Current through September 2, 2024
01.
General Requirements.
a. Special protective equipment or apparel required for safe employment, other than clothing or equipment customarily supplied by employees, shall be furnished by the employer where necessary for the safety of employees.
b. Employees are required to utilize all prescribed safety equipment and special protective equipment or apparel, and they shall exercise due care in maintaining it in safe, efficient and sanitary conditions.
c. Employers are required to provide, at no cost to employees, appropriate eye, face, head, hand, and leg protection.
d. Defective safety equipment shall not be used. Where the need for their use is indicated, protective covering, ointments, gloves or other effective protection shall be provided for and used by persons exposed to materials that are irritating to the skin.
02.
Inspection, Maintenance and Sanitizing.
a. Each employer shall maintain a regular system of inspection and maintenance of personal protective equipment furnished to workers.
b. Air line equipment shall have a necessary regulator and shall be inspected before each use.
c. Workers shall check their equipment at the beginning of each shift.
03.
Eye Protection.
a. Where workers are subject to eye hazards (flying particles, dusts, hazardous liquids, gases, mists or vapors, or injurious light rays) they shall be furnished with and shall wear eye protection suitable for the hazards involved. Such eye protection shall conform to the American National Standard Institute standards for Head, Eyes and Respiratory protection.
b. Face shields may be used in lieu of other forms of eye protection where the nature of the operation is such that they will furnish equivalent protection.
c. Clean water in ample quantities shall be immediately available where materials are handled that are caustic or corrosive to the eyes.
04.
Foot and Leg Protection.
a. Employees shall wear footwear suitable for the work conditions.
b. Employees shall wear sharp caulk-soled boots or other footwear which will afford maximum protection from slipping.
c. Special types or designs of shoes, or foot guards, shall be required to be worn where conditions exist that make their use necessary for the safety of the workers.
d. Leggings or high boots of leather, rubber or other suitable material shall be worn by climbers, persons exposed to hot substances, or caustic solutions, etc., or where poisonous snakes may be encountered.
e. Each employee who operates a chain saw shall wear leg protection, which meets the requirements of ASTM F 1897 and covers the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot on each leg, except when working as a climber.
05.
Hand Protection.
a. Hand protection suitable for the required usage shall be worn wherever the nature of the work requires extra protection for the hands.
b. Gloves shall not be worn where their use would create a hazard.
06.
Head Protection.
a. Persons required to work where falling or flying objects, overhead structures, exposed electrical conductors, equipment or material create a hazard shall wear approved safety hard hats or caps at all times while exposed to such hazards.
b. Employees working in locations which present a catching or fire hazard to hair shall wear caps or other head protection that completely covers the hair.
07.
Life Jackets, Vests and Life Rings.
Where personal buoyancy equipment is provided, it shall be of a design and shall be worn in a manner that will maintain the wearer's face above water. It shall be capable of floating a sixteen (16) pound weight for three (3) hours in fresh water. Such equipment shall not be dependent upon manual or mechanical manipulation or chemical action to secure the buoyant effect.
a. Employees shall be provided with, and shall wear, approved buoyant protective equipment at all times while working on or over water, as follows:
i. On floating pontoons, rafts and floating stages.
ii. On open decks of floating plants (such as dredges, pile-drivers, cranes, pond saws, and similar types of equipment) which are not equipped with bulwarks, guardrails or life lines.
iii. During the construction, alteration or repair of structures extending over or adjacent to water, except when guardrails, safety nets, or safety belts and life lines are provided and used.
iv. Working alone at night where there are potential drowning hazards regardless of other safeguards provided.
v. On floating logs, boom sticks or unguarded walkways.
b. Life rings with sufficient line attached to meet conditions shall be located at convenient points along exposed sides of work areas adjacent to water. Such rings, if used at night where a person might be beyond illuminated areas, shall be provided with a means of rendering them visible.
NOTE: Consult U.S. Coast Guard requirements for operations in navigable waters.
08.
Life Lines -- Safety Belts.
a. Each life line and safety belt shall be of sufficient strength to support, without breaking, a weight of two thousand five hundred (2,500) pounds.
b. All life lines and safety belts shall be periodically inspected by the supervisor in charge. Employees shall inspect their belts and lines daily. Any defective belts or life lines shall be discarded or repaired before use.
c. Life lines shall be safely secured to strong stable supports and maintained with minimum slack.
09.
Work Clothing.
a. Clothing shall be worn which is appropriate to work performed and conditions encountered.
b. Loose sleeves, cuffs or other loose or ragged clothing shall not be worn near moving machinery.
c. Clothing saturated or impregnated with flammable liquids, corrosive substances, irritants or oxidizing agents shall be removed immediately and not worn again until properly cleaned.
d. When it is necessary for workers to wear aprons or similar clothing near moving machines or hazardous materials, such clothing shall be so arranged that it can be instantly removed.
e. Clothing with exposed metal buttons, metal visors or other conductive materials shall not be worn around exposed electrical conductors.
10.
Respiratory Equipment.
a. When filter or cartridge-type respirators are required to be used regularly, each employee shall have one such respirator for his own exclusive use.
b. Employers and employees shall familiarize themselves with the use, sanitary care and limitations of such respiratory equipment as they may have occasion to use.
c. Whenever practical, harmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors and gases shall be suppressed by water, oil or other means which will minimize harmful exposure and permit employees to work without the use of respiratory equipment.
d. Whenever compressed air from an oil-lubricated compressor is used to supply respiratory equipment, a filter shall be inserted in the supply line to remove any oil, sediment or condensation that it may contain. Such filter shall be maintained in efficient working condition.
e. When self-contained respiratory equipment is used in hazardous locations, a standby unit shall be maintained for rescue purposes.
11.
Hearing Protection. Where workers are subject to hazardous noise levels, they shall be furnished with and shall wear hearing protection suitable for the level of hazard involved.
12.
Additional Information and Requirements. Additional information and requirements for the use of safety equipment and personal protective equipment may be found in the Safety and Health Standards established in IDAPA 07.09.01, "Safety and Health Rules for Places of Public Employment."
Effective March 31, 2022