More than 4 million workers in the US use personal protective equipment (PPE). They use gloves, face shields, respirators, or other clothing that protects them from workplace hazards. OSHA requires employers to conduct a hazard assessment to determine if PPE is necessary and, if so, what type and how much should be used by each worker.
Every day, workers are exposed to potential hazards on the job. Personal protection equipment (PPE) can sometimes minimize those exposures and help keep employees safe. However, it is essential to understand how PPE works and how to use it safely.
That’s where hazard assessments come in. This article will explain a hazard assessment for PPE, why it’s essential, and how often you should do one. Stay safe at work with this information!
Read on to discover the merits of hazard assessments and much more.
What Is a Hazard Assessment for PPE?
A hazard assessment for PPE is a process that assesses the potential risks associated with using PPE.
This includes identifying potential hazards and assessing the effectiveness of PPE. This is in terms of fit and protection and determining if additional or different types of protective equipment should be used.
The goal is to ensure workers are adequately protected from the dangers they may face. Furthermore, the assessment should include evaluating the current conditions of the PPE.
For instance, its cleanliness, disease, and fit. An inadequate or incorrect fit can reduce protection and comfort, so workers must get correctly fitted for their PPE.
PPE: Types, Uses, Importance
Several types of PPE include respirators, protective clothing, and helmets. Respirators protect a worker’s lungs from hazardous materials in the air.
Protective clothing protects the skin from contact with dangerous substances or particles. And helmets provide head protection against flying objects and impacts.
The importance of using the correct PPE cannot be overstated. It can mean the difference between life and death in some cases.
That’s why hazard assessments for PPE are so critical. It is essential that employers properly assess potential hazards. They ensure workers have access to the correct type of PPE for those hazards.
Also, workers should be trained in the proper use and maintenance of PPE. This includes knowing how to inspect and clean their equipment. It also means adjusting it for a comfortable fit and how to store it properly.
Are PPE Hazard Assessments Required?
PPE hazard assessments are not explicitly mentioned in OSHA’s regulations on PPE. However, employers must protect employees from the hazards they face while on the job.
As such, they should perform regular risk assessments to determine potential safety risks. After all, they are associated with using certain types of equipment.
If these risks exist, employers must provide appropriate PPE and training on using it effectively and safely.
Moreover, OSHA recommends that employers conduct a hazard assessment. This is always done before providing PPE to their workers.
How Often Should You Do a PPE Hazard Assessment?
The frequency of a PPE hazard assessment will depend on the type of work, environment, and equipment being used.
Generally speaking, employers should conduct regular assessments. This is, so their workers are adequately protected from any potential hazards.
If conditions change or new hazards arise, employers may need to increase the frequency of assessments. It helps guarantee that workers remain safe.
Furthermore, when introducing new pieces of equipment, it is vital to reassess existing PPE. One must determine if additional protection is necessary.
How Often Is a PPE Hazard Assessment Required by OSHA?
OSHA does not expressly require employers to conduct regular PPE hazard assessments. They require employers to provide appropriate personal protective equipment and training on how to use it.
This means that employers must take a proactive approach to ensure the safety of their employees. This is done by regularly assessing and evaluating potential hazards. It also means providing proper training and instruction in using any necessary PPE.
By conducting regular hazard assessments, employers can guarantee that their employees are protected. With this knowledge, employees can feel safe knowing they have been properly equipped to handle whatever comes their way.
Taking the time to assess hazards and ensure workers are adequately protected is integral to keeping everyone safe at work.
Other Potential Caveats With PPE
In addition to making sure workers have the right PPE, employers should also be aware of other potential issues that can arise when using PPE. For example, it is crucial to ensure that all equipment is fitted correctly and maintained to avoid any potential dangers.
For instance, a loose-fitting respirator could fail to protect against hazardous particles or gases in the air.
Furthermore, if clothing or helmets are not kept clean and well-maintained, they may become ineffective. They will not be protecting workers from harm.
Workers must be correctly fitted for their PPE. Their equipment must get regularly inspected and cleaned for optimal performance.
PPE Done Right
In conclusion, PPE hazard assessments are essential to keeping workers safe on the job.
Employers should conduct regular risk assessments and provide adequate training for their employees. This is to ensure they have the right personal protective equipment and know how to use it properly.
Furthermore, employers should make sure all equipment is fitted correctly. It must be kept clean for optimal performance. Doing so will help protect workers from potential hazards in their workplace and keep everyone safe.
Guide To Workplace Health Hazard Evaluations and Assessments
Thousands of workers are fatally injured yearly due to workplace health hazards. In 2020, 4,764 fatal cases were recorded in the United States. Unfortunately, this number increases every year.
To counter this increase, employers are required to provide health hazard evaluations. But what exactly are health hazard evaluations? And how do you conduct one?
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), health hazard evaluations identify, evaluate, and control workplace hazards.
Conducting a workplace hazard assessment doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It can be pretty straightforward. All you need is some official training, some knowledge, and preparation.
If you want to learn more about official hazard evaluations, here’s a quick guide on conducting one.
What Is a Workplace Hazard Assessment?
A workplace hazard assessment is simply a review of your workplace to identify potential hazards. This can include anything from electrical hazards to slip and fall risks.
Other potential hazards are chemicals, dust, noise, and lighting levels. Once you’ve identified the hazards, you can then take steps to mitigate them.
Conducting a Workplace Hazard Assessment
There are four steps to conducting a workplace hazard assessment. First, you want to define the scope of the evaluation. It would be best if you determined what exactly you’ll be assessing. This includes identifying which work tasks, areas, and materials need an assessment.
Observe Your Workspace
The first step to observing your work environment is uncovering potential hazards. This includes observing anything that you may have missed in the past. Next, you want to review past incidents and accidents. This will help you identify any patterns or recurring problems you must address.
Get Your Employees Involved
Once you have observed your work environment, consult with your employees. Employees are often the best source of information when it comes to identifying potential hazards in the workplace. Be sure to allow them to voice their concerns.
For example, you can interview your employees during their work processes. This can be a great way to identify potential hazards. It will also allow you to offer official training to prevent health hazards.
Take Corrective Action
The final step in your evaluations should be to implement corrective measures. Once potential hazards have been identified, you’ll need to take steps to mitigate them. This may involve anything from changing procedures to investing in new safety equipment.
Keep a Record of Your Health Hazard Evaluations
You want to ensure that your health hazard evaluations are fully documented. It shows your dedication to maintaining a safe workplace.
Your records should contain a list of all the hazards you have identified in your workplace. It should also include any hazards you’ve eliminated and those you still need to address.
Your records should have the date and time when the evaluation was conducted. The goal is to have as much information as possible about the evaluation process.
This will help you identify areas where you can improve safety at work. It will also show how you have made improvements compared to past evaluations. Working with an industrial hygienist like Phase Associates can make this process effortless.
Has Your Business Had Any Official Hazard Evaluations?
Conducting regular health hazard evaluations is essential. It is an excellent way to help maintain a safe and healthy workplace. By following the steps outlined above, defining the scope of the evaluations, identifying potential hazards, connecting with employees, and implementing controls to eliminate or reduce hazards, you can efficiently conduct a practical assessment in your workplace.
Yet, if you haven’t had any official hazard evaluations, the time to get one is now! Don’t allow your business to run the risk of being unsafe.
From increased pollution to climate change, unsafe water algae blooms, and more, environmental expert witnesses can help with going through the process of environmental impacts.
Still not sure what an expert witness does or how they can help? Keep reading this guide to learn more!
What Is the Role of an Expert Witness with Environmental Issues?
Expert witnesses for environmental issues are people who provide witness testimony regarding environmental issues. This could cover many different environmental issues, and most are usually within the jurisdiction of an expert witness. A few issues that may be covered are:
These are just a few issues for which an expert witness can provide testimony. Many other issues can be covered as well.
The Process of Using an Expert Witness
There are many ways an expert witness can step in and help. Here are just a few.
Industrial Hygiene Assessments
A hygiene assessment is a test run in industrial areas to ensure everything is running smoothly. They can test for:
Heath hazards
Occupational exposure banding
Weld fume monitoring for heavy metals
Personal exposure monitoring
Indoor Air Quality Testing
Indoor air quality testing is vital in many different settings. This test evaluates the air for mold, radon, asbestos, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, and more.
Depending on the outcome of the service, there will be different options for moving forward with your indoor air quality and the next steps.
Safety and Consulting Services
In addition to testing for the safety of a building or area, expert witnesses can also help with consulting services for your company or organization.
This helps your business to be compliant when it comes to safety to pass safety audits. This will also be beneficial in terms of reducing related injuries and costs associated with worker’s compensation if something happens on the job.
During this process, a professional will help you to determine your onsite needs in terms of safety. Once the training is done, professionals can continue returning to the site to ensure that all programs and procedures and any regulations put into place are being followed correctly.
Expert Witnesses for Environmental Issues
Utilizing an expert witness for environmental issues is beneficial for many different reasons.
Whether you need a safety check, training, or inspections, or to be sure you comply with all environmental regulations, you’ll want to work with an expert witness.
Ready to get started? Contact us today at Phase Associates to go over your needs.
We provide subject expert witnesses for environmental issues to the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland, Georgia, and Virginia.
No matter what industry you operate in, safely labeling hazardous materials is essential. Doing so will protect the health and safety of you, your workers, and your customers.
Furthermore, proper labeling will aid business growth, giving your partners the confidence and peace of mind they need to work with you. This is where safety data sheets (SDS) come in.
Although not a legal requirement, they are the most important employee safety resource for anyone who works with chemicals. Here is what you need to know about SDS sheets.
What Are Safety Data Sheets (SDS)?
A safety data sheet is a document that communicates all of the essential information about a chemical in your inventory.
It lists all of the chemical’s properties and any health hazards the chemical might pose. Although they are not mandatory regulations, the SDS is essential for a safe work environment.
Generally, any chemical that meets the minimum definition of posing a physical or environmental hazard should always be accompanied by an SDS. It is an industry-wide standard practice that you can’t afford to ignore.
Why Are Safety Data Sheets Important?
The main SDS purpose concerns employee safety. Employees need to know the risk posed by a substance so they can handle it the right way.
They are not legally required in all settings. However, chemical manufacturers and healthcare providers are required by OSHA to attach an SDS to any potentially hazardous chemical used on-site.
If this applies to you, non-compliance can have serious legal consequences. You could be fined or even end up in court if you fail to provide the required safety documentation.
Compliance: What Your Safety Data Sheet Should Look Like
Every safety data sheet should concern specific pieces of information. This includes:
Name and everyday use of the chemical
All potential hazards posed by that chemical
Globally recognized warning labels
All ingredients, impurities, and stabilizers
First aid measures to take in case of exposure
How to contain a fire that the chemical might cause
How to respond to spills or leakages
How to safely store and handle the chemical
The correct PPE to wear when handling the chemical
How to reduce the risk of exposure to that chemical
Physical properties such as flammability, viscosity, odor, and appearance
An outline of the stability and reactivity of the chemical
Ventilation requirements when using the chemical
This might seem like a lot, but that’s not all. These are the most critical pieces of information to include, but these alone will not guarantee compliance.
You can find a complete list of all SDS components on the official OSHA website. Always ensure your safety data sheet is completed in full before using a hazardous chemical.
We Empower Workplace Safety
At Phase Associates, we take employee safety seriously. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) is an essential part of this. For more simple solutions to a safer workplace, we have got you covered.
Make sure to get in touch with our friendly and professional team today to find out how we can keep your workplace safe, secure, and compliant.
Our workplace safety services cover NJ, NY, PA, DE, CT, MD, and VA
73% of U.S. workers consider safety extremely important when deciding where to work.
To attract quality prospects in this competitive hiring market, you’ll need to commit to showing that you care about the safety of all your employees.
A great way to do this is by developing a labor/management safety committee. But that can feel daunting if you don’t already have one or don’t even know what it is.
In this post, we’ll go over safety committee requirements and answer questions like how do you create an effective safety committee and what is the key goal of a joint labor/management safety committee.
Keep reading to learn more.
What is A Labor/Management Safety Committee?
A labor/ management safety committee is a combined group of employees and managers whose job is to improve safety at a company. The members are there to identify, assess, and help prevent the hazards associated with the business.
These committees come with many benefits. Examples include fewer injuries and accidents, higher employee morale, and even lower workers’ comp premiums.
Development
When developing your company’s labor/management safety committee, remember OSHA’s 7 core elements. So, what are the seven core elements of a workplace safety program?
Management leadership
Worker participation
Hazard identification/assessment
Hazard prevention/control
Education and training
Program evaluation and improvement
Communication and coordination with contractors and staffed employees
Legal Safety Committee Requirements
Your first step should be to check for any applicable state or federal safety committee requirements so you can stay in compliance. Start learning about some of the US Department of Labor requirements here.
Choose a Director
You’ll need the right people in the various safety committee roles and responsibilities to be as effective as possible. This should start with a strong director to lead the committee.
The first of OSHA’s seven elements requires management to be as committed to improving health and safety as the employees. Appointing a manager as the director can help ensure they’re fully bought in and help them lead by example.
The director needs to be able to communicate effectively with other members at all levels of the company. And this person also needs to have a good understanding of the different safety issues impacting the company.
Diverse Membership
The committee members should come from every department and every level of the company so that it will have members with diverse viewpoints and knowledge.
This will help to bring good worker participation because all employees should feel like they have a voice. Having a solid mix of departments and levels is one of the most critical factors that impact the success of a safety committee.
The breadth of knowledge offered by the members will help the committee to have a more well-rounded idea of the different issues and things happening in the company, not just in one department.
This will allow the committee to identify better and assess the company’s hazards. It will help them develop new and creative ways of presenting and controlling those hazards.
The committee’s size will depend on the company size and the number of departments or projects that need to be represented.
Set Schedule and Expectations
Once the committee members have been selected, you’ll need to set the schedule. This should include regular monthly meetings, at the least. Be sure to schedule far in advance, so the committee meetings and any related events remain a priority.
This is also the time to set expectations for how the committee will be run and how communications will be handled. The committee may want to select one person who will be in charge of documenting the meetings, or they may want to create a rotating schedule.
This should also be the time to set professional and respectful behavior expectations. Committee members may not always agree on different solutions, but it should be clear from the start that respectful debate and communication are required.
Mission Statement
Without a clear mission and purpose, the committee won’t be fully effective. One of the first things the committee does should be to clarify the purpose of the committee by creating a mission statement.
The committee’s primary goals should be to educate and train all employees, management, contractors, and staff in proper safety protocols.
Create a safety committee checklist of the different goals and issues the committee plans to tackle. Depending on the business, this could include a plan for hearing conservation, electrical safety, or ergonomic risk assessment.
Run Organized, Efficient Meetings
The organization goes a long way towards the success of a committee. Make sure that the committee meetings have a clear structure and plan.
Take minutes at each meeting showing what was discussed, and then send copies to all members. It’s a good idea to attach these to summary emails that go into further detail about what was discussed, the possible solutions, and who is responsible for further research. Also, include what will be discussed at the next meeting so members can prepare.
Periodically, a meeting should be used to check how the committee is progressing and whether safety at the company is improving.
Begin Developing a Labor/Management Safety Committee Now
The health and safety of your employees should always be your number one priority. Use these safety committee requirements to develop a labor/management safety committee and show your employees that you’re dedicated to creating a safe workplace.
If you’d like to work with professionals committed to creating safety in every workplace, Phase Associates can help! Contact us today.
When it comes to the workplace, safety should always be a number one priority. The Phase Associates progressive health and safety environmental consultants and training experts can guide you and help you develop a labor/management safety committee for your workplace throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland.
If you are interested in other workplace safety articles, be sure to check out our blog, as we have many. Below we list a few.
