Hazardous Waste Operations

Chapter 296-843, WAC

Effective Date: 05/01/04

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

WAC 296-843-190

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Your responsibility:

To use PPE to protect employees when feasible controls don’t remove the hazardous exposure

You must

Provide and use appropriate PPE

WAC 296-843-19005

Reference:

For additional information about developing a PPE plan, see the PPE user guide found at http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/publications/PPEGuide/PPEload.htm.

Note

Note:

The manufacturer's information on PPE may be used to meet your PPE plan requirements. For example, the manufacturer's procedures for putting on and taking off PPE may be attached to the site-specific health and safety plan (HASP).

WAC 296-843-19005
Provide and use appropriate PPE

Reference:

See WAC 296-843-110, Evaluations and Inspections, found in this chapter, for more information about how to identify hazards and complete your preliminary site evaluation.

You must

(1) Make sure the PPE you provide and use for initial entry protects employees from known or suspected safety and health hazards identified during the preliminary site evaluation as follows:

If Then
The need for atmosphere supplying respirators and chemical protective clothing has not been eliminated Provide atmosphere supplying respirators and protective clothing
Employees use respiratory protection other than a positive-pressure SCBA for initial entry Include an escape self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with enough air to reach a safe location and always at least 5 minutes of air
    • Use Table 2, Selecting PPE in Various Exposure Situations, to determine the level of PPE to provide during initial entry:

You must

(2) Make sure the PPE you select provides employee protection based on:

    • Actual and potential hazards identified during the site characterization and analysis (see WAC 296-843-110, Evaluations and Inspections).
    • Hazards likely to be encountered.
    • Required tasks and their duration.
    • Site requirements and limitations.
    • Use Table 2 to identify the type of PPE that’s required for various exposure situations.

Table 2
Selecting PPE in Various Exposure Situations

If Then
Changing site conditions indicate a change in employee exposure

Review and adjust the level of protection as appropriate

Note:
You may decrease the level of protection when information indicates this won't increase employee exposure to safety or health hazards
There is a substantial possibility that skin absorption or contact with a hazardous substance may:

    • Impair an employee’s ability to escape
    • Cause immediate serious illness or injury
    • Is an IDLH or immediate death hazard

Use totally encapsulating chemical protective (TECP) suits and make sure they will protect employees from the hazards

    • Use, decontaminate, inspect, and remove TECP suits from service according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
    • Perform any TECP integrity tests recommended by the manufacturer and make sure all TECP suits are capable of:
      • - Maintaining positive air pressure
      • - Preventing inward test gas leakage of more than 0.5%

Note:
Follow the manufacturer's recommended procedures for testing a TECP suit's ability to maintain positive air pressure and prevent inward gas leakage. Other established test protocols for these suits, for example, NFPA 1991 and ASTM F1052-97, may also be used

There is a substantial possibility that employee exposure to hazardous substances will either:
    • Immediately cause death, serious illness, or serious injury
      or
    • Impair an employee's ability to escape

Use a positive-pressure SCBA or an airline respirator with an escape SCBA

    • Protect air supply from contamination and the entire respirator system from physical damage.

Note

Note:

If there is not a permissible exposure limit (PEL) or other published exposure level for a hazardous substance, you may use published studies and information as a guide for selecting appropriate PPE.


(3) PPE required by this standard is to be provided at no cost to the employees.

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