General

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes eye and face protection, head protection, gloves, foot protection, hearing protection and respiratory protection.  Approved PPE are to be used only when engineering (ventilation, fume hoods, isolation of the operator or process, etc..) and administrative controls ( limiting length or amount of exposure, job rotation, etc..)  can not be used or made adequate while such controls are being instituted.

Selection of PPE first requires a hazard assessment to identify conditions or processes that can produce hazards such as falling objects, hazardous chemicals, hazardous dust, high noise levels, etc..  The Department Chair, Area Head or Faculty must ensure that a PPE Hazard Assessment is completed prior to introducing any operations , processes or material which may be hazardous. Additional details on the PPE Hazard Assessment are provided in the PPE Hazard Assessments section of this guide. 

Each department or area is required to supply personal protective equipment without cost to the employee.  The Department Chair, Area Head or Faculty must ensure that all PPE is used and maintained in any area where it is required.  The Department shall ensure that approved signage is posted in any area where PPE is required.  The Department shall ensure that each user required to wear PPE receives training and is knowledgeable on the following items:

• when PPE is necessary
• what type or kind of PPE is necessary
• how to use PPE properly
• limitations of PPE( what it can and can’t do)
• wear and adjust PPE
• properly clean and maintain PPE

Visit the EHRS policy 10.4-Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or contact EHRS at 215-707-2520 for guidance or additional information.

Hazard Assessment

The first task in determining what type of PPE is required is called a Hazard Assessment.  The Hazard Assessment is a tool used to identify conditions or processes that can produce the following examples of hazards:

• Falling Objects
• Objects that could puncture the skin
• Objects that could roll over feet
• Toxic/Hazardous Chemicals
• Heat
• Dust-Harmful
• Optical radiation(visible, ultraviolet, infared light)
• High Noise

The tool that is utilized at Temple is called the PPE Hazard Assessment Form. The successful completion of the PPE Hazard Assessment will assist one in determining when PPE is needed and what type of PPE is required. The PPE Hazard assessment must:

• Be completed for each process or operation in which a hazardous material or condition may exist.
• Be completed for each chemical that is intended to be used in any area or process.  The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) must also be reviewed prior to use to determine what type of PPE is required when handling chemicals.  A documented review of SDS can be used in lieu of a PPE Hazard Assessment to determine PPE requirements when handling and using hazardous chemicals.
• Completed and signed PPE Hazard Assessment must be available for review upon request.
• The Department Chair or Area Head is responsible for ensuring that all PPE Hazard Assessment are completed and available for review.

Visit the EHRS policy 10.4-Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or contact EHRS at 215-707-2520 for guidance or additional information.