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2015 Ppe Assessment Instructions Final10 21
2015 Ppe Assessment Instructions Final10 21
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that a hazard
assessment be conducted of workplaces (laboratories) to identify hazards and how
to control those hazards. Potential hazards may be physical or health-related. A
comprehensive hazard assessment should identify hazards in both categories.
Examples of physical hazards include moving objects, fluctuating temperatures, high
intensity lighting, rolling or pinching objects, electrical connections, sharp edges, etc.
Examples of health hazards include overexposure to harmful dusts, chemicals,
radiation, etc.
There are three pages to the University of Notre Dames PPE Hazard Assessment,
which is available on the RMS web site at this link. The first page documents the
hazards while the second and third provide the PPE requirements and other
controls. Once completed, the last page must be signed by the individual
completing the PPE hazard assessment. This is to satisfy the OSHA Standard, 29
CFR 1910.132 Subpart I Personal Protective Equipment.
When completing the assessment, if necessary contact Risk Management and Safety
(RMS) at 631-5037 if you have any questions regarding the process, identifying
hazards, controls, or the proper PPE. Completed assessments must be accessible to
employees and inspectors (RMS or regulatory agency).
General Guidelines
The PPE hazard assessment can be conducted for an area, a specific task, or specific
hazard. The assessment must be updated when changes occur that may affect the PPE
requirements.
Page 1 of 7
The first page of the PPE hazard assessment identifies the types of hazards and what
body part could potentially be affected by those hazards.
When reviewing the remainder of these instructions, you will note circles with numbers.
These will be used as reference guides in this document and are not on the working
forms.
Figure 1
Affected personnel from the work area/lab that is being assessed should be involved
in the process. Discuss the reasons for the survey and how the assessment will be
conducted. Inform them that the review will include applicable procedures, a
walkthrough of the area/lab to identify potential hazards and a discussion on the
PPE currently in use, to determine if it is appropriate.
Page 2 of 7
Step 2: Review Relevant Safety Alerts for Information
Using the PPE Hazard Assessment form on page 1, identify the type of hazard(s) present
and associate the hazard by body part. Consideration should be given to the following
basic hazard categories:
Place a checkmark () in the column with the identified hazard and the row identifying
which body part(s) could be affected by the hazard. Each body part has been
identified with a number in this training document (See Figure 1 and 2). The circled
number corresponds to a section on page 2 of the PPE Hazard Assessment to assist
in the use of this training information (See Figure 3). If there is a hazard affecting the
eyes identify PPE for the eyes on page 2. Identify all the body parts that could
credibly be affected by the hazard.
Example
During the walkthrough it is noted that liquid nitrogen must be transferred from a 5 liter
dewar to a bench dewar within a hood. There is a potential splash hazard from the
nitrogen during transfer potentially resulting in a thermal cold contact hazard.
Page 3 of 7
On the first page of the PPE Hazard Assessment:
1. Identify the appropriate hazard in the columns. For this example it would be:
PhysicalThermalCold
Chemical LiquidSplashes, Sprays
2. Place a checkmark in the column for the hazards corresponding to the body
part that the Chemical LiquidSplashes, Sprays and the
PhysicalThermalCold could credibly impact. For this example the liquid
nitrogen could splash and have a thermal impact on the following body parts:
Eyes
Face
Hands/Fingers
Whole Body / Torso
Legs and feet
3. If any of the hazards do not exist, place a check mark in the row marked No
Hazards under the corresponding to the hazard(s).
Figure 2
No Hazard Row
After considering and planning for other controls from the list of the hierarchy of
Page 4 of 7
controls select the PPE which provides at least the minimum level of protection
required to protect employees from the hazards. Engineering Controls may alleviate
some PPE requirements.
Using pages 2 and 3 of the PPE Hazard Assessment form (Figures 3 and 4) place a
checkmark () in the appropriate body part section identifying the appropriate PPE.
If PPE requirements can be abated through engineering or administrative controls,
please specify those controls under column labeled Other Controls.
For help with proper PPE selection, consult the CHP, the glove compatibility chart on
the RMS web site or other internet resources, contact Unit/Department Safety
Coordinator, or RMS at 1-5037.
Finally the bottom of page 3 requires a signature and date of the person completing the
PPE Hazard Assessment (See Figure 4). This is a regulatory requirement.
If, based on the PPE assessment, a PI wishes to downgrade the default PPE
requirements (safety glasses or long pants/skirt):
He/she shall sign the PPE Assessment Form which documents that all hazards
requiring PPE have been eliminated or mitigated via engineering controls (See
Figure 4).
The PI or designee shall request a review by the Department Safety Committee
for the PPE change. The Dept/Unit Safety Committee and RMS shall review the
Page 5 of 7
PPE hazard assessment and visit the laboratory, if needed.
If the change is approved, the PI or designee shall post the modified PPE
requirements on the Emergency Contact Card and hang the Card on the
outside of all the doors leading into the laboratory.
Figure 3
Page 6 of 7
Figure 4
Ensure that affected laboratory personnel are made aware of the required PPE and sign
a PPE certification form. This form is available on the RMS web site this link.
If the PPE hazard assessment identifies different PPE requirements, update the
appropriate lab protocols with this information.