STATEMENT of POLICY and PROCEDURE
Chapter: Human Resources SPP No. HR 6.08
Section: Health and Safety Issued: Sep. 26, 2011
Effective: Sep. 26, 2011 Subject: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Page: 1 of 4
Issue to: All Manual Holders Replaces:
Issued by: Executive Director Dated:
1 POLICY 1.01 It is the policy of OFAH to control all hazards on our physical work premises (Conservation Centre, Heritage Centre, Ringwood FCS, employee home offices, worksites in the field, etc.) using engineering and administrative controls.
1.02 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last means of protecting employees and volunteers from injury. PPE is only employed when administrative and engineering controls are ineffective or insufficient. Hazards should be minimized by ensuring that all jobs are well planned, employees are properly trained, and safe work practices and safe job procedures are followed. PPE provides an additional degree of protection from injury.
1.03 In order to ensure that all employees and volunteers are protected from hazards where possible at our physical work premises, it is policy for them to wear PPE that meets or exceeds current Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards: eye protection, foot protection, hand protection, hearing protection, head protection, skin protection, respiratory protection, fall arrest protection, and other applicable equipment, where appropriate.
2 PURPOSE 2.01 The purpose of this policy is to ensure that PPE is available and worn by employees and volunteers at our physical work premises, when a specific hazard cannot be eliminated or controlled within safe limits.
3 SCOPE 3.01 This Statement of Policy and Procedure applies to all employees and volunteers.
4 RESPONSIBILITY 4.01 Managers/supervisors are responsible for: Performing a hazard assessment, and determining if a hazard is present, or likely to be present, and identify the required PPE for employees; Ensuring employees are trained in the proper use, care, and maintenance prior to using the PPE; Ensuring employees are wearing required PPE and that such devices are available, cleaned, maintained and stored properly; Ensuring PPE are returned when an employee transfers or completes their employment; and
Human Resources PolicyPro — Ontario Edition HR 6.08 – 1
STATEMENT of POLICY and PROCEDURE
Chapter: Human Resources SPP No. HR 6.08
Section: Health and Safety Issued: Sep. 26, 2011
Effective: Sep. 26, 2011 Subject: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Page: 2 of 4
Issue to: All Manual Holders Replaces:
Issued by: Executive Director Dated:
Reporting to the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) when an employee fails or refuses to wear personal protective equipment.
4.02 Employees and volunteers are responsible for: Being informed of all hazards, and potential hazards during a project or activity; Bringing all hazards to the attention of the project or activity manager/supervisor; Participating in PPE training in the proper use, care, and maintenance of the equipment prior to using PPE; Always wearing and using the required PPE correctly, which includes proper cleaning, maintenance and storage of the PPE; Never using PPE that is defective, damaged, or altered in any way; and Returning all PPE to the project or activity manager/supervisor prior to transfer or completion of employment.
5 DEFINITIONS 5.01 “Personal protective equipment” means safety-approved eye, hearing, foot, head, hand, skin and respiratory protection that meets or exceeds the requirements of CSA.
6 REFERENCES and RELATED STATEMENTS of POLICY and PROCEDURE Canada Labour Code, 1985 (Canada) and Regulations Canada Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, 1986 (Canada) Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1990 (Ontario) and Regulations City of Hamilton “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)” November 1, 2002 Dress Code Health and Safety Principles Accident and Injury Reporting Accident Investigation Shipping and Receiving Traffic Control Field Work Safety Working Alone
Human Resources PolicyPro — Ontario Edition HR 6.08 – 2
STATEMENT of POLICY and PROCEDURE
Chapter: Human Resources SPP No. HR 6.08
Section: Health and Safety Issued: Sep. 26, 2011
Effective: Sep. 26, 2011 Subject: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Page: 3 of 4
Issue to: All Manual Holders Replaces:
Issued by: Executive Director Dated:
7 PROCEDURE 7.01 Eye and Face Protection 7.01.1 (a) Approved eye and face protection, meeting CSA standards, must be worn by all employees and volunteers who operate or observe the use of any machine or tool that may expose the employee or volunteer to hazards from flying objects or particles, molten metal, fumes, chemical liquids, gases, vapours, dusts, acids, caustics, and other potentially harmful chemical or physical hazards that may cause eye, face or ear damage. (b) When wearing prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards, employees and volunteers must wear eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the prescription lenses or the protective lenses. (c) The OFAH program will provide approved safety glasses/goggles to employees and volunteers who require them in the performance of their normal duties. Approved eye protection is available from each employee's manager/supervisor, upon request.
7.02 Foot Protection 7.02.1 Employees and volunteers who are required to regularly work at least eighty percent (80%) of their working day in area(s) where there is a risk of foot injury from pallets, heavy objects or materials, or a risk from sharp objects, will wear approved safety shoes or boots that meet CSA standards.
7.03 Hand Protection 7.03.1 (a) Approved gloves, meeting CSA standards, must be worn by all employees and volunteers exposed to hazards from severe cuts, lacerations, abrasions or punctures, chemical or thermal burns, harmful temperature extremes, and skin absorption of harmful substances. Managers/supervisors will maintain a list of the type of gloves to be used for the handling of hazardous products in their department. (b) The OFAH program will provide approved suitable gloves to employees and volunteers who require them in the performance of their normal duties. Approved gloves are available from each employee's manager/supervisor, upon request.
7.04 Hearing Protection 7.04.1 (a) Approved hearing protection, meeting CSA standards, must be worn by all employees and volunteers in environments where noise levels equal or exceed eighty five (85) decibels during a period of eight (8) hours. (b) A clearly visible warning sign will be posted at every entry point to an area in the workplace, work location, field work location, etc. where the sound level regularly exceeds eighty five (85) decibels. (c) The OFAH program will provide approved hearing protection to those employees and volunteers requiring such equipment.
Human Resources PolicyPro — Ontario Edition HR 6.08 – 3
STATEMENT of POLICY and PROCEDURE
Chapter: Human Resources SPP No. HR 6.08
Section: Health and Safety Issued: Sep. 26, 2011
Effective: Sep. 26, 2011 Subject: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Page: 4 of 4
Issue to: All Manual Holders Replaces:
Issued by: Executive Director Dated:
7.05 Head Protection 7.05.1 Approved head protection, meeting CSA standards, is required for entry into any area where there is a danger from falling objects or where head injury is possible. Hard hats will be worn at all times within any designated project or activity in our physical work premises.
7.06 Skin Protection 7.06.1 Where there is a hazard of injury or disease to or through the skin in a work place, whether through exposure to substances, surfaces or sun, the OFAH program will provide every employee and volunteer exposed to such conditions with a shield or screen, a cream to protect the skin, or an appropriate body covering.
7.07 Respiratory Protection 7.07.1 (a) Approved respiratory protection, meeting CSA standards, is provided by the OFAH program, and will be worn by all employees and volunteers who handle hazardous products that are deemed a health risk if inhaled or where employees and volunteers are required to work in specified confined spaces. (b) Managers/supervisors will maintain a list of products or processes where respiratory protection is required. Employees and volunteers will be properly fitted and trained in the use, wearing and cleaning of respiratory protective equipment prior to entering such work locations.
7.08 Approval for additional PPE, other than those outlined herein, require the approval of the employee’s direct reporting manager/supervisor or the Executive Director.
7.09 Hazard areas requiring the use of PPE will be appropriately signed and posted at every entry point to such areas. Employees and volunteers entering such areas are required to wear the appropriate PPE upon entry, and while in the hazard area.
7.10 Violation of this policy will lead to disciplinary action and may include discharge for cause.
8 ATTACHMENTS None.
Human Resources PolicyPro — Ontario Edition HR 6.08 – 4