TITLE

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM

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1.  PURPOSE

1.1.  The purpose of this policy is to provide instructions and guidelines on the use and selection of personal protective equipment (PPE).

1.2.  This program is also intended to ensure the site complies with federal, state, and local regulations.

2.  SCOPE

2.1.  This procedure applies to all employees at the site.

3.  REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

3.1.  California Code of Regulations, Title 8, General Industrial Safety Orders, various sections.

3.2.  29 Code of Federal Regulations, 1910, Labor.

3.3.  Chemical Safety Program

3.4.  Safety Handbook (Your Guide To Good Safety).

4.  DEFINITIONS

4.1.  Employee – an employed individual or on site contract personnel who perform jobs similar to employees.

4.2.  S&H – Safety and Health

4.3.  ESD – electrostatic discharge.

4.4.  Hazardous material - any chemical or other substance that is recognized as a physical hazard or a health hazard by various recognized authorities and agencies. Lists of hazardous substances may be obtained from the Operations department.

4.5.  PPE - is personal protective equipment worn by employees that is designed to protect the employee from occupational hazards, such as, eye protection flying debris or chemical. Examples of PPE are safety glasses, gloves, and respiratory devices.

5.  EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

5.1.  Various safety equipment or personal protective equipment, depending upon the application.

6.  RESPONSIBILITIES

6.1.  It is the responsibility of managers and supervisors to:

6.1.1.  Ensure compliance with the requirements of this program.

6.1.2.  Specify task specific PPE in the department operating procedures.

6.1.3.  Identify adequate funds to be allocated for proper safety equipment.

6.1.4.  Inform applicants of PPE requirements during the hiring process.

6.2.  It is the responsibility of the Operations department to:

6.2.1.  Perform initial PPE assessments with the assistance of the area supervisors.

6.2.2.  Provide initial employee training.

6.3.  It is the responsibility of all employees to wear and maintain the personal protective equipment provided by the company.

7.  PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Assessment

7.1.  Each work area was assessed to determine the presence of hazards and the personal protective equipment requirements for each area.

7.2.  PPE is required for identified hazards that are not feasible to eliminate or control using engineering controls.

8.  general requirements

8.1.  Required personal protective equipment should be included in department safe work practices and the associated department inspections.

8.2.  The hiring manager will communicate personal protective equipment requirements to final employment candidates during the hiring process.

8.3.  Employees are responsible for maintaining PPE in good working condition.

8.4.  PPE must be inspected prior to each use.

8.4.1.  If it is damaged or non-functional, it must not be used and must be reported to the area supervisor as soon as possible.

8.4.2.  Damaged PPE must be discarded if it cannot be repaired, to ensure it will not be used.

8.5.  Employees must wear PPE when required.

8.6.  Work areas that require the use of specific PPE by all personnel must have warning signs posted and the required PPE will be available at the entrance to these areas for visitors.

8.7.  The area manager/supervisor will provide PPE, at the expense of the Company, to employees who are required to wear PPE.

8.8.  Exception: Employees are expected to provide their own non-reinforced toe shoes, when required.

8.9.  Exceptions may be made to this program if employees have documented medical restrictions. The Operations department must approve these exceptions.

8.10.  Employees who work in chemical use areas must always thoroughly wash their hands when exiting the area.

8.11.  Employees are expected to report to work clean and properly attired.

9.  MINIMUM PPE USE REQUIREMENTS

9.1.  Eye and/ or Face Protection

9.1.1.  Safety glasses or safety goggles or face shields (over glasses or goggles) are required:

9.1.1.1.  For all tasks that involve the use of chemicals.
9.1.1.2.  In areas where machines or operations present dangers from flying objects, chemicals direct or reflected radiation.
9.1.1.3.  Goggles or full-face shield (over safety glasses) are required when there is a chemical splash hazard.
9.1.1.4.  Wherever the supervisor requires the use.

9.1.2.  All safety glasses, including prescription safety glasses, will have permanently affixed side shields.

9.1.3.  Prescription safety glasses will be provided to employees working in areas that require eye protection.

9.1.3.1.  The employee’s supervisor must approve all prescription safety glass requests.
9.1.3.2.  Employees must obtain a current (within 12 months) optical prescription.
9.1.3.3.  Contact the Operations department for information on the approved vendor.

9.1.4.  Eye and face protection must meet the requirements of ANSI Z87.1-1989, Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection.

9.1.5.  Tinted safety glasses are not to be worn indoors unless they are required due to the nature of the task or prescribed by ophthalmic specialists.

9.1.6.  The Testing Labs are posted safety glasses areas due to the hazards present in these rooms (Laser). Special glasses are to be worn.

9.2.  Head Protection

9.2.1.  Hardhat protection is required in areas where head injury hazards exist due to potential moving, falling, or flying objects.

9.2.2.  Head protection must meet the requirements of ANSI Z89.1-1986.

9.2.3.  A thin-shelled “bump” cap is not allowed.

9.2.4.  Hardhat suspension units will be replaced if they show signs of wear.

9.2.5.  The rack storage areas in the Stock/Inventory room are posted hardhat required areas.

9.3.  Foot Protection (Non-Reinforced Toe)

9.3.1.  All employees should wear shoes with soles that have sufficient traction to prevent slipping.

9.3.1.1.  Shoes must not have an open weave that will allow chemicals to penetrate them.
9.3.1.2.  In areas where corrosive chemicals are used, shoes must be fabricated from leather or leather-simulated upper materials.

9.3.2.  Employees are responsible for providing their own non-reinforced toe shoes.

9.4.  Foot Protection (Reinforced Toe)

9.4.1.  Reinforced toe safety shoes are required to be worn by personnel who are exposed to workplace conditions capable of causing foot injuries, including:

9.4.1.1.  construction work, including demolition and remodeling
9.4.1.2.  facility maintenance operations
9.4.1.3.  material handling (warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, etc.)
9.4.1.4.  lift truck operations

9.4.2.  Reinforced toe safety shoes will meet the requirements of ANSI Z41-1991, "American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Footwear”, Class 75 for men and equivalent or Class 50 for women.

9.4.3.  Shoes will be replaced on a frequency determined by the area supervisor.

9.4.4.  Approved slip-on toecaps can be used for protection for short duration and are not to be used by employees who require protection throughout the work shift.

9.5.  Hand Protection

9.5.1.  Employees must wear protective gloves where injuries resulting from contact with the following are likely to occur:

9.5.1.1.  chemicals
9.5.1.2.  heat or extreme cold

9.5.1.3.  abrasive or sharp edges/ surfaces

9.5.1.4.  vibration

9.5.1.5.  bloodborne pathogens

9.5.2.  Glove selection must consider the type of hazard that must be controlled.

9.5.3.  Gloves worn in chemical use areas must be removed and properly disposed of before leaving the area.

9.5.4.  Employees who experience adverse skin reactions to latex type gloves must report this to their supervisor immediately and discontinue use of these gloves.

9.6.  Body Protection

9.6.1.  Employees must wear aprons or smocks when pouring corrosive liquids.

9.6.2.  In areas where the chemicals use is minor, smocks are optional.

9.6.3.  Smocks may only be worn outside the building in emergency situations (earthquake, fire, evacuation drill, etc.).

9.6.4.  Before handling lead acid batteries, employees must remove all hand, wrist, low hanging metallic jewelry, including rings, watches, and necklaces.

9.6.4.1.  CAUTION: Do not short the terminals on a battery. This can result in a serious electrical burn.

9.7.  Lifelines, lanyards, and safety harnesses

9.7.1.  Off the ground work in unprotected areas where employees are exposed to fall hazards of 6 feet or greater requires the use of fall restraint equipment.

9.7.2.  This must include:

9.7.2.1.  Anchorage point and hardware.

9.7.2.2.  Safety belt or full body harness.

9.7.2.3.  Lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline or suitable combination of these.

9.7.3.  Lifelines, safety belts and lanyards shall be used only for employee safeguarding. Any lifeline, safety belt or lanyard actually subjected to in-service loading, as distinguished from static load testing, must be immediately removed from service and must not be used again for employee safeguarding.

9.7.4.  Lifeline System

9.7.4.1.  The anchorage point must have minimum static load strength of 5,400 pounds.

9.7.4.2.  Horizontal lifelines used with vertical lifelines to minimize swing fall hazards and provide horizontal freedom of movement must have an adequate degree of sag, 5,400-lbs./worker strength and supported every 20-50 feet.

9.7.4.3.  Vertical lifelines (droplines) must be at least 1/2" diameter nylon or equivalent with a minimum breaking strength of 5,400 pounds.

9.7.4.4.  Lanyards are flexible lines used to secure a wearer of a safety belt or harness to a lifeline or fixed anchorage. Lanyards must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,400 pounds and must be anchored to prevent falling more than 6 feet.

9.7.5.  Safety Belts and Harnesses

9.7.5.1.  Body belts will be used to restrain employees working in a hazardous position and to reduce the probability of falls.

9.7.5.2.  Chest harnesses will be used where there are only limited fall hazards (no vertical free-fall hazard).

9.7.5.3.  Body harnesses are used to arrest the most severe free falls.

9.7.6.  Full body harness and lanyard are required for employees operating the elevated stock picker in the warehouse areas.

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10.  Additional Work Area Requirements

10.1.  Employees directly involved in the assembly, testing, certification and packaging of instruments and employees handling ESD sensitive components are required to wear ESD wrist band properly grounded.

11.  TRAINING

11.1.  All new employees must receive general training on the various types of PPE as part of the General Safety training class.

11.2.  Supervisors will provide on-the-job training on the specific personal protective equipment required for each specific task prior to the employee performing the specific task.

12.  RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION

12.1.  PPE Assessment records will be maintained for a minimum of 3 years by the Operations department.

12.2.  Training records will be maintained in accordance with the training documentation procedures.

12.3.  Employees will be provided with copies of their personal training records upon request.