Hazard Assessment
and Personal Protective
Equipment Training
Penn State University
Environmental Health and Safety
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”?
• Helps to determine:
• If Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is
needed
• What type of PPE is needed
• Where and when PPE is needed
• Who needs it
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_Progr
am.pdf
The Hazard Assessment Process
List all job tasks in
first column of
Appendix C “Summary of PPE
Requirements”
Does the job task
match any of those
listed on Appendix A
- “Common Task
List?”
YES
NO
Fill in remaining two columns
of Appendix C using the
information provided in the
Common Task List
Use Appendix B –”PPE
Hazard Assessment
Worksheet” to determine
proper PPE for that job task
Fill in the remaining
columns of Appendix C
using this information
Step 1
Step 2
Sheet Metal Work
Cuts, Falling
Objects, Flying
Particles
Safety Glasses, Cut
Resistant Gloves,
Safety Shoes
Step 3
Sheet Metal Work
Cuts, Falling
Objects, Flying
Particles
Safety Glasses, Cut
Resistant Gloves,
Safety Shoes
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.