THE ORCBS > Chemical Safety > Programs & Guidelines > PPE Manual >

PROCEDURES

General - The following steps are necessary for compliance with the PPE Guidelines:

1. Conduct a Hazard Assessment of the Workplace

A Hazard Assessment is not a new process; it is simply a formalization of what is done whenever personal protective equipment is selected based on the hazards of the job. When conducting a hazard assessment, a task is investigated and the hazards and the potential hazards associated with the task are determined. This allows selection of personal protective equipment that will protect the employee from the identified hazards.

A hazard assessment may be conducted on a single employee, performing a single task, or a group of employees if all the employees perform an identical task. For example, if all employees in a group are exposed to ultraviolet radiation during one type of welding, the hazard assessment could include all of the welders conducting that task. Likewise, painters using similar types of materials or laboratory workers using similar types of chemicals could be grouped under the same assessment.

The individual conducting the hazard assessment must have an intimate knowledge of each task. In some cases this may require directly observing an employee. In other instances the assessor may know all the hazards associated with a job without additional review.

During the hazard assessment of each task, inspect the layout of the workplace and look for the following hazard sources:

a. High temperatures that could result in burns, eye injury, ignition of equipment, heat stress, etc.
b. Cold temperatures that could result in frostbite, lack of coordination, cold stress, etc.
c. Chemical exposure, including airborne or skin contact that would have the potential for splash on the skin or eyes, or the potential to breathe vapors or mists.
d. Harmful dust or particulates
e. Light radiation, e.g., welding, cutting, brazing, furnaces, heat treating, high intensity lights, etc.
f. Sources of falling objects, potential for dropping objects, rolling objects that could crush or pinch the feet.
g. Sharp objects that may pierce the feet or cut the hands.
h. Electrical hazards.
i. Observe the layout of the workplace and the location of co-workers for the potential for collision with other personnel or objects.
k. Any other identified potential hazard.

Where these hazards exist and could cause injury to employees, personal protective equipment must be selected to eliminate substantially the injury potential. A PPE Hazard Assessment Certification form and accompanying Hazard Assessment Checklist are attached as Appendix A.

To assist each department and supervisor, sample PPE Hazard Assessment Certification forms have been done for typical tasks for various job classifications. These can be viewed on the ORCBS website. Supervisor may use these Certifications as they apply to their employees. Be sure to evaluate the completed Hazard Assessment Certifications and make any necessary modifications so that they specifically address the tasks your workers perform. There may be other tasks that your workers perform that also need to be assessed and added to the Certification form. If you need assistance, please contact ORCBS or DPPS.

Procedures: Certify a Hazard Assessment Was Performed

PPE Manual Table of Contents