Personal Protective Equipment
Some people think of construction as workers wearing hardhats, work boots and carrying a hammer. In this article we will look at Element 6: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), of the current COR audit program. PPE plays an important role in your safety program, as it does not eliminate accidents but does minimize the effects of an impact made by an accident on the person.
In Ontario, we are required to wear generic PPE when entering and working on a construction site. The Occupational Health & Safety Act defines construction as the erection, alteration, repair, dismantling, demolition, structural maintenance, painting, land clearing, earth moving, grading, excavating, trenching, digging, boring, drilling, blasting, or concreting, the installation of any machinery or plant, and any work or undertaking in connection with a project.
Some specialized activities will warrant that an employee dons specific PPE when a worker carries out the specific task. All PPE, in order to function as intended, needs to be inspected for defects, worn or damaged pieces replaced and personnel using PPE are trained on how to care, use and maintain this equipment. To prove that inspection takes place you must keep a record; a streamlined approach is to have this checked and signed off on your daily hazard assessment forms.
A COR Auditor will validate the following:
The company has a written policy that governs the use of PPE. In addition, the company will need to show that they have a documented process for the required PPE for all activities.
A specific criterion will need to be developed and implemented to assist the organization with the selection of PPE considerate of SDS sheets, safety standards, as well as any and all applicable legislations.
Employers need to ensure their workforce are made aware of the requirements for PPE to be used for specific tasks. Furthermore, written rules or guidelines are required for proper fitting, care and use of specialized PPE.
The employer will need to make available an adequate amount of specialized PPE for specific tasks and train workers on their use.
As required, workers are certified as trained on specialized PPE. Typical examples include working at heights, propane in construction, etc.
Documented inspections are to be carried out periodically on the inspection and maintenance of PPE.
The auditor will need to observe all workers, subcontractors and supervisors using the required PPE when on site.
Any organization that can provide positive responses to the above is in a good space, and likely on its way to building a positive workplace safety culture, where accident prevention is a core value.
Presented by Roger Belair and Jason Colucci - Approved COR Associate Auditors.
