Quick Start Guide
Chapter 19: Personal Protective Equipment

Program: Personal Protective Equipment
Revised: 12/12
URL: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/CH19.html
Revision Record: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/Pub3000Changes.html

Who needs to know about these requirements?

The requirements of the Personal Protective Program apply to:

• Anyone at LBNL before entering a technical area, construction area, or other area with postings or markings requiring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).


• Anyone working in or walking through any environment where chemical or biological agents are stored or handled; where radioactive materials are stored or handled; where physical hazards exist; where any potential hazard to eyes, feet, head, or skin is present; where hearing damage is possible; where construction poses a risk for injury or illness.

Why?

Inadequate use of Personal Protective Equipment may lead to:

• Injuries (including loss of body members and fatalities) to personnel (burns, lacerations, eye damage, hearing loss, radioactive contamination, being struck by falling objects, electric shock, inhaling harmful substances)


• Extra costs and delays

What you need to do before performing work:

1. Define work/protocols.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be established for all Technical Areas.


• The following PPE fulfill minimum requirements for labs or shops where chemical or biological materials are stored or handled: protective eyewear, long pants, close-toed shoes.


• The following additional PPE may be required based on specific hazards: head protection, respiratory protection, hand protection, skin protection, face protection, toe/foot protection, and hearing protection. 


• Unless otherwise noted, the following PPE fulfill minimum requirements for construction sites: nonconductive hard hats, safety glasses, shirts with sleeves, long pants, reflective vests, and steel-toed (or equivalent) shoes.


• For more information, see Section 19.1.1 (LBNL PPE Policy).

2. Analyze hazards. Perform risk-assessment.

• Area safety leaders determine, in consultation with supervisors and work leads, basic Personal Protective Equipment requirements for their Technical Areas. See Section 19.1.3.1 (Area Safety Leaders).


• Supervisors and work leads review operations to determine additional PPE needed. They repeat this process when work or physical layout changes. See Section 19.1.3.2 (Supervisors and Work Leads).
  

3. Develop controls. Inform others of these requirements and post relevant PPE requirements on entrance placards.

• Area safety leaders post minimum requirements on entrance placards. See Section 19.1.1 (LBNL PPE Policy).


• Supervisors and work leads ensure extra requirements are included on placards. See Section 19.1.3.2 (Supervisors and Work Leads).


• Supervisors must ensure that workers are trained to use required PPE and that they use it. Detailed equipment requirements start with Section 19.2 (Protective Clothing).
  

Where to find out more:

• LBNL Health and Safety Manual (PUB-3000), Chapter 19 (Personal Protective Equipment (PPE))


• LBNL Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan


• LBNL PUB-3000 Chapter 4 (Industrial Hygiene) Section 4.5 (Noise)


• LBNL PUB-3000 Chapter 4 (Industrial Hygiene) Section 4.13 (Respiratory Protection)


• LBNL PUB-3000 Chapter 8 (Electrical Safety) Section 8.6.2 (Supplemental Physical Controls and Administrative Controls)


• PUB-3000 Chapter 10 (Construction Safety) Appendix A.19 (Personal Protective Equipment)


• PUB-3000 Chapter 16 (Laser Safety) Section 16.5.5 (Laser Protective Eyewear)


• PUB-3000 Chapter 30 (Fall Protection Program)

Whom to contact for help:

For assistance with Personal Protective Equipment questions, contact the appropriate SME:

• General PPE requirements – Michael Wisherop, ext. 7407


• Protective footwear (shoe mobile schedule) – Edith Perry, ext. 7170


• Laboratory (chemical) PPE – Larry McLouth, ext. 5286


• Hearing protection – Herb Toor, ext. 5918


• Respiratory protection – Herb Toor, ext. 5918


• Electrical PPE – Mike Scott, ext. 4694


• Construction PPE – Rob Connelly, ext. 4028


• Laser protective eyewear
  • Greta Toncheva, Laser Safety Officer, ext. 7579
  • Robert Fairchild, Deputy LSO, ext. 2278
    


• Fall protection – Matt Rice, ext. 7512