Penn State UniversityEnvironmental Health and Safety

Hazard Assessment and Personal Protective

Equipment Training

Objectives

• Review general concept of personal protective equipment.

• Show steps on how to conduct a hazard assessment.

• Cover the process for training employees.

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

• Commonly referred to as “PPE”

• Includes a wide variety of devices

• PPE acts as a “barrier” against hazards

Hierarchy of Controls• PPE should be the last line of defense against a hazard,

not the primary one.

• Engineering Controls

• Administrative Controls

• If Engineering and Administrative Controls both fail to neutralize a hazard, PPE must be used. In many cases PPE should be worn as an additional line of defense in case these controls fail.

What is a “Hazard Assessment”?

Why is a Hazard Assessment important?

• To keep workers safe.

• To establish the minimum PPE requirements for job tasks and/or work areas with potential injury exposure.

• To comply with OSHA regulations.

What PPE is being used here?

Is this PPE Adequate?

What is good and what is bad with these worker’s PPE?

Is this PPE Adequate?

Is this PPE Adequate?

Requirements for Hazard Assessments

• One must be completed for EACH work area and/or job where a potential hazard exists.

• If similar jobs are to be completed in different work areas, only one Hazard Assessment needs to be completed. However, a form should still be filled out and make reference to the form from the other area.

Examples of Hazard Assessments

• For “Motor Vehicle Repair/Maintenance” the hazard assessments would include:

– Soldering, filing, grinding, sanding – Welding– Sheet metal work– Tire balancing– Small engine repair/maintenance– Vehicle body work

Employee Involvement• It is recommended that employees be given the hazard

assessments to see if there was anything that may have been overlooked.

• This will help to identify any tasks that may have been missed by those who do not perform these jobs daily.

• Getting employees involved in the process will also help them to understand where the assessments came from and how they were performed, which should encourage them to implement any new procedures.

Where Can I Find the Tools Needed to Perform a Hazard Assessment?

• Penn State has developed a PPE program.

• Included in the program are the following tools:– PPE Hazard Assessment Certification for

Common Tasks and Work Areas.– PPE Hazard Assessment Worksheet.– Summary of PPE Requirements.

• The policy can be found on the PSU EHS website at http://www.ehs.psu.edu/occhealth/PSU_PPE_Program.pdf

The Hazard Assessment Process

Step 1

Sheet Metal WorkCuts, Falling

Objects, Flying Particles

Safety Glasses, Cut Resistant Gloves,

Safety Shoes

Step 2

Sheet Metal WorkCuts, Falling

Objects, Flying Particles

Safety Glasses, Cut Resistant Gloves,

Safety Shoes

Step 3

Step 4

What if it’s not in Appendix A?

• Go to Appendix B and complete the checklist for each category (eyes, face, head, etc.)

• List any findings in Appendix C

Appendix B

What if I do not find hazards?

• You still must complete the form in Appendix C – “Summary of PPE Requirements” as proof that you performed the assessment.

• This form should be maintained by the Supervisor and readily available to the employees. A copy should also be submitted to your safety office.

• If no PPE is needed based on the Hazard Assessment, no training is necessary.

Keeping your assessments accurate

• If the scope of any job changes, a new Hazard Assessment should be completed to reflect this.– Ex) If a non-acid based cleaner was replaced with

an acid based cleaner.

• Additionally, periodic checks are recommended to ensure the forms are as up to date and accurate as possible.

Training your employees about proper PPE use

Why is Training Needed?

• Because employees need to know:– When PPE is necessary.– What PPE is necessary.– How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE.– The limitations of PPE.– What the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and

disposal of PPE is.– Who needs PPE.

• Training is required under OSHA 29CFR132-140.

PSU Approach to PPE Training

• Each Supervisor is responsible for ensuring their employees are trained in PPE.

• Training should be given upon completion of the hazard assessments.

• When any new employees are hired, PPE training should be completed before they begin working.

How do I train my employees?

• A PowerPoint will be given to you as a training tool which lists all types of PPE that your employees may need to know about.

• Some of these topics may not be needed in your work unit/department if there was no PPE need found for that section on your Hazard Assessment.– For example, if respiratory use was not needed

according to your Hazard Assessment, you can eliminate these slides before giving the presentation.

Making the presentation site specific

• The PowerPoint that is available for your use can be edited to meet your needs.

• These slides list specific hazards and the necessary PPE needed in your particular work areas. This information should correspond with your Hazard Assessment findings.

Training Certification• Upon the completion of the training, Appendix D – “PPE

Training Certification Form” must be filled in with:

– Name of each employee trained– The date– The scope of the training given

PPE Retraining

• Retraining is required for, but not limited to, the following:

• Changes in the workplace or changes in the types of PPE to be used which would render previous training obsolete or;

• Inadequacies in an employee's knowledge in the use of the assigned PPE.

• Written certification that contains the name of each employee trained, the date, and the scope of the training is required for proof of retraining.

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

• If you need additional information, you can:

– Contact your Safety Officer

– Refer to the PSU PPE Program http://www.ehs.psu.edu/occhealth/PSU_PPE_Program.pdf

– Contact Environmental Health and Safety• 6 Eisenhower Parking Deck, University Park• (814)865-6391

Summary

• PPE is the last line of defense against hazards.• PPE hazard assessments are needed to

determine the correct PPE required.• Employees need to be trained on the PPE they

are required to wear.