head Protection Present Source Assessment of Hazard Protection Required Struck by Exposure to falling or flying objects. Standard Class A visor brim type hard hat. Strike against Exposure to head injury while patrolling on Standard bicycle helmet. bicycle. Struck by/strike against Villanova University or contractor Standard Class A visor brim type hard Energized electrical equipment construction sites. Exposure to energized wires or electrical equipment that can be hit against. Foot/Toe Protection hat. Standard Class B visor brim type hard hat. Present Source Assessment of Hazard Protection Required Falling objects/roll over Exposure to falling heavy objects or material handling activities. Puncture resistant protective footwear with toe caps. Slip Unusually slippery or wet conditions. Water resistant footwear with anti-slip soles. Blood or bio-hazardous Exposure to blood or bio-hazardous material. Impervious shoe covering. material Electrical energized equipment Exposure to electric shock by contact with energized circuits. Rubber insulating matting. Page 10 of 14
Page: 11 of 14 Sheet 3 Hearing Protection Present Source Assessment of Hazard Protection Required Loud noises/sound Exposure to noise/sound in excess of 90 db time weighted average. Hand Protection Hearing protectors that reduce the noise/sound to less than 90 db time weighted average. Present Source Assessment of Hazard Protection Required Chemical Exposure to chemicals, acid-bases or other materials capable of causing local or systemic effects. distributor. Abrasion/cut Handling objects with sharp edges, sharp tools, machine parts and food preparation. Select the appropriate chemicals resistant glove recommended by the glove manufacturer or Select the appropriate abrasion/cut resistant glove recommended by the glove manufacturer or distributor. Thermal extremes Exposure to unusually hot or cold objects Leather palm or temperature resistant glove. that may include abrasion/cut hazards. Blood/Bio-hazardous material Exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. Disposal, leak-proof rubber, latex or nitrile glove. Electrical Shock Exposure to energized electrical circuits or equipment. Electrically insulated gloves that meet the requirements listed in NFPA 70 E. Cumulative trauma Exposure to vibrating equipment /tools. Anti-vibration or impact gloves. Page 11 of 14
Page: 12 of 14 Sheet 4 Respirator Protection Present Source Assessment of Hazard Protection Required Nuisance dust Performing operations that produce airborne dust. An appropriate dust filter respirator that is approved by NIOSH. Toxic substances, gases or vapors Exposure to toxic substances, gases or vapors. An air purifying respirator that removes specific air contaminants and is NIOSH approved. Blood /Bio-hazardous material Exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation mask Bio-hazardous substances Exposure to aerosol bio-substances. An air purifying respirator that removes specific air contaminants and is NIOSH approved. Body Protection Present Source Assessment of Hazard Protection Required Asbestos Exposure to asbestos fiber above the time weighted average stated in 29 CFR 1910.1001 (h) (1). Dust, blood, bio-hazardous substances. Chemical, bio-hazardous material. Inclement weather Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing, head coverings and foot coverings. Exposure to nuisance dust, splashes of Coveralls, apron or tyvek body covering. blood or bio-hazardous substances. Minimal exposure to chemicals, blood or Laboratory coat. bio-hazardous materials. Exposure to rain, snow or excessively low Raingear, vest, jackets or insulated coveralls. temperatures. Chain saw Exposure to severe cuts. Clothing should fit well and be free of dangling or ragged edges. Leather or nylon protective leg chaps required. Working at heights of 6 feet or more. Exposure to falls working from platforms or mobile equipment in excess of 6 feet. Body harness and lanyard attached to a building structure or a fixed point of the mobile equipment. Page 12 of 14
Page: 13 of 14 NOTE: Sheet 5 1. As required by OSHA, filter lenses must meet the requirements for shade designations in 29 CFR 1910.133(a) (3). 2. As required by OSHA, employees whose vision requires the use of prescription (Rx) lenses must wear either protective devices fitted with prescription lenses or protective devices designed to be worn over regular prescription eyewear. 3. Welding helmets or face shields should be used only over primary eye protection. 4. Protection from light radiation is directly related to filter lens density. Select the darkest shade that allows task performance. 5. This assessment uncovered the hazard of noise, hence the requirement for hearing protection. Specific guidelines for hearing conservation is contained in EH&S Policy No. S11. 6. This assessment uncovered the hazard of airborne contaminants, hence the requirement for respiratory protection. Specific guidelines for respiratory protection is contained in EH&S Policy No. S13. 7. This assessment uncovered the hazard of falls from heights, hence the requirement for fall protection Page 13 of 14
Page: 14 of 14 VII. History Effective November 2001 Revised, November 2014 Revised, July 2017 VIII. IX. Responsible University Division/Department Vice President Facilities Management Facilities Management Villanova, PA 610-519-4589 Responsible Administrative Oversight Director Villanova, PA 610-519-3801 Page 14 of 14