Assessing the Need

While visiting a manufacturing client, you discover a noisy and dusty environment.  The employees are wearing dust masks and ear plugs, so you assume the facility is in compliance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Right?

OSHA’s Stand

Assigning personal protective equipment (PPE) based on perceived hazards is not  an acceptable practice according to OSHA.  Their Standard 29 CFR 1910.132 requires employers to assess their workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of PPE.  Hazards may include impact, penetration, crushing, chemicals, heat, and harmful dust.  Employers are required to use feasible engineering and work practice controls to eliminate and reduce hazards before using PPE to protect their employees.  Hazard sources can include machinery, high temperatures processes, chemical exposures, grinding or other harmful dust emitting sources, welding, falling objects, sharp objects or tools, and rolling or pinching objects. Typical examples of engineering and work practice controls include ventilation, substitution of the hazardous material, isolation of the work process, rotation of workers, wet methods, and housekeeping.  If engineering and work practice controls are not feasible for the work area, then PPE must be used. But caution must be exercised in making this decision, since the use of PPE is typically the last control method that OSHA wants to see utilized. Continue Reading →