If your workers are required to wear or use PPE as a safety measure to reduce certain risks in your workplace, your business needs to have a PPE policy to back up that requirement.
In consultation with your workers, you should adopt a policy or a set of guidelines that stipulates what particular types of PPE must be used and when.
Make sure you include the following information in your PPE policy:
- When the PPE must be used
- Guidelines to help workers select the correct PPE (when they have several options)
- Unsafe practices in relation to particular PPE, e.g. helmets should not be stored close to a heat source
- Limits on where the PPE can be taken or worn, e.g. lab coats must not be worn in the break- room
- Cleaning and maintenance requirements for PPE
- Procedures for inspecting PPE
- Repair and disposal procedures for defective PPE
- Procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of PPE
- Procedures for the review of the use of PPE, e.g. a more effective risk control measure may now be possible
- The person responsible for selecting appropriate PPE
- The person responsible for ensuring workers are trained in the proper selection, use, maintenance and storage of PPE
- The person responsible for ensuring that workers properly use, maintain and store PPE
- The person responsible for reviewing and updating the PPE policy
And make sure your business leaders, e.g. CEO, read and approve (by signing & dating) the policy before publishing and training your workers.
If you require any assistance on this topic contact us here.