Minimum Standard of Dress and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Transcription

1 Minimum Standard of Dress and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 1 Purpose To provide personnel at the University with a minimum standard of dress and level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 2 Scope This process applies to all personnel working on, or visiting, a University site, or during any activity organised, authorised or conducted under the auspices of the University. 3 Overview The minimum standard of dress and PPE is based on providing protection of the person against the foreseeable risk of injury and knowledge that the protection will reduce that risk. For many tasks, protection will be needed in addition to the minimum standard. For example, in the case of chemical and biological laboratories, the minimum standard of dress and PPE would be full length laboratory coat, safety glasses and closed in shoes. Gloves will also be required to handle toxic, corrosive, pathogenic or radioactive substances. 4 PPE as a Control Measure PPE is the least effective method of controlling a safety risk and does not control the hazard at the source. Because of this, the control of exposure to risks should be secured by one or more measures other than the provision of personal protective equipment. PPE should only be used: a. where there are no other practical higher order control measures available (i.e. as a last resort); b. as an interim measure until a more effective way of controlling the risk can be used; or c. to supplement higher level control measures (as a backup).

2 5 Purchase and Provision of PPE The University must provide PPE to workers at the workplace except where the PPE has been provided by another employer. Contractors must provide their own PPE however the University has a responsibility to ensure the contractors use and maintain their PPE appropriately. 6 Application This process details only the minimum standard of PPE to enter a particular work area. Higher or different standards or types of PPE may be required if directed or dictated by: a. the nature of the task, b. the instructions or guidance in the plant or equipment operating manual, c. Safety Data Sheet (SDS), d. risk assessment, e. Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), f. direction by supervisor, or g. any other applicable legislation or instruction. If there is a difference between the minimum standard of PPE prescribed by this process and another information source (as above), the higher standard must be applied. E.g., the minimum standard of eye protection in a laboratory is safety glasses however a chemical SDS may dictate chemical splash goggles. In this case the chemical splash goggles must be worn. 7 Exceptions The minimum standards prescribed in this process may only be reduced if justified by a Risk Management Plan (RMP) for a particular activity or a particular work area. The RMP must be approved by a relevant category 4 delegate. If the area is a workshop or laboratory, reference to the RMP must be included on the hazard information poster fixed to the entry door. 8 Standard 8.1 Office Areas Personnel in office areas at USQ must adhere to the following minimum criteria for footwear: a. All footwear must be of a professional standard and appropriately styled to suit the USQ Corporate image.

3 b. Thongs of any description are not permitted. c. Staff must not remove their shoes and traverse distances. This does not portray a professional image of USQ and puts staff at risk of injury. 8.2 Laboratories Personnel in laboratories at USQ must adhere to the following minimum standard of dress and protective equipment: a. Laboratory coat or wrap around gown (cotton or cotton/polyester blend); b. Protective clothing appropriate to the task being undertaken and includes long sleeves and long pants; c. Occupational footwear (fully enclosed leather); and d. Safety glasses (minimum): wrap around safety glasses or goggles shall be worn when a risk of splashing exists, and face protection i.e. a face shield if pouring corrosive liquids, using cryogenic fluids, using chemicals that can cause direct damage to the skin or chemical or biological agents that can be rapidly absorbed through the skin. 8.3 Workshops Personnel in workshops at USQ must adhere to the following minimum standard of dress and protective equipment: a. wear suitable attire (including long pants) for operating machinery or equipment; b. safety footwear; and c. safety glasses (minimum). 8.4 Outdoors Employees who work outdoors (including workers conducting grounds or maintenance tasks, or carrying out field work) must adhere to the following minimum standard of dress and protective equipment: a. suitable sun protective clothing including a long sleeve shirt with collar, long trousers and a broad brimmed hat (if wearing a hard hat, ensure it has a brim attachment or legionnaire style flap); b. footwear; c. safety glasses and/or sunglasses; and d. sunscreen of SPF 30+ or higher applied every two hours or more when in high humidity. Note: High visibility clothing may be required depending on the nature of the task and the site location.

4 9 Responsibilities for PPE Management must ensure that: a. the needs for PPE are assessed by a person who is competent to judge whether other methods of risk control can offer better protection of safety and health than the provision of PPE; b. professional advice is obtained, where necessary, to identify the most suitable types of PPE for the tasks to be carried out; c. training is provided to supervisors and workers to enable them to ensure the proper selection, fit, use, cleaning and maintenance of PPE; d. supervision and enforcement of the PPE process is undertaken; e. evaluation of the effectiveness of the PPE program is carried out on a regular basis; f. suitable PPE is provided for visitors who may be exposed to hazards in the workplace and that the visitor or other person uses the PPE appropriately (at USQ this includes students); g. PPE is properly cleaned before re-issue; and h. all equipment complies with current relevant Australian Standards and should be stamped or labelled with an AS compliance marking (existing PPE shall be re-assessed regularly to ensure compliance). Workers (including contractors and consultants) must: a. use or wear the equipment in accordance with any information, training or reasonable instruction given by the University, b. not intentionally misuse or damage the equipment, and c. inform their supervisor of any damage to, defect in or need to clean or decontaminate any of the equipment of which the worker becomes aware. 10 References Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) Australian/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS :2005 Safety in Laboratories Part 1: Planning and operational aspects, Standards Australia, Sydney and Wellington

5 Australian/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS :2010 Safety, protective and occupational footwear, Part 1: Guide to selection, care and use, Standards Australia, Sydney and Wellington 11 Definitions Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing, equipment or substances designed to be worn by someone to protect them from risks of injury or illness. Protective footwear is fitted with protective toecaps and complies with the basic requirements given in Table 2 AS/NZS :2009. Occupational footwear complies with the basic requirements given in Table 2 of AS/NZS :2009 and it should incorporate one or more protective features to protect the wearer from injuries that could arise through accidents in the working sectors for which the footwear is designed. Note Occupational footwear is not fitted with safety or protective toecaps.