Personal Protective Equipment Training Guide
(Taken from the "Tailgate Meetings that Work : A Guide
to Effective Construction Safety Training" series) |
|
Robin Baker, Robert
Downey, Mary Ruth Gross, Charles Reiter
Labor Occupational Health Program
(LOHP) School of Public Health,
University of California, Berkeley Ca.
These tailgate/toolbox
talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The
complete set is available from the Labor Occupational Health Program
at UC Berkeley. For ordering information, visit the website (www.lohp.org)
The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. To contact
ACGIH, visit its web site (www.acgih.org). |
Before you begin the meeting...
- Does this topic
relate to the work the crew is doing? If not, choose another topic.
- Has the crew completed
basic Hazard Communication training? It will help them understand this
topic.
- Did you read this
Training Guide and fill in the blanks where the
appears? (To find the information you need, look over the Safety Walkaround
Checklist for this topic.)
- Did you bring
samples of personal protective equipment (for example, a hardhat, goggles,
and gloves) to demonstrate to the crew?
Begin: You've
probably heard a lot of excuses for not wearing protective equipment like
a hardhat, gloves, and goggles. People say "they're hot and uncomfortable"
or "they make it harder to get the job done." Sometimes these things are
true. But the inconvenience is a small price to pay for safety. A job
injury might disable you for life.
Personal protective
equipment is no substitute for other safety precautions. No hardhat is
going to save you if a crane dumps its load on you. But if you use the
right safety equipment the right way, you can reduce the danger of injury.
You or a crew member
may want to add a personal story about protective equipment.
(Note: This Training
Guide does not cover all types of personal protective equipment. Some
types, including respirators and hearing protection, are covered in separate
Training Guides.)
ASK
THE CREW THESE QUESTIONS:
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After
each question, give the crew time to suggest possible answers. Use the
information following each question to add points that no one mentions.
1.We have posted
all hardhat areas on this site. What hazards does a hardhat protect you
from?
- It protects your
head from falling or flying objects.
- It cushions the
blow if you hit your head on something.
- It insulates you
from burns and electric shocks (if it's a non-conductive
type).
- It keeps your
hair from:
- getting tangled
in machinery or equipment
- getting dust
or chemicals on it.
2. What is the suspension
in a hardhat for? How should you adjust it?
- The suspension
keeps a cushion of air between the outer shell and your head.
- The cushion of
air is important protection. Don't interfere with it. Never carry
anything (like tools or cigarettes) inside your hardhat while you're
wearing it.
- Adjust the
suspension so there's 1¼ inches between the top of your head and the
shell. (If the manufacturer's directions are different, follow those.)
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Using
the hardhat you brought to the meeting, show how to adjust the suspension.
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3. How often
should you inspect a hardhat? When should you replace it?
- Inspect the entire
hardhat every day. Replace it immediately if you see damage
to the shell, liner, or suspension.
- Don't decorate
the hardhat. You may not be able to see damage if it has been painted
or covered with stickers.
- Replace
the hardhat if there has been a significant impact, even if you can't
see any damage. The impact may have weakened it.
- Change the
suspension in a hardhat for each new user.
4. When do you need
eye protection?
- You may need eye
protection when there's danger from:
- flying particles
(from saws, drills, etc.)
- splashes
- dust
- protruding
or projecting parts
- chemical
vapors or fumes
- bright light
or ultraviolet rays (from welding, lasers, etc.)
5. What types of
eye protection are there? How do you know which kind to use?
- Depending on
the particular hazard, you may need safety glasses with side shields,
goggles,or a full face shield. We'll give you the right
kind for the job you're doing.
- If you wear goggles,
there are several types. With acids and some other chemicals, you may
need special splash resistant goggles. With lasers, use laser
safety goggles).
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For
each job, show the type of eye protection required, and explain
where to obtain it:
_______________________________________________
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- Don't wear
contact lenses on a construction site unless approved by a doctor.
6. When do you need
to wear gloves?
- Gloves can help
protect you from:
- flying particles
- electricity
- cuts
- chemicals
and radioactive material
- cold or wet
surfaces or environments
- burns
7. Not all gloves
are the same. How do you choose the right glove for the job?
- Use wire mesh
gloves if there's an extreme danger of cuts.
- Use insulated
rubber gloves (with canvas or leather outer gloves) for electrical
work.
- Use non-flammable
gloves when welding.
- Only special chemical
resistant gloves (rubber or plastic) will protect you from chemicals.
Different types stop different chemicals from getting through to your
skin. The package should tell you which chemicals the glove is designed
for.
Chemical resistant
gloves break down over time. Then the chemicals start to get through.
Don't use them beyond their intended service time (shown on the package).
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For each
job, show the type of gloves required, and explain where to obtain
them:
_______________________________________________
|
8. What other
protective clothing might you need?
- Wear steel-toed
safety shoes when anything might crush or penetrate your foot.
- If you're using
a jackhammer, steel should cover your whole foot, not just the toes.
- Wear boots
when you work near hot surfaces, with concrete, or in wet locations.
- Wear an apron
or coveralls to protect yourself from dust, chemicals, cuts,
and burns.
- A full body
suit may be necessary if you work with asbestos, lead, or toxic
waste. It can also protect you from steam and from extreme heat or cold.
9. If you're working
around dust or chemicals, how can you find out what protective clothing
and equipment you need?
- Ask your foreman
for advice. Also read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for
each chemical product. MSDSs are required by law. They'll tell you the
ingredients, hazards, and what protective equipment you need.
10. Who is responsible
for supplying protective clothing and equipment?
- The employer
must supply it, make sure it fits, train you how to use it, and maintain
it in a safe and sanitary condition. Tell your foreman about any defects
you notice.
- All protective
clothing and equipment must be a type which is safety-approved.
Look for a label stating that it meets American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) specs.
- Protective gear
which you supply yourself (like prescription safety glasses)
must still comply with Cal/OSHA and ANSI requirements.
Explain:
Most of the safety measures we've talked about are required by Cal/OSHA.
We have to take these precautions—it's the law. I have a Checklist of
the Cal/OSHA regulations on personal protective equipment. If you'd like
to know more, see me after the meeting.
(Only if applicable.)
Besides the Cal/OSHA regulations, we have some additional company rules
about personal protective equipment. For example, our rules spell out what
will happen if you don't use personal protective equipment when required.
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Discuss
company rules:
____________________________________
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Ask: Do you have
any other concerns about personal protective equipment? Do you see any
problems on our job? (Let the steward answer first, if there is
one.)
What about other
jobs you've worked on? Have you had any experience with personal protective
equipment that might help us work safer on this job?
GENERAL
SAFETY DISCUSSION
|
This is a time
to discuss all safety concerns, not just today's topic. Keep your notes
on this page before, during and after the safety meeting.
Are you aware
of any hazards from other crews? Point out any hazards other crews
are creating that this crew should know about. Tell the crew what you
intend to do about those hazards.
Do we have any
old business? Discuss past issues/problems. Report progress of
investigations and action taken.
Any new business?
Any accidents/near misses/complaints? Discuss accidents, near misses,
and complaints that have happened since the last safety meting. Also recognize
the safety contributions made by members of the crew.
Please remember,
we want to hear from you about any health and safety issues that come
up. If we don't know about problems, we can't take action to fix them.
To complete the
training session:
- Circulate Sign-Off
Form.
- Assign one
or more crew member(s) to help with next safety meeting.
- Refer action
items for follow-up. (Use the sample Hazard Report Form in the
Reference Section of this binder, or your companys own form.)
Date Prepared:_________________________ |
By:____________________ |
Project
Name/No.______________________ |
Location:_______________ |
NAMES
OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THIS SAFETY MEETING
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Tailgate
Meetings That Work : Collection
Published in June, 1994 by: Labor Occupational Health Program, School
of Public Health, 2515 Channing Way, University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720. Phone: (510) 642-5507.
Permission is granted to duplicate these materials for non-profit educational
purposes, provided that copies are not offered for sale.
This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author
and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent.
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