INTRODUCTION
The
aim of this booklet is to assist in providing
a safe and healthful workplace by preventing
employee exposure to unsafe equipment and situations.
Words such as "must," "shall," "required" and
"necessary" indicate requirements under the
OSHA standards. Procedures indicated by "should,"
"may," "suggested" and "recommended" constitute
generally accepted good practices.
This
booklet along with safety and health consultation
services are provided at no cost to owners,
proprietors, and managers of small businesses
by the Illinois Onsite Consultation Service,
under a program funded largely by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an
agency of the U.S. Department of Labor. The
service is provided without penalty or citations
to any employer who requests consultation.
Much
of the personal protective equipment (PPE) information
in this booklet is framed in general terms and
is intended to complement relevant regulations
and manufacturers' requirements. For more specific
information, refer to the OSHA standards collected
in Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
Part 1900-1999. In some instances, the standards
or this booklet refer to specifications by the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI),
11 West 42 St., New York, NY 10036, and the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM),
1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Employers
are encouraged to use the most recent ANSI consensus
standards and resolutions to provide protection
equal to or greater than Federal OSHA regulations.
Personal
protective equipment should not be used
as a substitute for engineering, work practice
and/or administrative controls. Rather it should
be used in conjunction with these controls to
provide for employee safety and health in the
workplace. Personal protective equipment includes
all clothing and other work accessories designed
to create a barrier against workplace hazards.
The basic element of any management program
for personal protective equipment should be
an indepth assessment of the equipment needed
to protect against the hazards at the workplace.
A worksheet, located on page 32, is provided
to assist employers in completing a meaningful
assessment. We thank KRMS/NATLSCO, Long Grove,
Illinois, for allowing us to adapt the worksheet
they developed. This worksheet is a valuable
resource in assessing workplace hazards relative
to the need for personal protective equipment.
Management dedicated to the safety and health
of employees should use the completed assessment
to set a standard operating procedure for personnel,
then train employees on the protective limitations
of personal protective equipment and on its
proper use and maintenance.
Using
personal protective equipment requires hazard
awareness and training on the part of the user.
Employees must be aware that the equipment does
not eliminate the hazard. If the equipment fails,
exposure will occur. To reduce the possibility
of failure, equipment must be properly fitted
and maintained in a clean and serviceable condition.
Selection
of the proper personal protective equipment
for a job is important. Employers and employees
must understand the equipment's purpose and
its limitations. The equipment must not be altered
or removed even though an employee may find
it uncomfortable. Sometimes equipment may be
uncomfortable simply because it does not fit
properly.
This
booklet discusses those types of equipment most
commonly used for protection of the head, including
eyes and ears and the torso, arms, hands and
feet. The use of equipment to protect against
life-threatening hazards also is discussed.
Information on respiratory protective equipment
may be found in Title 29 CFR Part 1910.134.
The standard should be consulted for information
on specialized equipment such as that used by
firefighters.
Next
Section: Hazard Assesment
