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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Hazard Assessment and Selection Program

Operating Procedure-RMEHS.004
Effective Date-March 1995

1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Applicability
4. Responsibility
5. Program Requirements
6. Appendices

1.0 Purpose

The objectives of this operating procedure is to protect employees from risk of injury or illness by creating a barrier against workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is not a substitute for good engineering or administrative controls or good work practices, but shall be used in conjunction with these controls to ensure the safety and health of employees.

2.0 Scope

This operating procedure is written in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) workplace standard, Part 1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment , and only addresses eye and face, head, foot and hand protection. NOTE: In accordance with OSHA’s Interpretation of Standard, dated March 8, 1991, SMU does not recognize "back belts" as control measures to prevent back injury and therefore does not endorse their use and will not provide these devices to employees.

This operating procedure includes the following elements:

• Responsibilities of managers/supervisors, employees and the Office of Risk Management and
• Environmental Health & Safety (RMEH&S).
• Hazard assessment and PPE selection criteria.
• Employee training requirements.
• Record-keeping requirements.

3.0 Applicability

This operating procedure shall apply to all SMU personnel including faculty, staff and student-employees whose performance of duty may expose them to hazards by means of absorption, inhalation or physical contact from environmental or physical hazards.

4.0 Responsibility

4.1 Department Managers/Supervisors - are responsible for implementing this operating procedure within their departments, when applicable, and ensuring that their personnel fully comply. Specific responsibilities include:

1. Conducting workplace hazard assessments to determine the presence of hazards which necessitate the use of PPE.

2. Providing the appropriate PPE and making it available to employees.

3. Ensuring that employees are trained on the proper use, care and cleaning of the PPE.

4. Seeking assistance from RMEH&S to evaluate hazards.

5. Notifying RMEH&S when new hazards are introduced or when processes are added or modified.

4.2 Employees - are responsible for complying with the requirements of this operating procedure. Specific responsibilities include:

1. Wearing PPE as required.

2. Attending required training sessions.

3. Caring for, cleaning and maintaining PPE as required.

4. Communicating with their manager/supervisor of the need to repair or replace PPE.

4.3 RMEH&S -- is responsible for the development and administration of this operating procedure. Specific responsibilities include:

1. Assisting with hazard assessments and PPE selection criteria, when requested.

2. Providing resources for personnel training.

3. Auditing all operating units and/or departments for compliance to this procedure.

5.0 Program Requirements

5.1 Workplace Hazard Assessment -- In accordance with OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.132, General Requirements, each operating unit or department shall assess its workplace(s) to determine if any hazards are present, or, are likely to be present, which necessitates the use of PPE. In order to assess the need for PPE the following steps shall be followed:

1. Conduct a walk-through of the workplace(s) and/or survey work activities.

2. Observe if any of the hazard sources identified under each category of protection are present, or, are likely to be present. If no hazard source is identified then indicate as "not present". The hazard sources for each category of protection are listed in Section 5.2 and on the Workplace Hazard Assessment Certification Form, see Appendix A.

3. For each hazard source identified as "present" or "likely to be present", select the appropriate PPE to be used by the affected employee(s). Recommended selection criteria for PPE is provided in detailed in Appendix B.

4. Communicate to each affected employee the PPE selection decision.

5. Document all findings of the assessment and PPE selection on the Workplace Hazard Assessment Certification Form and sign. A copy shall be forwarded to RMEH&S for review and record retention.

6. Review assessment as necessary when new hazards are introduced or when processes are added or modified.

5.2 Categories of Protection

1. Eye and Face Protection - (29 CFR 1910.133, Eye and face protection.) - All affected employees shall use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustics liquids, chemical gases or vapors orpotentially injurious light radiation. All eye and face protection. All eye and face protection devices shall comply with ANSI Z87.1-1989, American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection. Appendix B - Table 1 , provides selection criteria for eye and face protection devices.

2. Head Protection - (29 CFR 1910.135, Head protection.) - Where falling hazards are present, head protection shall be worn. All protective helmets (hard hats) shall comply with ANSI Z89.1-1986, American National Standard for Personal Protection - Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers - Requirements. Appendix B - Table 2 , providesselection criteria for head protection. Examples of falling hazards include, but are not limited to:

1. working below other workers who are using tools and materials which could fall;

2. working around or under conveyor belts which are carrying parts or materials;

3. working below machinery or processes which might cause material or objects to fall; and

4. working on exposed energized conductors.

3. Foot Protection - (29 CFR 1910.136, Occupational foot protection.) - Safety shoes or boots with impact and compression protection are required for operations where objects, tools or materials could be dropped or heavy materials or equipment could roll over anemployees foot. Non-conductive or insulated shoes or boots must be worn when working around electrical sources. Shoes or boots with slip-resistant or oil-resistant soles shall be worn in areas subject to wet or oily surfaces. All protective footwear shall comply with ANSI Z41-1991, American National Standard for Personal Protection - Protective Footwear.

4. Hand Protection - (29 CFR 1910.138, Hand protection.) - Suitable gloves shall be worn when hazards from chemicals, cuts, lacerations, abrasions, punctures, burns, and harmful temperature extremes are present. There is no national design criteria for hand protection devices, therefore hand protection must be selected based on the hazards of the task being performed. Appendix B - Table 3A and 3B, provides commonly accepted selection criteria for hand protection based on the hazard type.

5.3 Cleaning and Maintenance - It is important that all PPE be kept clean and properly maintained in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations. Cleaning is particularly important for eye and face protection where dirty or fogged lenses could impair vision. At a minimum PPE should be:

1. Inspected, cleaned and maintained after each use.

2. Damaged or defective PPE shall be immediately repaired or replaced. DO NOT USE defective PPE.

3. PPE shall not be shared between employees until it has been properly cleaned and sanitized.

4. PPE should be distributed for individual use whenever possible.

5.4 Employee Training - Any worker required to wear PPE shall receive training in the proper use and care of the PPE. Periodic retraining shall be offered as needed. The training shall include, but not necessary be limited to, the following subjects:

1. When PPE is necessary to be worn.

2. What PPE is necessary.

3. How to properly don, doff, adjust and wear PPE.

4. The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of PPE.

After the training, the employee shall demonstrate that they understand the components of this operating procedure and how to use PPE properly, or they shall be retrained. No employee shall be issued PPE until they have successfully completed the training. Contractors and visitors should not be issued or loaned PPE by SMU personnel unless they have been properly trained.

5.5 Record keeping - Each operating unit or department shall maintain the following written records for a minimum of three (3) years:

1. Training records -- employee(s) name, date and type of training provided.

2. Workplace hazard assessment certification forms. A copy shall also be forwarded to the RMEH&S.

6.0 Appendices

Appendix A -- Workplace Hazard Assessment Certification Form

Appendix B -- PPE Selection Criteria Guidelines

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