STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL Workplace Environment and Health

Section 8, Page 4
July 1, 1995

Personal Protective Equipment

Introduction The North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 was enacted
to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the State of
North Carolina safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our
human resources.

North Carolina’s OSHA bill which specifies all the occupational safety and
health standards promulgated under the Federal Standard, Subpart-I-Personal
Protective Equipment, was adopted in North Carolina effective November 1,
1994.

General OSHA 1. Application

Requirements
Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for
eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices,
and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used and maintained
in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of
hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological
hazards or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing
injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through
absorption, inhalation or physical contact.

2. Equipment

Where employees provide their own protective equipment, the employer

shall be responsible to assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance,
and sanitation of such equipment.

3. Design

All PPE shall be of safe design and construction for the work to be
performed.

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Personal Protective Equipment

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July 1, 1995

Personal Protective Equipment, Continued

General OSHA 4. Hazard Assessment and Equipment Selection

Requirements
(continued) · The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are
present, or likely to be present, and will necessitate the use of PPE. If
such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:
· Select and have each affected employee use the types of PPE that will
protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard
assessment;
· Communicate selection decisions to each employee; and
· Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.

The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment
has been performed through a written certification that identifies the
workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been
performed, the dates of the hazard assessment, and which identifies the
document as a certification of hazard assessment.

5. Defective and Damage Equipment

Defective or damaged PPE shall not be used.

6. Training

The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required to

use PPE. Each employee shall be trained to know at least the following:

· when PPE is necessary,

· what PPE is necessary,
· how to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE,
· the limitations of the PPE, and
· the proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE.

Each affected employee shall demonstrate an understanding of the training

and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work
requiring the use of PPE.

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Personal Protective Equipment

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July 1, 1995

Personal Protective Equipment, Continued

General OSHA When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who
Requirements has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill
(continued) required, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances
where retraining is required, includes but are not limited to the following
situations:

· changes in the workplace, rendering previous training obsolete;

· changes in the type of PPE to be used, rendering previous training
obsolete; and
· inadequacies in an affected employee’s knowledge or use of assigned
PPE indicates that the employee has not retained the requisite
understanding or skill.

The employer shall verify that each affected employee has received and
understood the required training through a written certification that
contains the name of each trained employee, the dates of training, and that
identifies the subject of the certification.

Policy In compliance with the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) the following shall apply to personal protective
equipment.

The State as an employer will furnish, at no cost to the employee, certain

personal protective equipment required by the job. Included as part of this
policy is the “General Personal Protective Equipment Guide” as established
by the North Carolina Department of Labor. The State’s policy in providing
this equipment is noted in each category.

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Personal Protective Equipment

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July 1, 1995

Personal Protective Equipment, Continued

GENERAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT GUIDE

Equipment Funding Guide

Eye Protection 100% State funded As required to protect employee form eye
Safety Glasses except that employees hazards, such as optical radiation or glare
who wear prescription when only frontal protection is required.
glasses pay for the Shaded or special purpose lenses may be
cost of the exam required.

Safety Glasses with 100% State funded As required to protect employee form flying
side shields except that employees fragments, objects, large chips, particles,
who wear prescription sand, dirt, etc. For severe exposure, add
glasses pay for the face-shield over safety glasses.
cost of the exam

Goggles As required to protect employee form

Chemical/Dust 100% State funded chemical splashes, mist, sprays or nuisance
Nuisance dust. For severe exposure, add face shield
over goggles.

Welding Goggles - 100% State funded As required to protect employee against

Indirect Ventilation hazards of welding, cutting, and brazing
operations.

Cup Goggles - Direct 100% State funded As required to protect employee against eye
Ventilation hazards.

Cup Goggles - 100% State funded

Indirect Ventilation As required to protect employee against eye
hazards.
Welding Helmet 100% State funded As required to protect employee against eye
hazards of welding, cutting, and brazing
operations.
Face Shield 100% State funded As required to protect employee’s eyes and
face.

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July 1, 1995

Personal Protective Equipment, Continued

Equipment Funding Guide

Hard Hat 100% State funded As required to protect employee’s head
against impact and falling or flying objects.
Class A - used in construction and general
industry where there is no exposure to high
voltage, electrical shock or burns. Class B -
use to protect the head against high voltage
electricity. Reference: ANSI-Z89.1-1986
Hard Hat Liners 100% State funded As required to protect employee against the
cold weather if hard hat is worn.
Respirators 100% State funded As required to protect employee from
airborne contaminants.
Gloves 100% State funded As required to protect employee from
physical, biological, chemical, radiation, or
electrical hazards. Gloves used for electrical
protection must be marked as to class of
equipment and whether or not they are
ozone-resistant, and shall meet the (ASTM)
D 120-87 Specification for Rubber
Insulating Gloves.
Coveralls or Aprons
Canvas 100% State funded As required to protect employee from
contact with hazardous substances when
canvas provides adequate protection.

Non-Porous (Plastic/ 100% State funded As required to protect employee from

rubber) contact with hazardous substance when
plastic or rubber is needed to provide
adequate protection.
Leather or Other 100% State funded As required to protect employee from
Flame Resistant hazardous substances when leather is needed
Material to provide adequate protection and when
leather or other flame-resistant material is
required to protect employee from fire
hazards.

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Personal Protective Equipment

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July 1, 1995

Personal Protective Equipment, Continued

Equipment Funding Guide

Body Protection - 100% State funded As required to protect employee against
Personal protective biological, radiation, physical, or chemical
footies, vests, aprons, hazards. Base selection on information in
coats, pants, coveralls the workplace hazards control program.
and suits in a range of Reference: Appropriate OSHA-NC
suitable materials and standard(s) purchase request.
sizes
Foot Protection
Safety Shoes State funds for one As required to protect employee working in
pair per year, cost not areas where there is a danger of foot injuries
to exceed dollar dues to falling or rolling objects piercing the
amount established by sole or where protection is needed against
the Office of State electrical hazards. As required to protect
Budget and employees from solid objects weighing 15
Management, which lb. or greater that (1) are handled routinely
includes inflationary each work period (more than once per eight
cost increase. hours) by the employee or other employees,
Employee may or (2) can fall on the exposed employee’s
purchase and be toes from a height exceeding one foot. In
reimbursed on Form general, does not apply to office employees.
BD-403 or agency NOTE: Protective footwear purchased shall
may supply under the comply with ANSI Z41-1991, “American
rules and regulations National Standard for Personal Protection-
of State Purchase and Protective Footwear.”
Contract Division

Rubber and 100% State funded As required to keep employee’s feet dry
Specialized Safety when employee routinely works in wet
Boots locations such as flooded ditches and to
protect from electrical hazards or other
hazards requiring specialized safety boots.
Safety Belts, Harnesses 100% State funded As required to protect employees form
and Life Lines falling while working at elevated (10ft. or
greater) locations not protected by standard
guardrails or safety nets or as required when
working in confined spaces.

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July 1, 1995

Personal Protective Equipment, Continued

Equipment Funding Guide

Safety Nets 100% State funded As required to protect employees working
over 25 feet above ground or water surface
where other protective devices are
impractical and conventional fall protection
system cannot practically be made use of.
Ear Protection 100% State funded As required to protect employee against
hearing loss due to noise.
Life Ring 100% State funded As required to protect employee from
drowning.
Life Jacket (flotation 100% State funded As required for employees working over or
vest) near water where the danger of drowning
exists.

Personal Protective Equipment