Sometimes the OSHA “Request for public comments” postings contains some really good insights as to the documentation aspect to OSHA compliance. This week’s posting does a nice job of explaining all that is required to document our PPE Hazard Assessments:
(emphasis by me, but 100% OSHA wording)
Paragraph 1910.132(d)(1) and the Personal Fall Protection standard REQUIRE…
that employers perform a hazard assessment of the workplace to determine whether hazards are present, or likely to be present, that make the use of PPE necessary. Where such hazards are present, employers MUST select and have each affected worker use PPE that protects them from the identified hazards (§ 1910.132(d)(1)(i)), and COMMUNICATE PPE selection decisions to each affected worker (§ 1910.132(d)(1)(ii)).
Paragraph 1910.132(d)(2) requires that employers CERTIFY IN WRITING they have performed the required hazard assessment. The certification must include:
- the date,
- the name of the person certifying that the hazard assessment was conducted, and
- identification of the workplace evaluated (area or location).
The Personal Fall Protection standard EXPANDS the hazard assessment requirement to personal fall protection systems (§ 1910.132(g)).
Conducting a PPE hazard assessment ensures that potential workplace hazards necessitating PPE use have been identified and that the PPE selected is appropriate for those hazards and the affected workers. Communicating information on PPE selection decisions to affected workers ensures they are aware that the PPE selected will protect them from the hazards that the assessment identified. The certification of the hazard assessment verifies that employers have conducted the required assessment.