Electrical Safety: Equipment Testing & Protection

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is designed to protect employees from workplace hazards.
• PPE serves as a barrier against injury or illness.
• PPE should not be used as a substitute for engineering or administrative controls.
• When used with other controls, PPE can effectively reduce risk.
• This chapter applies to all Smithsonian Institution (SI) personnel who may be exposed to chemical, physical, radiological, or biological hazards.
• This chapter addresses hazard identification, PPE selection, use, and maintenance.
• This chapter also conforms to OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I, "Personal Protective Equipment”.

Chapter-Specific Roles and Responsibilities

• Safety Coordinators are responsible for assisting supervisors in PPE hazard assessments, identifying appropriate PPE, and training employees.
• Supervisors assess work areas for hazards with assistance from the Safety Coordinator and OSHEM.
• Supervisors must reassess work area certifications and notify the Safety Coordinator when a hazard or process changes which could render previous PPE ineffective.
• Supervisors provide appropriate PPE and ensure it is available.
• Supervisors ensure employees are trained in proper PPE use, cleaning, maintenance, inspection and storage.
• Supervisors ensure that affected employees wear PPE during tasks that require protection.
• Supervisors ensure defective or damaged PPE is not used and is replaced immediately.
• Supervisors maintain documentation of individual employee PPE issuance and training.
• Employees must wear PPE as directed by their supervisor.
• Employees must participate in PPE training.
• Employees must inspect, clean, maintain, and store PPE properly.
• Employees must notify their supervisor of the need to repair or replace PPE.
• Employees must notify their supervisor of hazard or process changes that may render previously used PPE.
• Employees must notify their supervisor of any other changes (e.g., medical conditions, physical changes) that may require PPE re-evaluation.
• OSHEM provides technical assistance to Directors, Safety Coordinators, and supervisors.
• OSHEM assistance includes evaluating employee exposures, advising on PPE controls, and conducting/assisting with PPE training.
• OSHEM provide medical clearance examinations.

PPE Program Components

• An effective PPE program includes a workplace hazard assessment, proper PPE selection, user training, and methods for cleaning, maintenance, and inspection.

Hazard Assessment

• Supervisors must inspect/assess work areas to identify hazards and determine PPE types.
• Areas may need to be inspected more frequently depending on hazard severity.
• Supervisors should contact the facility Safety Coordinator or OSHEM staff for assistance.
• Attachment 1, "PPE Hazard Assessment Certification," shall be completed as part of the program.
• Certified PPE hazard assessments must be reviewed/modified to address changing site conditions or operations.

Proper Selection and Issuance of PPE

• Efforts to eliminate or reduce hazards should be made through product/process substitution, engineering controls, or administrative controls. If hazards cannot be acceptably reduced, PPE should be selected.
• PPE should be used with feasible engineering controls, administration controls, and safe work practices.
• Safety Coordinators assist supervisors in PPE selection based on the technical requirements in the manual.
• Supervisors reassess the workplace by identifying and evaluating new equipment and/or processes, review accident records, and revaluate previously selected PPE..
• Selection Factors.
• Application: Consider the part of the body being protected.
• Chemical resistance: Consider whether PPE material maintains structural integrity and protective qualities. Refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) as needed.
• Strength: Check that PPE material is resistant to punctures, tears, and abrasions.
• Flexibility: Ensure PPE provides necessary dexterity and tactile sensitivity.
• Thermal Limits: Examine the PPE material's ability to maintain mobility and protective capacity in temperature extremes.
• Cleanability: Confirm the material can be easily decontaminated and reused.
• Longevity: Consider whether material will resist aging.
• Ergonomic Considerations (Comfort and Fit): Examine how uncomfortable is the equipment restricting movement or leading to ergonomic injuries.
• Selection must meet minimum technical hazard criteria, with employee input solicited for varied models.
• Employee involvement will greatly enhance wearer acceptance.
• SI provides required PPE at no cost to the employee.
• Employees are not to bring their own PPE into the workplace from home.
• All PPE must be of safe design and construction for the work performed.
• Hazard assessments, training certification, and PPE issuance must be documented for each employee utilizing Attachments 4's examples.

Specific PPE Selection Requirements

• Eye protection and face protection are required where there is potential exposure to flying particles, molten metal, chemical splashes, gases/vapors, or injurious light radiation.
• Workers with prescription eyeglasses can receive prescription safety glasses.
• Regular eyeglasses or contact lenses are not approved eye protection against flying particles per ANSI standards.
• Employees requiring corrective lenses for their job duties that require goggles or face shields must be provided with equipment that fits over their lenses.
• Four general classes of eye and face protection: safety glasses, goggles, face shields and welding helmets.
• Protection required is based on the type/degree of hazard; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.133, ANSI Standard Z87.1-2003 should be adhered to.

Safety Glasses

• Basic ones are to be used only as protection against frontal impact hazards.
• Side protection must be used with lateral hazards from flying particles.
• Detachable side protectors meeting ANSI requirements are acceptable but not recommended.
• Safety glasses are not to be for mists, dusts, gases, vapors, or liquid splashes.
• Safety glasses with specially tinted lenses [per 29 CFR 1910.133(a)(5)] are used for protection against impact and optical radiation hazards.
• Tinted lenses reduce transmittance of specific wavelengths of concern.
• They are designated by shade numbers corresponding to the radiation hazard.

Safety Goggles

• Designed for protection against splash or irritation from liquid chemicals, gases, or fine particulates.
• They are also rated for impact protection, and may provide optical radiation protection if tinted.
• Designed to fit snugly, and are designed in 3 basic configurations.
• Direct vented goggles have air holes or slits and provide direct air passage; offers the least protection and is not to be used for jobs with the potential for chemical splash or vapors.
• Indirect vented goggles have deflector caps over the side and top ventilation holes to prevent the direct entry of chemicals, while providing some relief from fogging.
• Unvented goggles protect against gases or vapors which can be irritating to the eyes or easily absorbed.

Face Shields

• To be worn with safety glasses when working with large volumes of hazardous materials for protection against chemical splash to the face, neck, and ears.
• They do not offer adequate impact protection.
• Can be work over the appropriate type of safety spectacles or goggles

Welding Helmets and Goggles

• Workers are required for protection against optical radiation.
• Welding helmets over safety glasses are used when protection is required for the worker's eyes, ears, face, and front of neck.
• Welding helmets/goggles must have a tinted window (meeting the appropriate transmittance requirements) to protect against optical radiation.
• Workers is wearing appropriate degrees of shading
• Ultraviolet, infrared, and visible glare radiation hazards require

Foot Protection

• Foot protection (closed toed) is required when there is the potential for injury: falling/rolling objects, objects piercing the sole, electrical hazards, hot/slippery surfaces.
• Attachment 7 provides detailed information on obtaining safety shoes/boots at the SI.
• Foot protection must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.136 and ASTM F 2413-05.
• Safety shoes are recommended only when the process or task warrants such protection.
• Shoes that offer complete foot coverage (no sandals or open-toed shoes) are to be in the chemical laboratory or any work area.
• Boot material must be chemically-resistant if the work has the potential for significant chemical contact.
• Foot protection must not create a spark or generate static electricity in electrically classified areas.
• Foot protection must be non-conductive in electrical activities.
• Foot protection must be slip-resistant.
• Employees needing or instructed to wear orthopedic safety shoes should submit requests via Form SI-3389.
• Locating a supplier for the shoes is the responsibility of the employee.
• Employee must also obtain and submit one bid for the price of approved shoes.
• Employees pay for obtaining prescriptions, locating a supplier, and the bid for purchase.
• Organizational units will take care of the cost of the shoes.

Head Protection

• Required when:
• There is a potential for head injury from impact or flying objects.
• There is a potential for head injury from falling objects (e.g., working below other workers who are using tools and materials).
• Any employee is entering a construction site.
• There is a danger of contact with energized power lines or equipment.
• Hair may be caught in machinery.
• Sanitary protection is required.
• Hard hats providing protection against impact and penetration of falling objects shall comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.135 and ANSI Standard Z89.1.2003.
• Hard hats for protection against electrical shock/burns must comply with ANSI Standard Z89.1.2003 Class E requirements.
• Any hard hat demonstrating signs of ultraviolet (sunlight) degradation must be discarded. The "Useful Service Lifeline Guide” suggests that hard hats used regularly should be replaced every 5 years.
• The manufacturing date of the hard hat is stamped on the inside.
• The webbing in hard hats should be replaced after 12 months.

Hand Protection

• Required when exposed to hazards such as harmful substances, severe cuts/lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns and harmful temperature extremes.
• The type of hand protection used shall conform to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 and be based on performance characteristics, conditions present, duration of use and hazards. When selecting gloves for protection against chemical hazards, consider the toxic properties of the chemical(s).
• Glove materials are permeated by chemicals over time; gloves may be used safely for limited periods.
• Common glove materials: neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, nitrile, and butyl and natural rubbers. The materials differ against various substances.
• For mixtures, gloves should be selected based on the chemical component with the shortest breakthrough time. Solvents can carry active ingredients through polymeric materials.
• Thin, surgical-type gloves can be protective against incidental contact with certain chemicals, but not during full immersion or prolonged contact.
• Latex (natural rubber) containing products must not be used by persons allergic to latex. Consult OSHEM.
• Employees should be able to remove gloves for preventing skin contamination.
• Choose materials based on glove manufacturer’s resistance specs and NIOSH Recommendations.

Body Protection/Protective Clothing

• Must be worn when there is a potential of exposure to other parts of the body, such as legs, arms, back, chest, and feet.
• Excessive heat or cold.
• Hot liquid or molten metal splashes.
• Radiation.
• Impacts or cuts.
• Contact or absorption effects of acids, alkalis, and other hazardous chemicals.
• Selection depends on the hazardous exposure, the working environment, and the performed task.
• Protective clothing may include coats/jackets, leather chaps/sleeves, aprons/vests, cotton coveralls, poly-coated/saran-coated tyvek suits and high visibility apparel.
• Live animal handlers must wear arm protection against injury.
• Employees' work clothes are to fit their assignments (minimum protection: short sleeve "T" shirt and long pants).
• Approved shorts may be permitted for duties not presenting hazards to the skin.
• Latex-containing natural rubber must not be used for employees undergoing allergies.
• Chemical Manufacturers should be looked for more specifications on chemicals/hazardous clothing.

Electrical Protective Devices:

• Rubber insulating equipment shall be used in "live" electrical systems and equipment.
• Electrical protective devices must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.137.
• Electrical protective PPE must be inspected for damage, deterioration, and visible defects before each use and immediately following incidents.
• Ensure proper use of PPE (gloves not turned inside out, use leather protectors, etc.).
• Ensure hard hats are for electrical shock reduction when employees are near exposed electrical conductors.
• Ensure occupational safety footwear reduce electrical shock hazards are for employees.
• Rubber insulating equipment complies with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards
• All electrical protective equipment shall adhere to periodic tests identified by (ASTM).
• Insulating Equipment with “Do Not Use” tags should be discarded. The test intervals are:
• Rubber insulating line hoses and rubber insulating covers are tested upon indication that the insulating valve is suspect.
• Rubber insulating blankets are tested before first issue, then every 12 months thereafter as well as rubber insulating sleeves.
• Rubber insulating gloves are tested tested before first issue, then every six months.
• Insulating equipment that has not been electrically tested is not placed into service. Supervisors arrange for tests and retain results.

Other PPE Requirements

• Respiratory protection selection/use must align with Chapter 18, “Respiratory Protection."
• Hearing protection selection/use must align with Chapter 41, “Occupational Noise”.
• Fall protection selection/use must align with Chapter 10, “Fall Protection”.
• Water Safety tasks adjacent to water requires a personal flotation device (PFD). PFDs must be U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved.
• CLEANING, MAINTENANCE, AND INSPECTION of PPE

PPE Cleaning, Maintenance, and Inspection

• PPE must be in a sanitary and reliable condition, and in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.
• The PPE Hazard Assessment must state whether gloves and other chemical protective clothing are capable of being washed/decontaminated, or must be discarded.
• Lab coats used for protection against hazardous materials must not be taken home to be washed.
• Employees must inspect all PPE prior to each use and must be inspected prior to each shift or use with equivalent.
• Damaged/dirty PPE must be discarded, hanged, and contaminated with a minimum of intergrity problems.
• Any PPE subjected to damage must be discarded.
• Hazard assessments should determine if contaminated PPE must be disposed of as hazardous waste, with assistance from the Safety Coordinator.

Training

• Employees required to wear PPE must receive training on its proper use and care, maintained by the supervisor and safety coordinator
• PPE issuance and training certification shall be documented for each employee, using Attachments 4 or their equivalent.
• Training should include when PPE is necessary, what PPE is necessary for each task, how to properly don or adjust PPE, any limitations, proper maintenance.
• Employees shall demonstrate their ability to use, maintain, and inspect their assigned PPE properly before being allowed to perform work.
• Retraining is required when changes in the workplace or PPE render training obsolete, and when there is evidence the employee doesn't comprehend it.
• Training documentation must verify that the employee has received and understood everything.

Required Inspections and Self-Assessments

• Hazard Assessments must be reviewed and modified when site conditions change.
• Supervisors must evaluate required PPE effectiveness, monthly using a tool like Attachment 5 or often.
• In-Use monitoring, must follow requirements previously stated.
• Employees should report any issue to their respective Supervisor.

Records and Reports

• Supervisors must maintain a copy of PPE Hazard Assessment Certifications and records for a minimum of 5 years.
• Supervisors must retain insulating equipment test results on file for the duration of use of the insulating equipment item.

Covers procedures following electrical test failures, testing frequencies for rubber insulating gear, removal from service guidelines, responsibilities for arranging tests, record-keeping durations, and standards compliance. Highlights protective equipment for water tasks, chemical handling, and manual handling tasks.