What's The Right PPE For The Job?

According to OSHA standards, employers are required to assess the workplace to determine if hazards that require the use of personal protective equipment are present or are likely to become present. EMC recommends the following procedure for conducting a PPE hazard assessment.

Review Injury And Accident Information
Reviewing your OSHA 300 logs and workers’ compensation claims provides the information needed for this step in the assessment process. We encourage you to work with employees and supervisors to review job procedures, potential hazards and PPE currently in use. In many cases, employees are aware of hazards unknown to evaluators.

Conduct A Walk-Through Survey
Take notes on the layout of the workplace, the location of workers, work operations and associated hazards, areas where PPE is currently being used and the reason for its use. Look for basic hazards in the following categories: impact (workers hitting or being hit by objects); penetration (sharp objects piercing hand/foot); compression (roll-over or pinching hazards); temperature extremes; respiratory hazards; noise; vibration; electrical hazards; optical radiation (welding, brazing, cutting, etc.) and chemical exposure.

Organize The Data
Your data should include the work activities assessed, location of the assessment and idenitified hazards. PPE selection guidelines determine which type of PPE should be used to protect employees from the hazards. Remember, PPE should not be used as the only method to protect employees from hazards. Instead, PPE should be used in conjunction with engineering, administrative and procedural controls.

Hazard Assessment Certification
Each PPE hazard assessment should be documented by issuing a written Hazard Assessment Certification. This document should include the workplace evaluated, the individual who conducted the assessment, the date of the assessment and the document labeled as a Certification of Hazard Assessment.

For additional information about PPE hazard assessments, visit with your EMC loss control representative or review the Personal Protective Equipment section of EMC’s Loss Control Information Manual at emcinsurance.com.