Administrative Policy 3-20 Personal Protective Equipment Program

SUBJECT: Personal Protective Equipment Program

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program is to minimize risk of injury to City of Lawton employees by ensuring that they are provided and use the PPE required to safely perform their job duties. In theory, equipment and work processes should be designed such that PPE would not be necessary. However, with the many different tasks that City employees must perform often in remote locations under adverse conditions, it would not be possible to “engineer out” all hazardous exposures for City employees and use of PPE is required to properly protect them.

APPLICATION: This policy applies to all positions in all City departments and divisions. This policy addresses hazard assessment and PPE requirements for eye, head, face, foot, hand, hearing and other protection. It does not include PPE for respiratory protection. Respiratory protection will be provided in accordance with the City’ s Respiratory Protection Program Administrative Policy.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Supervisor Responsibilities:

1. Supervisory personnel are responsible for performing hazard assessment and determining PPE required for the positions and job tasks of employees assigned to them.

2. They are responsible for providing the required PPE to their assigned personnel and ensuring that employees use PPE when required and use and maintain it properly.

3. They will ensure that the PPE issued for employee use is sanitary and is not defective or damaged.

4. They will ensure that visitors, contractors, and citizens do not enter areas where PPE is required, unless the appropriate PPE is being used.

5. They will take appropriate disciplinary action with employees who fail to wear required PPE or intentionally use it improperly.

B. Employee Responsibilities:

1. Employees are required to properly use the PPE assigned to them determined appropriate for the job tasks they perform. Failure to use PPE as required, or to use it improperly, may result in disciplinary action against the employee.

2. Employees are to report to supervisory personnel whenever the PPE assigned to them is damaged, defective, or at the end of their effective use life.

3. Employees are to properly maintain assigned equipment and clean it as directed.

C. Department Director or Division Supervisor Responsibilities:

1. Will ensure that hazard assessments are performed on all positions in their department or division and, as appropriate, each job task performed by their employees.

2. Will ensure that the appropriate PPE is procured and available for employee use.

3. Will certify that a hazard assessment has been performed and the required PPE, if any, has been identified for each position or job task performed in their department or division.

D. Safety & Risk Officer Responsibilities:

1. The Safety & Risk Officer will provide guidance and technical assistance to supervisory personnel in completing hazard assessments and in determining specific PPE requirements for particular positions or job tasks.

2. Will certify that all individual hazard assessments have been completed and that the required PPE, if any, has been identify for each position and job task.

3. Will maintain a master file containing the hazard assessments and PPE requirements identified for all positions and job tasks throughout the City.

PROCEDURES:

A. Hazard Assessment;

1. Using the Hazard Assessment Form included as Exhibit #1 to this policy, each position will be evaluated to determine what hazards are involved in the work and the work environment and what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required to protect employees performing the duties that are required by the position. If the position involves varying job tasks, some which require PPE, some that do not or require different PPE, job tasks are to be evaluated separately; one Hazard Assessment Form is to be used for each job task.

2. All hazards and potential hazards caused by the work or the work environment will be determined and listed on the form.

3. The most appropriate PPE to protect employees performing the task or in the position will be determined and listed on the Hazard Assessment Form.

4. The supervisor or other employee (Safety Representative or senior employee) completing the hazard assessment will complete and sign the completed Hazard Assessment Form and forward it to the division supervisor or department director, as appropriate.

5. A copy of the completed Hazard Assessment Form will be kept on file in the department or division and a copy forwarded to the Safety & Risk Officer.

6. If and when existing procedures for an existing job task changes or new job tasks are added, hazard assessment of the modified or new processes must be conducted.

B. Personal Protective Equipment Certification:

1. Using the Form included in this policy as Exhibit #2, department directors or division supervisors must certify that hazard assessment has been completed for each position or job task in the department or division and what PPE is required, if any, for the position or job task.

2. Signed forms will be sent to the Safety & Risk Officer to review and certify that the PPE prescribed is appropriate for the hazards to which employees are exposed, A copy of the completed form will be maintained by the Safety & Risk Officer and a copy returned for file in the department or division. The form or a separate list of PPE required for each position or job task will be used on a daily basis to inform employees and supervisors of the PPE that is required for the position or for job tasks to be performed.

C. Hazard Assessment Guidelines:

1. Head Protection: In general, if there is a chance that objects (tools, debris, materials) can fall from a location above where the employee performs job tasks, head protection will be required. The PPE prescribed for this hazard would normally be hard hats. Other head protection may be needed based on hazards presented by the work or the work environment.

2. Eye and Face Protection: Assess to determine if there is any potential source of eye or face injury inherent in the work process or present in the work environment. Evaluate to determine if there are hot or very cold liquids or other materials which could splash in the face; chemicals that could burn, irritate, dry out, or cause other reaction in skin or eyes; particles such as grit or other debris thrown out while grinding, sanding, or cutting metal or wind blown dirt or other debris that could abrade skin or eyes or become foreign bodies in the skin or eyes; or exposed to welding arcs or other sources of intense light. Welding hoods or helmets are required if the job task involves welding. If no hazard to face, other than the eyes, only eye protection such as safety glasses (with side shields) or goggles may be required. Goggles used with face shields may be required as protection from harsh chemicals. Goggles used for such purposes are to have vents that prevent liquid from entering. Based on the nature and volume of particulates in the work environment, the level of eye protection required will range from safety glasses to safety glasses with face shields.

3. Foot Protection: Determine if the employee must lift, carry, or otherwise handle materials or equipment that could be dropped or mishandled causing impact or compression injury to feet or toes. Does the employee work in an environment where sharp objects could puncture his feet? If icy or other slick conditions exist, devices that slip over footwear to improve traction may be needed to prevent slips and falls. If standing water or extremely muddy conditions are encountered while performing the task, water impervious over-shoes or waders may be required to keep the employee’ s feet dry. Steel-toed footwear issued to labor and trades employees will be worn for all tasks that they perform, unless temporarily excused by a physician for medical reasons.

4. Hand Protection: Determine if there is potential for hand injury while performing this task. Sources of injury may be tools or materials with sharp or jagged edges that could cut hands or fingers; rough or course surfaces that could cause hand abrasions; splinters or sharp projections which could cause puncture wounds; hot or molten materials which could cause burns; and chemical substances which could cause chemical burns, irritation, dry skin, or allergic reactions. The type of gloves specified for hand protection (leather, cotton, rubber, nitrile, etc.) will be determined by the nature of the hazard(s) and the duration of exposure to the hazard(s).

5. Hearing Protection: Noise may be generated by the equipment and processes required to perform the task or it may be present as background noise in the environment in which the task is performed. Regardless of the source of the noise, hearing protection is required whenever an employee is exposed to noise at 90 dBA (decibel level measured on the “A” scale) or above, time weighted average over an 8-hour shift. Further, it is required for any exposure, regardless of duration, at or above 140 dBA. If noise level seems high or is an issue while assessing a particular job task, contact the Safety & Risk Officer to test to determine the actual noise level reading with a sound level meter or dosimeter.

6. Other Protection: Additional protective equipment may be required to safely perform the task being evaluated. If the job task must be performed in or near vehicular traffic, the employee must wear high visibility clothing. Leather aprons, chaps, and sleeves may be needed for certain welding processes. Waders or other clothing impervious to water may be required for certain work processes. Ensure that all hazards are noted and that appropriate protective equipment or clothing is specified.

D. Specifications for Personal Protective Equipment: PPE procured for use by City employees must comply with standards as follows:

1. Head Protection – Protective helmets or hard hats must comply with ANSI Standard Z89.1-1986 “American National Standard for Protection – Protective Head Gear for Industrial Workers – Requirements”, or later edition of the standard.

2. Eye and Face Protection – Protective eye and face devices shall comply with ANSI Standard Z87.1-1991 “American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection”, or later edition of the standard.

3. Foot Protection – Protective footwear must comply with ANSI Standard Z41-1991 “American National Standard for Personal Protection– Protective Footwear”, or later edition of the standard.

4. Hand Protection - Selection of appropriate hand protection will be based on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use and the hazards and potential hazards identified.

5. Hearing Protection – Selection will be based on the nature of the noise and the noise level encountered, work environment, and the comfort of the employees. All hearing protection devices (plugs, muffs, etc.) must indicate the EPA Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) number. The higher the number, the more hearing protection is provided.

E. Supplying of Personal Protective Equipment.

1. The employer, City of Lawton, will provide the required PPE for tasks performed by City employees at no cost to employees, except, possibly, in cases where employee negligence or willful action caused the loss or destruction of PPE.

2. PPE procured for individual employee use will be of the correct size and configuration to effectively protect them from the hazards they encounter on the job.

3. The City of Lawton will not normally pay for prescription corrective lens for employees required to use face or eye protection, but will to the extent possible procure PPE that can be worn over the employee’ s corrective lens.

4. Should employees voluntarily provide PPE for their own use while at work, the PPE must meet the standards specified in this program.

F. Training Requirements: Employees who are required to use PPE in the performance of their job duties will be periodically trained to know at least the following:

1. When PPE is necessary.

2. What PPE is necessary.

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

4. The limitations of the PPE.

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

Training will be conducted every two year or more often if it is determined that employees are not using the required PPE or are not using it correctly. It will also be required if there is a change in the types or styles of PPE provided for employee use or when procedures for an existing job task is modified or new job tasks are assigned to the employees.

REFERENCES: Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Standards 29CFR 1910.132, 1910.133, 1910.134, 1910.135, 1910.136, 1910.138, and 1910.95.

RESPONSIBLE

DEPARTMENT: Human Resources

RECISSION: No previous version of this policy has been published. This policy

is effective March 1, 2005 and will remain in effect until rescinded.

___________________________

LARRY S. MITCHELL

CITY MANAGER

March 4, 2005