Eye and Face Protection
Foot Protection
Hand Protection
Head Protection
Hearing Protection
Respiratory Protection

In 1970, the United States Congress established the right for workers to have "safe and healthful working conditions" through the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This written program complies with the OSHA standard for Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910.Subpart I). The following procedures are based on the requirements established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It is the policy of Murray State University to provide adequate protection to its employees by using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed. Murray State shall supply the PPE (except footwear) at no cost to the employee. Murray State shall perform a hazard assessment, provide training, and maintain records regarding the personal protection program. All employees shall wear PPE as required. Failure to wear PPE can result in disciplinary action, including the termination of employment.

The purpose of this Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program is to prevent exposure to workplace hazards, document hazard assessments, put corrective measures in place, and implement the use of PPE at Murray State University. PPE devices are not to be relied on as the only means to provide protection against hazards. The best approach is to abate the hazard first through engineering controls (change in process, elimination of process, chemical substitution, etc.), with PPE to provide protection against hazards which cannot reasonably be abated otherwise. PPE should be used in conjunction with guards, engineering controls, and sound manufacturing practices. Respiratory Protection is covered in a separate MSU program.

This program applies to all university employees. This program contains requirements for practices and procedures to protect Murray State University employees from hazards existing in their work environment. Each department is required to make the program readily accessible to employees through posting, inserting in a departmental procedures manual, or by providing photocopies upon request. A master copy is on file in the Office of Environmental Safety and Health. This program shall be used in conjunction with other policies and procedures involving respiratory protection and hearing conservation.

The Office of Environmental Safety and Health shall be responsible for:
* Annual PPE review training
* Considering and implementing engineering controls for recognized hazards
* Being knowledgeable of the PPE program requirements and advising departments on proper use of PPE
* Maintaining copies of MSU department and area hazard assessments and reassessments
* Upon request of departments:
- assist with hazard assessments
- assist in analysis of injuries/accidents
- assist in the selection of PPE
- assist in training
- conduct Train-the-Trainer programs

Management (Department Chairpersons and Directors) are responsible for:
* Supplying PPE to employees at no cost to the employee
* Maintaining records of hazard assessments, reassessments, training, retraining, and PPE selection

Supervisors are responsible for:
* Attending Train-the-Trainer program for PPE
* Being knowledgeable of the PPE program requirements and following the PPE program
* Training new employees and following the training outline requirements as needed
* Enforcing the PPE program
* Attending Immediate Supervisor PPE Program training offered by the Office of Environmental Safety and Health. Please call 3480 to arrange this training. This is to be completed before performing the Hazard Assessments.
* Performing hazard assessments and reassessments
* Issuing PPE
* Ensuring employee compliance with cleaning and maintenance of PPE
* Providing documentation of hazard assessments and reassessments to the Office Environmental Safety and Health
* Providing a copy of the PPE Program to an employee upon their request

Employees are responsible for:
* Being knowledgeable of the PPE program requirements and following the PPE program
* Attending training sessions
* Properly wearing, cleaning, maintaining and inspecting all assigned PPE
* Returning all damaged PPE to their immediate supervisor to receive a replacement
* Only using the PPE approved by the university.

Program Enforcement
A violation of a University employee's responsibility must be reported to the employee's immediate supervisor for appropriate action.

In order to assess the need for PPE, the following steps must be taken:

* The person performing the hazard assessment shall receive assessment training provided by the Office of Environmental Safety and Health

* Each immediate supervisor shall conduct a hazard assessment for all positions they supervise, using the MSU PPE Hazard Assessment information in this binder. A copy of the completed Hazard Assessment form must be sent to the Office of Environmental Safety and Health. The purpose of these surveys is to identity work hazards.

* Engineering controls must be considered and implemented, where possible, to abate any hazards found.

* It is the responsibility of each immediate supervisor to annually reassess the workplace. If job hazards or PPE have not changed, simply indicate this on the PPE Hazard Assessment form and return to the Office of Environmental Safety and Health. If there are changes, indicate what they are and return a copy of the Office of Environmental Safety and Health.

* Elements to consider in the reassessment include:

- Effectiveness of PPE Program
- Injury and illness experience
- Levels of exposure
- Adequacy of equipment selection
- Number of hour's workers wear various protective equipment
- Adequacy of training/fitting of PPE
- Program costs
- The adequacy of program records
- Coordination with overall safety and health program
- New equipment and/or processes

Selection Guidelines
After completion of the hazard assessment, and all hazards are identified, the procedure used for selection of personal protective equipment is as follows:

* Review possible engineering controls before deciding to use PPE

* Match the potential hazards with the most appropriate types of PPE available. This will be done by using the selection guidelines for each specific category of PPE included in this document. The categories are hand protection, eye and face protection, head protection, foot protection, hearing protection, and protective clothing. An example PPE Selection Form is included in this binder. This may be used as a template to develop a form to meet your specific department needs. If hearing protection or respiratory protection is needed, contact the Office of Environmental Safety and Health at 3480 for additional program information and evaluation.

* After the selection process is complete, the selection shall be communicated to affected employees.

* Provide the user with the proper, well-fitted protective device and give training as required. Each department must provide employees personal protective equipment at no cost to the employees. Defective and damaged equipment or PPE shall not be used.

* Create a written record of the PPE Selection process using the forms in Appendix B. Keep a copy in the departmental files and send a copy to the Office of Environmental Safety and Health.

Training
Employee Training
Supervisor Training
* The Office of Environmental Safety and Health will provide this training. Departments may attend training advertised by the Office of Environmental Safety and Health.
* Immediate Supervisor training shall include the following:
- Hazard assessment and written certification
- Importance of personal protective equipment
- Selection of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Fitting of PPE
- Testing of PPE
- Inspection of PPE
- Training Programs for PPE and employee certification
- Retraining
- MSU's program overview

* Any employee who will be using PPE will be trained by their supervisor on the following:
- Program overview and where the written program is located within the Department
- When and where PPE is necessary
- What PPE is necessary
- How to wear assigned PPE
- Limitations of PPE
- The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of assigned PPE

Many times the training information required can be found on the manufacturer's instructions. Employees and immediate supervisors must demonstrate an understanding of the training and the ability to use PPE properly before they are allowed to perform work requiring the use of the equipment.

If there is reason to believe an employee or immediate supervisor does not have the understanding or skill required, they must be retrained. Retraining may be required when there are changes in the workplace, or changes in the types of PPE to be used, which would render previous training obsolete. Inadequacies in an employee's or immediate supervisor's knowledge in the use of the assigned PPE, or selection of PPE, would also require retraining.

The trainer shall certify in writing the employee has received and understood the PPE training. An example form is included in this binder. You may use this form or develop another to meet your specific department needs. File a copy in your departmental records and send a copy to the Office of Environmental Safety and Health.

It is important that all PPE be kept clean and properly maintained by the employee assigned to use the equipment. Cleaning is particularly important for eye and face protection. Dirty or fogged lenses could impair vision. PPE is to be inspected, cleaned and maintained by employees at regular intervals and as stated in the manufacturer's instructions. This is not included as part of their normal job duties. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring compliance with cleaning and maintenance requirements and supplying adequate cleaning supplies.

If an article of PPE is in need of repair or replacement, it is the responsibility of the employee to bring it to the immediate attention of his/her supervisor. Do not use PPE if it is in need of repair or if it is not able to perform its intended function.

Contaminated PPE, which cannot be decontaminated, must be disposed of in a manner that protects employees from exposure to the hazard. Follow you department's procedures. To inquire about the proper disposal methods of contaminated PPE, contact the Office of Environmental Safety and Health at 3481.