WAC 296-62-07417   Protective work clothing and equipment.  (1) Provision and use. If an employee is exposed to airborne cadmium above the PEL or where skin or eye irritation is associated with cadmium exposure at any level, the employer shall provide at no cost to the employee, and assure that the employee uses, appropriate protective work clothing and equipment that prevents contamination of the employee and the employee's garments. Protective work clothing and equipment includes, but is not limited to:

     (a) Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing;

     (b) Gloves, head coverings, and boots or foot coverings; and

     (c) Face shields, vented goggles, or other appropriate protective equipment that complies with WAC 296-800-160.

     (2) Removal and storage.

     (a) The employer shall assure that employees remove all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with cadmium at the completion of the work shift and do so only in change rooms provided in accordance with WAC 296-62-07419(1).

     (b) The employer shall assure that no employee takes cadmium-contaminated protective clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for employees authorized to do so for purposes of laundering, cleaning, maintaining, or disposing of cadmium contaminated protective clothing and equipment at an appropriate location or facility away from the workplace.

     (c) The employer shall assure that contaminated protective clothing and equipment, when removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, is placed and stored in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers that are designed to prevent dispersion of cadmium dust.

     (d) The employer shall assure that bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment that are to be taken out of the change rooms or the workplace for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal shall bear labels in accordance with WAC 296-62-07425(3).

     (3) Cleaning, replacement, and disposal.

     (a) The employer shall provide the protective clothing and equipment required by subsection (1) of this section in a clean and dry condition as often as necessary to maintain its effectiveness, but in any event at least weekly. The employer is responsible for cleaning and laundering the protective clothing and equipment required by this paragraph to maintain its effectiveness and is also responsible for disposing of such clothing and equipment.

     (b) The employer also is responsible for repairing or replacing required protective clothing and equipment as needed to maintain its effectiveness. When rips or tears are detected while an employee is working they shall be immediately mended, or the worksuit shall be immediately replaced.

     (c) The employer shall prohibit the removal of cadmium from protective clothing and equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means that disperses cadmium into the air.

     (d) The employer shall assure that any laundering of contaminated clothing or cleaning of contaminated equipment in the workplace is done in a manner that prevents the release of airborne cadmium in excess of the permissible exposure limit prescribed in WAC 296-62-07405.

     (e) The employer shall inform any person who launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment contaminated with cadmium of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to cadmium and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner to effectively prevent the release of airborne cadmium in excess of the PEL.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 01-11-038, § 296-62-07417, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-20-057 (Order 94-16), § 296-62-07417, filed 9/30/94, effective 11/20/94; 93-21-075 (Order 93-06), § 296-62-07417, filed 10/20/93, effective 12/1/93; 93-07-044 (Order 93-01), § 296-62-07417, filed 3/13/93, effective 4/27/93.]