Personal Protective Equipment

Transcription

1 Personal Protective Equipment 1 Purpose To minimise the risk of injury in all CPS National workplaces and to ensure all CPS National employees use the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whenever it is required and to ensure that the equipment is of the appropriate type and in good working order. 2 Activities It is important to note that personal protective equipment (PPE) should only be used when other measures are not practicable in protecting employees against the hazard or risk of exposure to the hazard. The measures, which can be used to control hazards in the workplace, are described in CPS-WI- 018 Hazard Controls Hierarchy. Working through the control measures will usually effectively control a hazard. The use of PPE may be necessary in the following instances: As an interim measure, before more effective controls can be established, If other controls are impossible or not completely effective, During maintenance or clean up, In emergencies When client procedures mandate PPE for an area, for example site wide use of safety glasses or hard hats. Before using PPE a reference to a risk assessment should be completed to ensure that the most effective PPE is to be used for the specific application and hazard concerned. Where PPE is used steps must be taken to ensure that if fits the employee correctly, training is provided in its use and that the equipment is maintained and serviced regularly. RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT The Project Supervisor shall designate such work situations where protective or safety clothing or equipment is required to be worn or used. The person with management and control (supervisor) is responsible for daily determination of the reasonable standard of protective clothing or equipment, and for the provision and supervision of the wearing of the equipment. The supervising person may require Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 1

2 any standard of protective clothing, which is reasonably necessary for the safety of the persons for whom they have management and control. Although it is the Project Manager s responsibility to determine when PPE is necessary and to provide the PPE these decisions should be achieved in conjunction with the employees who will use the PPE and relevant Health and Safety Representatives. On occasions it may be necessary to consult suppliers or industry experts where specialist PPE that is outside of the normal CPS supplied items is being considered for specific hazards. It is extremely important that employees who use the PPE are comfortable when using the equipment and understand the reasons for its use to ensure that any PPE is used correctly, consistently and is maintained to provide maximum protection. Any person working in or entering such designated areas shall wear the PPE. Note: Designated areas will have signs promoting use of PPE. TYPES OF PROTECTION PPE is available for almost every part of the body and the type of equipment purchased will depend on the protection that is required. Listed below are the common areas, which require protection and examples of how the areas may be protected: Head Protection - safety helmets, caps, hats, hoods Hearing Protection - ear plugs, ear muffs, helmets Eye and Face Protection - safety spectacles, goggles, shields, visors Foot Protection - steel capped boots, non-slip shoes, waterproof boots Body Protection - sunscreen, insect repellent Hand Protection - gloves Respiratory Protection - Facemasks, breathing apparatus, etc. Fall Protection - belts, harnesses, etc. Please note that the types of PPE specified above are only examples of equipment, which can be purchased. The most appropriate equipment, which should be used for a specific task, must be determined through completion of a risk assessment, suitability of equipment for individual employees and adherence to regulations, standards and codes of practice. Once it has been determined that a particular type of PPE is required advice maybe sought as to how and where the equipment can be purchased. Advice may be obtained by suppliers, external consultants, State Authorities (e.g. WorkSafe WA), and Australian Standards. All PPE shall comply with the relevant Australian Standards outlined in the table below. Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 2

3 Care and Replacement of Protective Equipment In general, no reasonable request for the supply of PPE will be rejected. Avoid unnecessary damage to, and wastage of, items of PPE Take care of your PPE your health and safety depends on it Be hygienic in your use of PPE REMEMBER The five main considerations that apply to the use of personal protective equipment are: 1. It must be suited specifically for the intended task 2. It must be inspected properly prior to use 3. It must be worn correctly 4. It must be fitted properly, and 5. It must be hygienic. Individual Use Wherever possible and appropriate, each item of PPE shall be provided for the exclusive use of an individual. Shared use of clothing and/ or equipment is to be discouraged to provide employees with equipment which is properly fitted, is readily accessible and to maintain personal hygiene standards. (Refer CPS-FM-093: PPE Register & CPS-FM-094: List of PPE) Training Before any PPE is used those users must be properly trained to ensure that they are aware of the reasons for using the PPE and that they use the PPE in the correct manner. Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 3

4 Fitting of PPE Respirators Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 4

5 Fitting of PPE Ear Plugs Testing Before any PPE is used the equipment should be tested to ensure that if fits the user correctly and is suitable to be used for the hazards it is attempting to control. The process below is for disposable respirators and should be followed whenever a mask is worn to ensure a proper seal is obtained. Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 5

6 Once the respirator has been fitted, cover the respirator with your hands and breathe out steadily. You should feel the respirator move outward. If you feel air leaking around the seal, or the respirator does not move, readjust the straps or the nosepiece and attempt the test again. Maintenance Some PPE, such as earplugs and respirators, may be supplied as disposable items. These should be considered single use items and discarded after use. All other PPE should be regularly cleaned and maintained to ensure that the PPE provides the level of protection it is designed for. The correct manner of cleaning and maintaining the PPE should be provided by the manufacturer when purchased. Regular inspection of the PPE should be completed on an ongoing basis and any repairs should be completed immediately a fault is detected. Some PPE, such as hard hats and respirator cartridges, have fixed life and are discarded after the recommended period of time. PPE for site work is typically provided in a bag, which is the employee s responsibility to maintain. Periodical checks of bags shall be undertaken to ensure contents are replenished as stocks are used, using CPS-FM-094 as a checklist. Regular PPE site audits shall be conducted by supervisors. Storage When not in use, PPE must be stored in an accessible, clean and dry designated storage area, or in site PPE bags where these are provided. Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 6

7 Standards associated with Personal Protective Equipment PPE Item Item to comply with AS/NZS Footwear (Required in all CPS National construction areas) Eye Protection (Required while carrying out tasks that require eye protection) Safety Helmets (Required to be worn in designated areas or where the task being performed requires mandatory use of safety helmets) Ear Protection (Required while carrying out tasks that require ear protection) Safety Clothing (Personnel shall wear safety clothing as required by the task or to comply with the client in-house or regulatory requirements) Respiratory Protection (All employees shall wear appropriate respiratory equipment wherever required) Hats (All persons shall wear wide brimmed hats or hats that afford protection to the whole head area whilst working in the sun) Sunscreen (Employees are to apply a sunscreen giving a SPF 15 or better while working in the sun. Application of sunscreen should be done with environmental considerations) Gloves (Personnel are required to wear gloves when the task requires them to be worn.) 2210 (1994) Occupational Protective Footwear 1336 (1997) Recommended Practices for Eye Protection in the Industrial Environment 1337 (1992) Eye Protectors for Industrial Applications 1338 (1992) Filters for Eye Protectors 1800 (1998) Occupational Protective Helmets 1270 (1999) Acoustics - Hearing Protectors 3765 (1990) Clothing for Protection Against Hazardous Chemicals 2919 (1987) Industrial Clothing 4399 (1996) Sun Protective Clothing - Evaluation and Classification 1558 (1973) Protective Clothing for Welders (incorporating Amdt 1) 2375 (1980) Guide to the Selection, Care and Use of Clothing for Protection Against Heat and Fire 1715 (1994) Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protection Devices 1716 (1994) Respiratory Protective Devices 4399 (1996) Sun Protective Clothing - Evaluation and Classification AS/NZS (2000) Occupational Protective Gloves 2225 (1994) Insulating Gloves for Electrical Purposes Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 7

8 PPE Item Harnesses This equipment is only required when doing specific tasks. Licensed riggers required working up masts and towers shall wear an approved safety harness. The harness shall be worn correctly and adjusted by the wearer to a comfortable fit after confirmation of the condition of the harness. The safety line shall be secured to a fixed part of the platform sufficient to hold the full weight of the person. A secondary safety line may be required under instruction from a supervisor or other authorized persons. Alterations to harnesses are not permitted. Item to comply with AS/NZS 1891 (1995) Industrial Fall Arrest Systems and Devices 2626 (1983) Industrial Safety Belts and Harnesses - Selection, Use and Maintenance 1319 (1994) Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment 3 Related Documents Ref. CPS-PR-007 CPS-PR-002 CPS-PR-012 CPS-WI-014 CPS-WI-089 CPS-FM-093 CPS-FM-094 Title & Description Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control of Risks Staff Training Employee Communication and Consultation Purchasing Goods and Services Employee Safety Checklist PPE Register List of PPE (Contents in PPE bags) Prepared By M. Bentley Date 04/11/2016 Checked By V. Mellows Date 04/11/2016 Doc ID CPS-WI-023 Hardcopy Uncontrolled Page 8