PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

 

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·       PROVISION OF PPE

·       TRAINING

·       RESPONSIBILITIES

Ø    Worker

·       EYE PROTECTION

Ø    Contact lenses

·       BODY/SKIN PROTECTION

·       FOOT PROTECTION

·       RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

 

PROVISION OF PPE

The employer is required to provide and maintain equipment. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 13)

 

TRAINING

Every employee who is required to use PPE must be given pre-job instruction to understand its use, limitations, and maintenance requirements. (Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations EC180/87, 45.3)

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Worker

An employee must wear or use any protective equipment required by regulation. (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 17)

 

An employee using PPE must test the equipment before each use and not wear any equipment found to be defective. (Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations EC180/87, 45.4)

 

EYE PROTECTION

A worker exposed to a hazard that could irritate or injure the eyes must wear eye protection suitable for the hazard and in accordance with CAN/CSA Z94.3 Industrial Eye and Face Protectors.

 

The employer must ensure that an employee who has 20/200 vision in either eye, or is blind in either eye, wears eye protection.

 

Contact lenses

An employee must immediately notify his or her employer when he or she intends to wear contact lenses at the workplace. The employer must ensure that no employee wears contact lenses where gases or other materials are present which when absorbed by contact lenses may harm the eyes or when dusts or other materials are present that may harm the eyes. (Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations EC180/87, 45.7 – 45.10)

 

BODY/SKIN PROTECTION

A worker who is exposed to the hazard of puncture, abrasion, or irritation to the hands or arms must wear gloves or other personal protective equipment to prevent injury.

 

Employees handling or using acids, caustics or similar harmful substances must wear suitable protective equipment. (Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulation EC180/87, 45.13 – 45.14)

 

FOOT PROTECTION

Where there is a danger of injury to the feet, the employee must wear footwear that meets the standards and specifications of CSA Z195 Protective Footwear or a standard offering similar protection. Footwear that has deteriorated to the point where it does not provide the required protection must not be used. (Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulation EC180/87, 45.15 – 45.16)

 

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

Where an employee is exposed to an oxygen-deficient atmosphere or harmful concentrations of air contaminants, the employee must wear approved protective respiratory equipment.

 

The selection, use and care of respirators must be in accordance with CSA Z94.4 Selection, Care, and Use of Respirators, or a similar standard.

 

Workers must be clean-shaven where the respirator seals with the face.

 

Access routes to work areas where employees may be exposed to an oxygen-deficient atmosphere or harmful concentrations of air contaminants must be posted with signs specifying the required PPE and the areas and hazards involved. (Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations EC180/87, 45.17 – 45.20)

 

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