WAC 296-843-19005   Provide and use appropriate PPE.  

Reference:

See WAC 296-843-110, Evaluations and inspections, found in this chapter, for more information about how to identify hazards and complete your preliminary site evaluation.

     You must:

     (1) Make sure the PPE you provide and use for initial entry protects employees from known or suspected safety and health hazards identified during the preliminary site evaluation as follows:

If	Then
The need for atmosphere supplying respirators and chemical protective clothing has NOT been eliminated	Provide atmosphere supplying respirators and protective clothing
Employees use respiratory protection other than a positive-pressure SCBA for initial entry	Include an escape self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with enough air to reach a safe location and always at least five minutes of air

     • Use Table 2, Selecting PPE in Various Exposure Situations, to determine the level of PPE to provide during initial entry:

     You must:

     (2) Make sure the PPE you select provides employee protection based on:

     • Actual and potential hazards identified during the site characterization and analysis (see WAC 296-843-110, Evaluations and inspections).

     • Hazards likely to be encountered.

     • Required tasks and their duration.

     • Site requirements and limitations.

     • Use Table 2 to identify the type of PPE that is required for various exposure situations.

Table 2

     Selecting PPE in Various Exposure Situations

If		Then
Changing site conditions indicate a change in employee exposure		Review and adjust the level of protection as appropriate
		Note:
		You may decrease the level of protection when information indicates this will not increase employee exposure to safety or health hazards
There is a substantial possibility that skin absorption or contact with a hazardous substance may:		Use totally encapsulating chemical protective (TECP) suits and make sure they will protect employees from the hazards
•	Impair an employee's ability to escape	•	Use, decontaminate, inspect, and remove TECP suits from service according to the manufacturer's recommendations
•	Cause immediate serious illness or injury	•	Perform any TECP integrity tests recommended by the manufacturer and make sure all TECP suits are capable of:
•	Is an IDLH or immediate death hazard		–	Maintaining positive air pressure
			–	Preventing inward test gas leakage of more than 0.5%
		Note:
		Follow the manufacturer's recommended procedures for testing a TECP suit's ability to maintain positive air pressure and prevent inward gas leakage. Other established test protocols for these suits, for example, NFPA 1991 and ASTM F1052-97, may also be used
There is a substantial possibility that employee exposure to hazardous substances will either:		Use a positive-pressure SCBA or an airline respirator with an escape SCBA
•	Immediately cause death, serious illness, or serious injury	•	Protect air supply from contamination and the entire respirator system from physical damage
OR
•	Impair an employee's ability to escape

Note:

If there is not a permissible exposure limit (PEL) or other published exposure level for a hazardous substance, you may use published studies and information as a guide for selecting appropriate PPE.

     (3) PPE required by this standard is to be provided at no cost to the employees.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 09-05-071, § 296-843-19005, filed 2/17/09, effective 4/1/09; 04-02-053, § 296-843-19005, filed 1/5/04, effective 5/1/04.]