Personal Protective Equipment Policy
Introduction
Stripout London Ltd (SL), our subcontractors and supply chain have a duty concerning the provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at work.
PPE is equipment that will protect our staff against health or safety risks at work. It may include items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses.
It also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
The purpose of this Policy is to protect the employees of Stripout London Ltd from exposure to work place hazards and the risk of injury through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is not a substitute for more effective control methods and its use will be considered only when other means of protection against hazards are not adequate or feasible. It will be used in conjunction with other controls unless no other means of hazard control exist.
Even where engineering controls and safe systems of work have been applied, some hazards might remain. These include injuries to:
the lungs, e.g. from breathing in contaminated air
the head and feet, e.g. from falling materials
the eyes, e.g. from flying particles or splashes of corrosive liquids
the skin, e.g. from contact with corrosive materials
the body, e.g. from extremes of heat or cold
PPE is needed in these cases to reduce the risk.
Personal protective equipment will be provided, used, and maintained when it has been determined that its use is required to ensure the safety and health of our employees and that such use will lessen the likelihood of occupational injury and/or illness.
Stripout London Ltd Protective Equipment Policies includes:-
Responsibilities of the PPE Designated Supervision.
Responsibilities of supervisors and employees
Hazard assessment and PPE selection
Employee training
Cleaning and Maintenance of PPE
Responsibilities
The site supervisor is responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of Stripout London Ltd PPE policies.
This involves:-
1. Conducting workplace hazard assessments to determine the presence of hazards which necessitate the use of PPE by considering:
Who is exposed and to what?
How long are they exposed for?
How much are they exposed to?
2. Selecting and purchasing PPE by:
Seeking supplier’s advice and only choosing products which are CE marked in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002.
Choosing equipment that suits the user taking into consideration the size, fit and weight of the PPE.
Taking into consideration that if more than one item of PPE is to be worn at the same time, to make sure they can be used together, e.g. wearing safety glasses may disturb the seal of a respirator, causing air leaks
Instructing and training staff on why it is used, why it is needed, when to use it and what its limitations are
3. Reviewing, updating, and conducting PPE hazard assessments whenever
a job changes
new equipment is used
there has been an accident
a supervisor or employee requests it
or at least every year
Maintaining records on hazard assessments.
Maintaining records on PPE assignments and training.
Providing training, guidance, and assistance to supervisors and employees on the proper use, care, and cleaning of approved PPE.
Periodically re-evaluating the suitability of previously selected PPE.
By reviewing, updating, and evaluating the overall effectiveness of PPE use, training, and policies.
Supervisors
Supervisors have a delegated duty to assist the PPE Designated Supervisor for implementing and enforcing PPE use and policies in their work area. This involves working with the designated person and the member of staff to protect the following:
Eyes
Hazards
Chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour, radiation.
PPE
Safety spectacles, goggles, face screens, face shields, visors. Any eye protection chosen will have the right combination of impact/dust/splash/molten metal eye protection for the task and fits the user properly.
Head and Neck
Hazards
Impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair getting tangled in machinery, chemical drips or splash, climate or temperature.
PPE
Industrial safety helmets, bump caps etc. consideration also given to neck protection, eg scarves for use during welding.
Ears
Hazards
Noise – a combination of sound level and duration of exposure, very high-level sounds are a hazard even with short duration.
PPE
Earplugs, earmuffs, semi-insert/canal caps taking into consideration that the protection must be suitable for the type of work to reduce the noise to and acceptable level while still allowing communication. Staff must know how to fit them.
Hands and Arms
Hazards
Abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals, electric shock, radiation, vibration, biological agents and prolonged immersion in water.
PPE
Gloves, gloves with a cuff, gauntlets and sleeving that covers part or all of the arm. Gloves must be suitable for the task taking into account possible chemical penetration and / or snagging on moving parts.
Feet and Legs
Hazards
Wet, hot and cold conditions, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects, heavy loads, metal and chemical splash, vehicles.
PPE
Safety boots and shoes with protective toecaps and penetration-resistant, mid-sole wellington boots and specific footwear. Footwear must be appropriate for the risks identified
Lungs
Hazards
Oxygen-deficient atmospheres, dusts, gases and vapours.
PPE (RPE)
Some respirators rely on filtering contaminants from workplace air. These include simple filtering facepieces and respirators and power-assisted respirators
Make sure it fits properly, e.g. for tight-fitting respirators (filtering facepieces, half and full masks)
The right type of respirator filter must be used as each is effective for only a limited range of substances
Filters have only a limited life. Where there is a shortage of oxygen or any danger of losing consciousness due to exposure to high levels of harmful fumes, only use breathing apparatus – never use a filtering cartridge
Whole Body
Hazards
Heat, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure leaks or spray guns, contaminated dust, impact or penetration, excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing
PPE
Conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, aprons, chemical suits the choice of materials includes flame-retardant, anti-static, chain mail, chemically impermeable, and high-visibility.
Employees
The PPE user is responsible for following the requirements of the PPE policies. This involves
Properly wearing PPE as required.
Attending required training sessions.
Properly caring for, cleaning, maintaining, and inspecting PPE as required.
Following SL PPE policies and rules.
Informing the supervisor of the need to repair or replace PPE.
Employees who repeatedly disregard and do not follow PPE policies and rules will be dismissed.
Training
Any worker required to wear PPE will receive training in the proper use and care of PPE before being allowed to perform the required work. Periodic retraining will be offered to PPE users as needed. The training will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following subjects:-
When PPE is necessary to be worn
What PPE is necessary
How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE
The limitations of the PPE
The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE
After the training, the employees will demonstrate that they understand how to use PPE properly, or they will be retrained.
Training of each employee will be documented and kept on file. The document certifies that the employee has received and understood the required training on the specific PPE he/she will be using.
Retraining
The need for retraining will be indicated when:-
an employee’s work habits or knowledge indicates a lack of the necessary understanding, motivation, and skills required to use the PPE (i.e., uses PPE improperly)
new equipment is installed
changes in the work place make previous training out-of-date
changes in the types of PPE to be used make previous training out-of-date
Cleaning and Maintenance of PPE
It is important that all PPE be kept clean and properly maintained. Cleaning is particularly important for eye and face protection where dirty or fogged lenses could impair vision. Employees must inspect, clean, and maintain their PPE according to the manufacturers’ instructions before and after each use. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that users properly maintain their PPE in good condition.
Personal protective equipment must not be shared between employees until it has been properly cleaned and sanitized. PPE will be distributed for individual use whenever possible.
Defective or damaged PPE will not be used and will be immediately discarded and replaced.
It is also important to ensure that contaminated PPE which cannot be decontaminated is disposed of in a manner that protects employees from exposure to hazards.
Safety Disciplinary Policy
Stripout London Ltd believes that the safety and health of its employees is of primary importance. Our company believes that in order to maintain a safe and healthful workplace, the employees must be aware and understand all company safety and health provisions as they apply to the specific job duties required.