PPE hazard assessment guidelines

No, employers should not rely exclusively on PPE for protection from hazards. According to OSHA's guidelines, PPE should be used in conjunction with more effective methods like engineering controls, machine guards, and safe work practices as part of a comprehensive safety program. This approach follows the hierarchy of controls, which prioritizes eliminating or reducing hazards at their source before resorting to personal protective equipment.

For more information, see OSHA's Non-mandatory Guidelines for Hazard Assessment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Selection, and PPE Training Program.

It is critical to ensure PPE fits comfortably because employees are more likely to consistently wear protective devices that fit well. PPE that does not fit properly may fail to provide the necessary protection and could even create additional hazards for the wearer. For example, poorly fitting eye protection may not create a proper seal against chemical splashes, and a hard hat that is too loose can fall off during work operations. Most protective devices are available in various sizes to ensure a proper fit for each individual, as recommended in OSHA's guidelines for PPE selection.

No, a face shield alone is not considered adequate eye protection. Face shields are considered secondary protection and must always be worn over primary eye protection, such as safety glasses with side shields or goggles. This ensures that the eyes are protected from impacts, splashes, or dust that could get around the edges of the face shield. This requirement is noted in OSHA's Eye and Face Protection Selection Chart.

Protective footwear is required in shipyard work environments where foot injuries could occur from falling or rolling objects, or from piercing the sole of the shoe. Specific situations requiring safety shoes or boots include:

• Impact hazards: When carrying or handling heavy materials like packages, tools, or parts that could be dropped.
• Compression hazards: When working around equipment like skid trucks, bulk rolls, or heavy pipes that could roll over an employee's feet.
• Puncture hazards: When working in areas where sharp objects such as nails, wire, scrap metal, or large staples could be stepped on.

These requirements are explained in the selection guidelines for foot protection.

Employees who require prescription lenses must wear eye protection that accommodates their vision needs while ensuring full protection. According to OSHA guidelines, they must use either:

• Protective devices, such as safety glasses or goggles, fitted with prescription (Rx) lenses that meet safety standards.
• Protective devices, such as over-the-glass safety goggles, specifically designed to be worn over their regular prescription eyewear.

This requirement ensures that employees are not forced to choose between clear vision and protection from eye hazards, as detailed in the Notes to the Eye and Face Protection Selection Chart.

A proper PPE hazard assessment involves a four-step process to systematically identify and address workplace hazards. The recommended steps are:

• Survey: Conduct a walk-through survey of the work area to identify potential sources of hazards.
• Identify Sources: Observe sources of motion, high temperatures, chemicals, dust, radiation, falling objects, and electrical hazards.
• Organize Data: Systematically organize the information gathered during the survey to prepare for analysis.
• Analyze Data: Review the organized data to estimate the potential for injuries, classifying each hazard by its type, risk level, and the seriousness of potential harm.

These steps are outlined in OSHA's Non-mandatory Guidelines for Hazard Assessment.

After completing a hazard assessment, you should follow a general four-step procedure for selecting the appropriate protective equipment. The process involves:

1. Becoming familiar with the potential hazards identified and the types of PPE available to protect against them.
2. Comparing the specific hazards in your workplace (e.g., impact velocities, radiation intensities) with the capabilities of the available protective equipment.
3. Selecting PPE that ensures a level of protection greater than the minimum required to protect employees from the hazards.
4. Fitting the employee with the selected PPE and providing instructions on its proper care and use.

This selection process is outlined in OSHA's Non-mandatory Guidelines for Hazard Assessment and PPE Selection.

When selecting gloves for protection against chemical hazards, several critical factors must be considered to ensure worker safety. Key considerations include:

• Chemical Properties: Determine the toxic properties of the chemical, including its ability to affect the skin locally or be absorbed systemically.
• Breakthrough Time: For chemical mixtures, select a glove based on the chemical component with the shortest breakthrough time, as solvents can carry other ingredients through the glove material.
• Task Requirements: Study the work activities to determine the required dexterity, as well as the duration, frequency, and degree of exposure.
• Safe Removal: Ensure employees can remove the gloves in a way that prevents skin contamination.

Before purchasing, you should also request documentation from the manufacturer that the gloves meet appropriate test standards, as noted in OSHA's guidelines for hand protection.

Based on a typical hazard assessment for welding in a shipyard, the basic required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes a comprehensive set of gear to protect against various hazards. The standard PPE for a welder consists of:

• Hard hat
• Welding shield (face protection)
• Welding gloves
• Safety glasses (worn under the welding shield)
• Safety shoes
• Welding sleeves (especially for overhead welding)

It is important to note that additional PPE, such as fall protection, may be required depending on the specific job location and tasks, as specified in OSHA's guidelines for PPE selection.

All PPE must be kept clean and properly maintained to ensure it provides the required protection for employees. According to OSHA guidelines, PPE should be inspected, cleaned, and maintained at regular intervals. This is particularly important for eye and face protection, where dirty or fogged lenses can impair vision. Any contaminated PPE that cannot be decontaminated must be disposed of in a manner that protects other employees from exposure to the hazards. These practices are outlined in OSHA's non-mandatory guidelines for PPE.

When conducting a walk-through survey for a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) assessment, you should look for a variety of hazard categories. Key areas for consideration include:

• Impact: Flying objects or forcible contact.
• Penetration: Sharp objects that can pierce the body.
• Compression: Rollover or crushing hazards.
• Chemical: Splashes, mists, vapors, or skin contact with hazardous substances.
• Heat: High temperatures, sparks, or molten metal.
• Harmful dust: Asbestos, silica, or other particulates.
• Light (optical) radiation: Intense light from welding, cutting, or furnaces.
• Drowning: Working over or near water.
• Falling: Potential for employees to fall from heights or for objects to fall on them.

These guidelines are detailed in the appendix for Personal Protective Equipment in Shipyard Employment.

The different classes of hard hats provide varying levels of protection, particularly against electrical hazards. It is important to select the correct class based on the potential hazards in the work area.

• Class A helmets provide impact and penetration resistance, as well as protection from low-voltage conductors (proof tested to 2,200 volts).
• Class B helmets offer impact and penetration resistance and provide protection from high-voltage conductors (proof tested to 20,000 volts).
• Class C helmets provide impact and penetration resistance but offer no protection from electrical hazards. They are often made of aluminum, which conducts electricity.

This information is available in OSHA's Selection guidelines for head protection.