Chapter 24 – Personal Protective Equipment

B. Appendices

• Appendix A: Hazard Assessment Certification Form
• Appendix B: PPE Training Certification Form

C. Scope

This chapter establishes requirements for hazard assessments, evaluating whether hazards are present that require personal protective equipment (PPE). CAS requires the use of personal protective equipment to protect employees from chemical, physical, biological, and radiological hazards having the potential to cause injury or impairment.

Personal protective equipment must be selected and used when workplace hazards are not eliminated or controlled by engineering controls (i.e., guards, ventilation) and/or administrative controls (i.e., job rotation, work practices). Employees required to wear PPE must be trained on its proper use and limitations. This training must be documented.

D. Responsibilities

Supervisors:

• Performing or designating an individual responsible for performing hazard assessments;
• Documenting hazard assessments;
• Providing PPE to employees;
• Training employees to use PPE;
• Retraining employees if necessary;
• Documenting training;
• Requiring employees to use PPE when necessary.

Employees:

• Identifying hazards requiring PPE;
• Contacting their supervisor for guidance when hazards or hazard controls (including PPE) are unknown or require clarification;
• Maintaining PPE in good and safe condition;
• Requesting new PPE when required;
• Participating in hazard control and PPE training
• Using PPE as required, employees failing to use PPE as required may be subject to disciplinary action.

E. Hazard Assessments

To evaluate work areas and practices, a walk-through survey must be conducted. The walk-through survey identifies hazards that employees are potentially exposed to during while working. The walk-through survey is performed by supervisors responsible for the working conditions and practices in their areas. Supervisors conducting hazard assessments should observe work practices and obtain information from affected employees.

During the walk-through survey, supervisors should evaluate tools, equipment, facilities, and work practices for the following general hazards:

• Impact/Penetration and Compression Hazards: Sources of motion (e.g., movement of tools, machine components or particles) and sources of rolling and potential falling objects must be evaluated.
• Chemical Hazards: Chemical exposures to the eyes and skin as well as inhalation hazards must be assessed.
• Noise Hazards: Loud tools and equipment should be evaluated by EHS.
• Respirable Hazards: Processes creating dusts, mists, fumes, and vapors should be evaluated by EHS.
• Electrical Shock Hazards: Equipment using electricity must be assessed.
• Light Radiation Hazards: Welding, brazing, torch cutting, furnaces and lasers must be assessed.
• Heat/Cold Hazards: Sources of high and low temperatures must be assessed as well as employee exposure to hot or cold work environments.

A hazard re-assessment must be conducted whenever new equipment or processes are introduced, or the review of an incident report, occupational injury and/or illness records by the supervisor or the departmental or CAS Safety Committee (in consultation with EHS) indicates the potential need for additional PPE. A hazard re-assessment may also support eliminating the need for PPE based upon hazard elimination (e.g., product substitution) or the implementation of engineering or administrative controls.

Identified hazards should be eliminated or controlled using engineering and administrative controls when technologically and economically feasible. However, when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible, timely, or do not eliminate the hazard, PPE must be used. Contact EHS (335-3041) for assistance in identifying and evaluating potential engineering and/or administrative controls.

The following “Workplace Hazard Assessment and Personal Protective Equipment Selection Tables” have been developed to assist supervisors in assessing their work areas. Though all workplaces are to be evaluated, hazards requiring the use of PPE will generally not be found in office type work areas.