Chapter 19
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Contents

Approved by Mike Wisherop
Revised 03/12

• 19.1 Policy
• 19.2 Scope
• 19.3 Applicability
• 19.4 Exceptions
• 19.5 Roles and Responsibilities
• 19.6 Definitions
• 19.7 Required Work Processes
• 19.8 Source Requirements
• 19.9 Related Documents

NOTE:
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19.1 Policy

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are established for each technical area, based on the specific hazards of the area. PPE requirements for each technical area are listed on the Berkeley Lab technical area entrance placard, which can be downloaded from the Laboratory’s Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan. These area PPE requirements are in effect for the entire technical area.

19.2 Scope

This program’s scope includes Berkeley Lab technical areas, such as laboratories, shops, mechanical rooms, construction projects, and maintenance areas.

19.3 Applicability

This program applies to all Laboratory employees, subcontractors, vendors, visitors, and affiliates who work in or travel through technical areas.

19.4 Exceptions

Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Division Director using the process described in the Guidelines for Exceptions to Policy on Personal Protective Equipment and Food in Technical Areas.

19.5 Roles and Responsibilities

19.6 Definitions

19.7 Required Work Processes

Work Process A. PPE Flowchart

Work Process B. General PPE Requirements

1. Minimum Area PPE Requirements: Minimum area PPE requirements for specific technical areas are as follows:
   1. Laboratories. Where chemicals or biological materials are stored or handled: Protective eyewear (e.g., safety glasses with side shields), long pants, and closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times. Additional PPE may be necessary when handling chemicals or biological materials (e.g., goggles, lab coat, and chemically resistant protective gloves for handling hazardous chemicals). Consult the following for more details:
      1. Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan
      2. Job Hazards Analysis
      3. Any formal authorizations
   2. Non-Laboratories. Shops or other process areas where a potential hazard exists (e.g., machine shops, construction sites, mechanical rooms, or areas where hazardous chemicals are dispensed or used): Protective eyewear (e.g., safety glasses with side shields), long pants, and closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times. Additional PPE may be necessary when handling chemicals or biological materials (e.g., goggles, lab coat, and chemically resistant protective gloves for handling hazardous chemicals) or when performing other tasks. Consult the following for more details:
      1. Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan
      2. PUB-3000, Chapter 25 (Machine Safeguarding — Shop and Lab Machine Safety)
      3. Job Hazards Analysis
      4. Any formal authorizations
   3. Visitors and others walking through a technical area but not performing work in that area must wear the minimum area PPE but generally are not required to wear additional PPE that is assigned to those who are performing operations in the technical area.
   4. Protective clothing is not a substitute for adequate engineering controls.
   5. Appendix B to 29 CFR 1910, Subpart I, provides nonmandatory compliance guidelines for making a hazard assessment to determine the type of PPE needed for activities and operations.
2. Protective Clothing
   1. Criteria for Issue. To protect their health and safety, employees who work with hazardous materials will be issued protective clothing. EH&S is available for consultation as needed. The Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan gives additional guidance for the selection and use of PPE.
   2. Foot Protection
      1. Berkeley Lab policy requires workers to wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is risk of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, objects piercing the sole, or work-related fatigue, or where workers’ feet are exposed to electrical hazards. When safety shoes are required, they must meet the specifications of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2413-05. Some examples of work that requires safety shoes are working in shops, equipment handling, and construction jobs. Workers exposed to hot, cold (cryogenic), corrosive, or poisonous substances, or who work in abnormally wet locations must wear safety shoes of adequate construction and type for the specific work area. For laboratory activities, minimum PPE required by the Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan includes closed-toe footwear. Open-toe shoes and sandals are not permitted in laboratories. Footwear appropriate to work activities and conditions must be worn at all times.
      2. Berkeley Lab encourages the wearing of protective footwear by making it available on site for employees to purchase at cost from a manufacturer's shoe-mobile. When protective footwear is required by Berkeley Lab policy, the department requesting the footwear will contribute an amount toward the cost, as determined each year by the Office of the Director. However, if the employee selects protective footwear for which the total cost (including sales tax) exceeds this amount, the difference must be paid by the employee. The supervisor authorizing the purchase will complete a Safety Shoe Issuance Form. The manufacturer's shoe-mobile sells protective footwear without a supervisor's authorization when employees wish to purchase it through the low-cost program (cash, check, or credit card). Safety shoes and fatigue-reducing insoles are furnished by Berkeley Lab for certain off-site operations when a formal hazard evaluation has established the need for foot protection. Additional information about the Berkeley Lab protective footwear program can be obtained at the EH&S Division's Personal Protective Equipment Web site.
   3. Hand Protection
      1. The Laboratory provides proper hand protection to employees exposed to known hand hazards, such as from absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts, lacerations or abrasions, chemical burns, and extreme temperatures. Supervisors must obtain suitable hand protection and must ensure that it is used. The Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan provides guidance for the selection of chemically resistant gloves. Central Stores stocks a variety of hand protection. Individual departments are responsible for maintaining a supply of adequate hand protection.
      2. An Industrial Hygienist can assist with selecting appropriate hand protection.
   4. Head Protection
      1. The Laboratory provides hard hats that meet ANSI Standard Z89.1 (2003) for Laboratory employees who work in conditions where there is a potential for head injury from falling or flying objects or when there is a danger from exposed electrical conductors (29 CFR 1910.135). Hard hats are available from Central Stores.
      2. The Laboratory employee responsible for oversight of day-to-day operations at a job site is also responsible for specifying when head protection is required. This person is usually the construction superintendent. Head protection is required in the following situations:
      3. Anytime there is a danger of falling or flying objects
      4. Overhead construction is in progress
      5. Any area near exposed electrical conductors where a danger of arcing may exist
      6. Any excavation or trench where loose rock or soil could pose a danger by falling from the excavation face
      7. Any area around a crane lift or similar situation where objects being swung, dropped, etc., may present a danger
      8. Whenever the construction superintendent or other responsible employee has reason to believe danger exists
      9. A sufficient number of hard hats will be maintained at the site for visitors.
   5. Eye Protection
      1. All persons must wear safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield whenever they run a reasonable probability of eye injury resulting from work being performed. Staff must use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustics, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. Eye protection with side shields must be used when there is a hazard from flying objects. Some work areas (e.g., chemical laboratories and workshops) are designated as “eye-hazard areas.” In these areas, signs must be posted that state the eye-protection requirement (e.g., "Eye Protection Must Be Worn in This Area").
      2. Berkeley Lab provides appropriate eye-protection devices for employees assigned to tasks that expose them to an eye-injury hazard.
      3. When prescription safety glasses are issued, the Health Services optometrist completes a Notification of Issue of Safety Glasses form for the individual receiving the safety glasses and sends a copy to the individual’s supervisor. The form specifies the conditions under which the employee must wear safety glasses.
      4. The individual is responsible for wearing eye protection devices at all times in eye-hazard areas and whenever his or her work poses a reasonable probability of eye injury.
      5. All eye-protection devices issued by the Laboratory must comply with ANSI Standard Z87.1 (2003); these eye protection devices are marked “Z87.” Where there is a possibility of a hazard from flying particles, the eye protection must meet the High Impact Testing Requirements of Z87.1 (this eye protection is marked “Z87+”). When in use as eye-protection devices, safety glasses must have side shields or must be worn with safety goggles carrying the same ANSI approval.
      6. Four types of eye-protection devices are available:
      7. Personal prescription safety glasses are issued through the Health Services Group.
      8. Goggles, face shields, etc., are available from Stores.
      9. Temporary nonprescription safety glasses are provided to visitors in eye-hazard areas.
      10. Laser-safety eyewear is provided to employees by their division. The Laser Safety Officer, ext. 5256, will provide consultation regarding the appropriate type of eyewear and on where to obtain it. (See Chapter 16, Laser Safety, for information on obtaining eyewear approved for protection against laser light and for information on required medical examinations.)

Work Process C. Procurement of PPE

1. The Laboratory requires suitable equipment to protect employees from hazards in the workplace, as prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.132. The EH&S Division advises on PPE required for a task, but the supervisor of the operation must obtain this equipment and see that it is used.
2. Protective clothing is purchased from Stores (Building 78), with the approval of a person authorized to sign for the account, as shown in the Account Authorization Book.
3. All Berkeley Lab full-time employees who engage in eye-hazard operations are eligible to obtain prescription safety glasses at Laboratory expense. Potential eye-hazard operations are those that produce flying particles (e.g., using machining equipment or portable power tools), that involve the handling of hazardous liquids (e.g., in chemical labs, plating shops, and plastic shops), or that involve exposure to intense light (e.g., working with ultraviolet light). Prescription or nonprescription dark glasses are available only upon completion of a Request for Tinted Safety Glasses form by the supervisor. This form is available from Health Services in Building 26.
4. The Health Services Group optometrist is available for consultation regarding occupational eye protection. Personnel requiring prescription safety glasses or laser-safety glasses should schedule an examination with the optometrist, who issues all safety glasses and screens individuals for use of laser-safety glasses. Damaged prescription safety glasses or frames issued by the Laboratory are replaced or repaired as necessary. The Health Services Group optometrist makes all adjustments and repairs to these safety glasses.

Work Process D. Authorization and Qualification to Use PPE

1. Supervisors authorize PPE use for their employees through the Job Hazards Analysis (JHA) system. The supervisor of an operation is responsible for determining when PPE is needed and what PPE is suitable, and must ensure that all employees and visitors use PPE when in active technical areas.
2. Employees are qualified for PPE use based on the type of work that they perform. Employees who work in laboratories are trained in the use, maintenance, storage, and limitations of PPE by taking the Chemical Hygiene and Safety training (EHS0348). Employees who work in technical areas other than laboratories are trained in the use, maintenance, storage, and limitations of PPE by taking the Personal Protective Equipment training, EHS0161.

Work Process E. Program-Specific PPE Requirements

19.8 Source Requirements

• 10 CFR 851.22, Hazard Prevention and Abatement
• 10 CFR 851.23, Safety and Health Standards
• 10 CFR 851.24, Functional Areas
• 10 CFR 851.25, Training and Information
• 10 CFR 851.26, Recordkeeping and Reporting
• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment

19.9 Related Documents

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