Personal Protective Equipment

The purpose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program is to protect employees at all campuses from the risk of injury by creating a barrier against workplace hazards. Although PPE is not a substitute for administrative controls, good engineering, or safe work practices, it is used in conjunction with these controls to ensure the safety and health of its employees. Personal protective equipment is provided, used, and maintained when it has been determined that its use is required and that such use will lessen the likelihood of occupational injury and/or illness.

Roles & Responsibilities:

  • Specific responsibilities for carrying out this program are identified by position below.
  • Provides training and technical assistance to supervisors on the proper use, care, and cleaning of approved PPE.
  • Provides guidance to the supervisor for the selection and purchase of approved PPE.
  • Reviews, updates, and evaluates the overall effectiveness of the PPE Program.

Campus Safety Officers:

  • Reviews Personal Protective Equipment written program annually.
  • Assists Department Heads, Program Leaders, and Supervisors with hazard assessments
  • Evaluates and reviews the program effectiveness. Provost, Administration, Deans, Directors:
  • Supports the overall Personal Protective Equipment Program
  • Provides resources to purchase and maintain required PPE.
  • Evaluates and reviews the program effectiveness and communicates concerns to the Safety Administrator or Campus Safety Officer if necessary.
  • Ensures that workplace hazard assessments are completed to determine the presence of hazards which necessitate the use of PPE.

Department Heads, Program Leaders, or Supervisors:

 

  • Provides appropriate PPE and makes it available to employees.
  • Ensures employees are trained on the proper use, care, and cleaning of PPE.
  • Supervises staff to ensure that the PPE Program elements are followed and that employees properly use and care for PPE.
  • Updates assessments whennew hazards are introduced or when processes are added or changed.
  • Ensures that PPE is maintained and damaged PPE is replaced.
  • Oversees employee training.
  • Periodically reevaluates the suitability of previously selected PPE.
  • Evaluates and reviews the program effectiveness.

Employees:

  • Learns about the hazards and safe operating procedures for the job
  • Wears PPE when hazards are present and is required to perform tasks safely
  • Attends required training sessions.
  • Cares for, cleans, and maintains PPE as required.
  • Informs the supervisor of the need to repair or replace PPE.