STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health Section 8, Page 4 July 1, 1995 Personal Protective Equipment Introduction The North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 was enacted to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the State of North Carolina safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources. North Carolina’s OSHA bill which specifies all the occupational safety and health standards promulgated under the Federal Standard, Subpart-I-Personal Protective Equipment, was adopted in North Carolina effective November 1, 1994. General OSHA Requirements 1. Application Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact. 2. Equipment Where employees provide their own protective equipment, the employer shall be responsible to assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance, and sanitation of such equipment. 3. Design All PPE shall be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed. Continued on next page Personal Protective Equipment STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health Section 8, Page 5 July 1, 1995 Personal Protective Equipment, Continued General OSHA Requirements (continued) 4. Hazard Assessment and Equipment Selection The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or likely to be present, and will necessitate the use of PPE. If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall: Select and have each affected employee use the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment; Communicate selection decisions to each employee; and Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee. The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the dates of the hazard assessment, and which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment. 5. Defective and Damage Equipment Defective or damaged PPE shall not be used. 6. Training The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required to use PPE. Each employee shall be trained to know at least the following: when PPE is necessary, what PPE is necessary, how to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE, the limitations of the PPE, and the proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE. Each affected employee shall demonstrate an understanding of the training and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE. Continued on next page Personal Protective Equipment STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health Section 8, Page 6 July 1, 1995 Personal Protective Equipment, Continued General OSHA Requirements (continued) When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required, includes but are not limited to the following situations: changes in the workplace, rendering previous training obsolete; changes in the type of PPE to be used, rendering previous training obsolete; and inadequacies in an affected employee’s knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicates that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill. The employer shall verify that each affected employee has received and understood the required training through a written certification that contains the name of each trained employee, the dates of training, and that identifies the subject of the certification. Policy In compliance with the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) the following shall apply to personal protective equipment. The State as an employer will furnish, at no cost to the employee, certain personal protective equipment required by the job. Included as part of this policy is the “General Personal Protective Equipment Guide” as established by the North Carolina Department of Labor. The State’s policy in providing this equipment is noted in each category. Continued on next page Personal Protective Equipment STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health Section 8, Page 7 July 1, 1995 Personal Protective Equipment, Continued GENERAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT GUIDE Equipment Eye Protection Safety Glasses Safety Glasses with side shields Goggles Chemical/Dust Nuisance Welding Goggles Indirect Ventilation Funding 100% State funded except that employees who wear prescription glasses pay for the cost of the exam Guide As required to protect employee form eye hazards, such as optical radiation or glare when only frontal protection is required. Shaded or special purpose lenses may be required. 100% State funded except that employees who wear prescription glasses pay for the cost of the exam As required to protect employee form flying fragments, objects, large chips, particles, sand, dirt, etc. For severe exposure, add face-shield over safety glasses. 100% State funded 100% State funded Cup Goggles - Direct 100% State funded Ventilation Cup Goggles Indirect Ventilation As required to protect employee form chemical splashes, mist, sprays or nuisance dust. For severe exposure, add face shield over goggles. As required to protect employee against hazards of welding, cutting, and brazing operations. As required to protect employee against eye hazards. 100% State funded Welding Helmet 100% State funded Face Shield 100% State funded As required to protect employee against eye hazards. As required to protect employee against eye hazards of welding, cutting, and brazing operations. As required to protect employee’s eyes and face. Continued on next page Personal Protective Equipment STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health Section 8, Page 8 July 1, 1995 Personal Protective Equipment, Continued Equipment Hard Hat Funding 100% State funded Guide As required to protect employee’s head against impact and falling or flying objects. Class A - used in construction and general industry where there is no exposure to high voltage, electrical shock or burns. Class B use to protect the head against high voltage electricity. Reference: ANSI-Z89.1-1986 As required to protect employee against the cold weather if hard hat is worn. As required to protect employee from airborne contaminants. As required to protect employee from physical, biological, chemical, radiation, or electrical hazards. Gloves used for electrical protection must be marked as to class of equipment and whether or not they are ozone-resistant, and shall meet the (ASTM) D 120-87 Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves. Hard Hat Liners 100% State funded Respirators 100% State funded Gloves 100% State funded Coveralls or Aprons Canvas 100% State funded As required to protect employee from contact with hazardous substances when canvas provides adequate protection. Non-Porous (Plastic/ rubber) 100% State funded Leather or Other Flame Resistant Material 100% State funded As required to protect employee from contact with hazardous substance when plastic or rubber is needed to provide adequate protection. As required to protect employee from hazardous substances when leather is needed to provide adequate protection and when leather or other flame-resistant material is required to protect employee from fire hazards. Continued on next page Personal Protective Equipment STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health Section 8, Page 9 July 1, 1995 Personal Protective Equipment, Continued Equipment Body Protection Personal protective footies, vests, aprons, coats, pants, coveralls and suits in a range of suitable materials and sizes Foot Protection Safety Shoes Funding 100% State funded Guide As required to protect employee against biological, radiation, physical, or chemical hazards. Base selection on information in the workplace hazards control program. Reference: Appropriate OSHA-NC standard(s) purchase request. State funds for one pair per year, cost not to exceed dollar amount established by the Office of State Budget and Management, which includes inflationary cost increase. Employee may purchase and be reimbursed on Form BD-403 or agency may supply under the rules and regulations of State Purchase and Contract Division As required to protect employee working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries dues to falling or rolling objects piercing the sole or where protection is needed against electrical hazards. As required to protect employees from solid objects weighing 15 lb. or greater that (1) are handled routinely each work period (more than once per eight hours) by the employee or other employees, or (2) can fall on the exposed employee’s toes from a height exceeding one foot. In general, does not apply to office employees. NOTE: Protective footwear purchased shall comply with ANSI Z41-1991, “American National Standard for Personal ProtectionProtective Footwear.” Rubber and Specialized Safety Boots 100% State funded As required to keep employee’s feet dry when employee routinely works in wet locations such as flooded ditches and to protect from electrical hazards or other hazards requiring specialized safety boots. As required to protect employees form falling while working at elevated (10ft. or greater) locations not protected by standard guardrails or safety nets or as required when working in confined spaces. Safety Belts, Harnesses 100% State funded and Life Lines Continued on next page Personal Protective Equipment STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health Section 8, Page 10 July 1, 1995 Personal Protective Equipment, Continued Equipment Safety Nets Funding 100% State funded Ear Protection 100% State funded Life Ring 100% State funded Life Jacket (flotation vest) 100% State funded Guide As required to protect employees working over 25 feet above ground or water surface where other protective devices are impractical and conventional fall protection system cannot practically be made use of. As required to protect employee against hearing loss due to noise. As required to protect employee from drowning. As required for employees working over or near water where the danger of drowning exists. Personal Protective Equipment