Personal Protective Equipment Policy

Policy Summary

The university requires that all employees use appropriate personal protective equipment (including eye, face, foot, hand, and head protection) as required by particular job function, and complete training in the usage, maintenance, and applicability of protective equipment.

Related Regulations

The reason for this policy is to prevent occupational diseases, injuries, and fatalities that may be avoided through the use of appropriate protective equipment, and to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations (29 CFR 1910 Subpart I). 

Who this Policy Governs 

• Staff
• Faculty
• Contractors

Policy

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to create a protective barrier between the worker and hazards in the workplace. PPE includes such equipment as chemical resistive gloves, safety shoes, protective clothing, safety glasses, respirators, etc. 

Personal protective equipment is not a replacement for good engineering controls, administrative controls or work practices. Rather, PPE should be used in conjunction with these controls to ensure the health and safety of employees. 

As part of the university’s Personal Protective Equipment Program, hazard assessments are conducted for job tasks to determine what PPE may be necessary and training is conducted to ensure the proper use of PPE. 

Health & Emergency Management Services, in conjunction with all departmental safety representatives, will continually assess work activities to determine hazardous work conditions.  If a hazardous condition exists, proper PPE will be selected.  The selections will then be communicated to affected employees.  

A representative from Health & Emergency Management Services, or their designee, will provide training to each employee required to use PPE.  Training includes usage, adjustment, limitations, and maintenance of PPE.  If at any time the trained employee changes work activities requiring different PPE, or exhibits a lack of understanding of the required PPE, the employee will be retrained.  

The Personal Protective Equipment Program does not apply to students. Equipment, information, and training for students will be administered by individual academic departments with the assistance of Health & Emergency Management Services.   

Contractors and sub-contractors performing work on campus must supply their own personal protective equipment, and are responsible for employee training with PPE.  

This policy is supported by the procedures set forth by the Personal Protective Equipment Program. 

Related Information

• Personal Protective Equipment Program 
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I: Personal Protective Equipment 

Contacts