Personal Protective Equipment for Physical Plant Employees
Safety Glasses
Employees need to wear safety glasses to protect their eyes from impact hazards such as flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation (OSHA 1910.133. Workers are also required to use eye safety spectacles with side shields when there is a hazard from flying objects. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses.
Physical Plant employees have access at any time to approved safety glasses (both tinted & clear). Stock is kept in Central Stores.
Employees with prescription eyeglasses can either wear safety goggles over their prescription eyeglasses or safety reading glasses can be specially ordered for in four different magnification strengths (diopters) for employees that need reading glasses.
Full-time employees with prescription eyeglasses (other than for reading) can be reimbursed for prescription eyeglasses. The College will pay up to $230 every three years towards the cost of the prescription glasses. The prescription safety glasses must comply with ANSI Z87.1-1989, “American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection.
Safety Toed Boots/Shoes
Employees shall wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling and rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee’s feet are exposed to electrical hazards (OSHA 1910.136).
Full time employees are eligible for an annual reimbursement of $75.00 per calendar year (or $150 every two years). Part-time student workers will be eligible for an annual reiumbursment of $50.00 per calendar year. Protective footwear shall comply with ANSI Z41-1991, “American National Standard for Personal Protection - Protective Footwear” or ASTM-F2413-05. The following is a sample of the types of information that should be included on the label:
ASTM F2413-05 (ASTM Standard)
M I/75 C/75 (Gender M/F, Impact Resistance, Compression Resistance)
PR (identifies protection for other types of hazards):
- Cd – conductive properties
- Cs – Chainsaw cut resistance
- DI – Dielectric insulation
- EH – Electrical Insulation properties
- ESD – Electrostatic dissipative (static electricity)
- PR – Puncture resistance
- SR – Slip resistance
Reimbursement Procedures
- Employees shall bring the following documentation to the EHS Manager for approval:
- A copy of their receipt (taped to an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper)
- Proof that the boot or shoe meets the ANSI-Z41-1991 standards and/or
- A copy of their eyeglass prescription.
- The Physical Plant Administrative Assistant will then prepare a petty cash voucher.
- The employee will submit the petty cash voucher to the Petty Cash office (located in the Fiske Hall Annex) to obtain reimbursement.
Employees may not purchase their safety shoes or prescription glasses with a P-Card.
Other PPE
All other PPE policies are defined in the Keene State College Health & Safety Manual (http://www.keene.edu/ehs/).
