Environmental Health & Safety Manual (EHS)

Effective: 8/17/1981

Revised: 11/1/2004

EHS 105: Personal Protective Equipment

Purpose

To protect university employees who work in areas where physical, chemical, or radiological hazards or the potential for these hazards exist by providing the appropriate personal protective equipment

Source

29 Code of Federal Regulations § 1910.132

Applicability

Employees who may be exposed to physical, chemical, or radiological hazards while performing their duties

Policy

Departments and units must conduct a hazard assessment (see the Certificate of Hazard Assessment Form on the Environmental Health & Safety forms Web page) for each work area to determine whether physical, chemical, or radiological hazards or the potential for these hazards to employees exists. If it is determined that hazardous conditions exist, the units must provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees or assign employees to an alternative work space that does not require protective equipment. Employees must use the appropriate PPE to protect themselves from potential hazards.

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Hazard Assessment

The employee’s supervisor must perform a hazard assessment on a work area to determine whether an employee may be exposed to physical, chemical, or radiological hazards when performing his or her duties. Parts of the body needing protection from hazards may include but are not limited to the head, eyes, ears, face, arms, hands, torso, legs, feet, and respiratory system.

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Selection of Personal Protective Equipment

If hazards are identified, the supervisor must determine what PPE is necessary to protect the employee from injury or illness. Damaged or defective PPE must never be used.

PPE must be provided to the employee at no cost. When employees provide their own protective equipment, the supervisor shall be responsible for assuring its adequacy, including proper maintenance and sanitation.

All PPE must meet the following American National Standards Institute (ANSI) ratings where applicable: D

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Rating
Protective Equipment	Purchased after July 5, 1994	Purchased before July 5, 1994
Eye and face protection	ANSI Z87.1 1989	ANSI Z87.1 1968
Foot protection	ANSI Z41 1991	ANSI Z41.1 1967
Head protection	ANSI Z89.1 1986	ANSI Z89.1 1969

endtable

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Training

Supervisors must ensure that employees using PPE are trained in proper use and limitations. The training must include the following:

1. a review of the PPE standard
2. an explanation of the completed hazard assessment
3. a written verification of training (see the Training Verification Form on the Environmental Health & Safety forms Web page)
4. what type of PPE is necessary and when
5. how to properly utilize and wear PPE (see the Eye and Face Protection Selection Chart on the Environmental Health & Safety forms Web page)
6. how to care for, maintain, and dispose of PPE

   and

7. the limitations and useful life of PPE.

Procedures

For assistance in performing a hazard assessment or to schedule training, contact Environmental Health & Safety at 480/965–1823. Hazard assessment forms are available on the Environmental Health & Safety forms Web page.

Departments and units must:

1. assess the work area for physical, chemical, or radiological hazards
2. determine which PPE is necessary to protect employees while they perform their duties
3. train employees on the PPE standard and the proper use of PPE as defined
4. document training and maintain records
5. reassess the work area as necessary

   and

6. retrain employees as necessary.

Environmental Health & Safety must:

1. provide information and guidance regarding the PPE standard
2. assist units with the hazard assessment process

   and

3. provide training for employees in the proper use and maintenance of PPE when requested.

The employee must:

1. wear appropriate PPE while performing duties that require its use
2. properly care for and maintain PPE

   and

3. report changes in the workplace or PPE conditions to the supervisor.

Cross-References

For more information, see:

1. EHS 103, “Hazard Communication Program”
2. EHS 104, “Laboratory Use of Hazardous Chemicals”
3. EHS 107, “Respiratory Protection”
4. EHS 108, “Environmental Health and Safety Training”

   and

5. EHS 201, “Electrical Safety.”

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