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Small Business Safety Management Series U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA 3151 2000 (Reprinted) Assessing the Need for Personal Protective Equipment: A Guide for Small Business Employers
Transcript
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Small Business Safety Management Series

U.S. Department of LaborOccupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 31512000 (Reprinted)

Assessing the Needfor Personal Protective Equipment:A Guide for Small Business Employers

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About This Booklet

The materials in this handbook are based upon the federal OSHAstandards and other requirements in effect at the time of publica-tion, and upon generally accepted principles and activities withinthe job safety and health field, but should not be considered as asubstitute for the standards.

This booklet is not intended to be a legal interpretation of theprovisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 orto place any additional requirements on employers or employees.

The material presented herein will be useful to small businessowners or managers and can be adapted to individual establish-ments.

All employers should be aware that there are certain states (andsimilar jurisdictions) which operate their own programs underagreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, pursuant to section18 of the Act. The programs in these jurisdiction may differ insome details from the federal program.

Material contained in this publication is in the public domain andmay be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission of theFederal Government. Source credit is requested but not required.

This information will be made available to sensory impairedindividuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-1999.

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Assessing the Needfor Personal Protective Equipment:A Guide for Small Business EmployersSmall Business Safety Management Series

U.S. Department of LaborOccupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 31512000 (Reprinted)

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Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1Who should read this guide? ............................................................................................................. 1How will this guide help protect my employees? ............................................................................... 1What is personal protective equipment? ........................................................................................... 1

Establishing a PPE Program ................................................................................................................ 2What is a PPE program? ................................................................................................................... 2How do I develop a PPE program for my company? ........................................................................ 2

The Need for PPE .................................................................................................................................. 3Who must provide PPE? ................................................................................................................... 3How do I identify potential hazards in my workplace? ...................................................................... 3I have identified potential hazards. Now what? ................................................................................ 3What are work practice and engineering controls? ........................................................................... 3All feasible engineering and work practice controls are in place, but my employees are still exposed to potential hazards. Is now the time to provide PPE? ........................................ 4How do I get started assessing my workplace operations for PPE needs? ...................................... 4

Eye and Face Protection ...................................................................................................................... 8When must I provide eye protection for employees? ........................................................................ 8How do I select the proper protective eyewear for employees? ....................................................... 8If employees wear eyeglasses with prescription lenses, may I consider these eye protection? ....... 8What kind of eye and face protectors are there? What are they for? ............................................... 8Can face shields protect employees instead of goggles or protective spectacles? .......................... 9How do I choose the correct eye protection from among all the different types? .............................. 9How dark do lenses on welding helmets and goggles need to be? ................................................ 10How do I protect employees from exposure to laser beams? ......................................................... 12How can I be sure that laser safety goggles provide enough protection? ....................................... 14Once I have selected the appropriate protective eye equipment, how do I make sure employees use it properly? ........................................................................................................... 14My workplace gets pretty dirty. How will my employees keep their protective eyewear clean and effective? ...................................................................................................................... 15My employees work in shifts. Could I provide one pair of protective eyewear for each position instead of each employee? .............................................................................................. 15

Head Protection ................................................................................................................................... 16When do my employees need head protection? ............................................................................. 16What should I look for in head protection? ...................................................................................... 16What types of head protection are available? ................................................................................. 16How do I choose the correct protective helmets from among the different types?.......................... 17I have purchased new hard hats for my employees that meet the ANSI requirements.Have I fulfilled my responsibility to protect my employees’ heads? ................................................ 17Could employees wearing hard hats and working at elevations create a potential hazard for the employees working below? ..................................................................................................... 18Can I require employees to cut their hair if it is long enough to get tangled in machinery? ............ 18Once I have selected helmets to protect my employees’ heads, how do I make sure they use them properly? ....................................................................................................................... 18How do I make sure that the hard hats I provide will be kept in good condition? ........................... 18

iii

Administrator
For quick "navigation" in this document, just point and click the page number given in the Table of Contents.
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Contents (continued)

Foot and Leg Protection .............................................................................................................. 20When must I provide foot and leg protection? .......................................................................... 20What are the types of protection and where do I use them? .................................................... 20What should I look for when choosing safety shoes for my employees? ................................. 21

Conductive Shoes ............................................................................................................... 21Electrical Hazard, Safety-Toe Shoes .................................................................................. 21Foundry Shoes.................................................................................................................... 22

Once I have selected equipment to protect my employees’ feet and legs, how do I make sure they use it properly? ....................................................................................................... 22

Hand and Arm Protection ............................................................................................................ 23When must I provide hand and arm protection?....................................................................... 23What kind of equipment is necessary to protect hands and arms? .......................................... 23Is there one kind of glove that will protect against all workplace hazards? .............................. 23What kinds of protective gloves are available? ........................................................................ 23

Metal Mesh, Leather, or Canvas Gloves............................................................................. 23Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves ....................................................................................... 24Chemical- and Liquid-Resistant Gloves .............................................................................. 24

How do I make sure my employees properly use the equipment I have selected?.................. 28

Body Protection ........................................................................................................................... 29When must I provide my employees with full body protection? ................................................ 29If only part of the body faces potential injury, must I provide my employees with full body protection? ..................................................................................................................... 29From what material should protective clothing be made? ........................................................ 29How do I make sure employees properly use the body protection I provide? .......................... 30

Hearing Protection ....................................................................................................................... 31When must I provide hearing protection for my employees? ................................................... 31Will earplugs reduce employee exposure to high noise levels? ............................................... 31What if my employees are exposed to different levels of noise throughout the day?............... 31What kinds of devices protect against high noise levelsl? Is cotton sufficient as earplugs? ... 32If I provide my employees with hearing protection, can they work in areas with any

level of noise for any period of time? ..................................................................................... 32Once I have selected equipment to protect my employees’ hearing, how do I make sure

they use it properly? .............................................................................................................. 32Once I have provided my employees with hearing protection and training in how to use it, how do I know that it is really protecting their hearing? ......................................................... 33

Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 34

Other Sources of OSHA Assistance ........................................................................................... 35Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines .............................................................. 35State Programs......................................................................................................................... 35Free On-Site Consultation ........................................................................................................ 35Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) ...................................................................................... 35Training and Education ............................................................................................................. 36Electronic Information ............................................................................................................... 36Emergencies............................................................................................................................. 36

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Contents (continued)

States with Approved Plans ........................................................................................................ 37

OSHA Consultation Project Directory ........................................................................................ 39

Other Relevant Addresses .......................................................................................................... 44

OSHA Area Offices ....................................................................................................................... 45

OSHA Regional Offices ............................................................................................................... 51

LIST OF CHECKLISTS

Checklist A: Establishing a PPE Program .................................................................................. 2

Checklist B: Need for PPE ............................................................................................................ 5

Checklist C: Use and Care of Eye and Face Protection ........................................................... 14

Checklist D: Use and Care of Head Protection ......................................................................... 19

Checklist E: Use and Care of Foot and Leg Protection ........................................................... 22

Checklist F: Use and Care of Hand and Arm Protection ......................................................... 28

Checklist G: Use and Care of Body Protection ........................................................................ 30

Checklist H: Use and Care of Hearing Protection .................................................................... 33

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Eye and Face Protector Selection Guide ..................................................................... 10

Table 2. Filter Lense for Protection Against Radiant Energy ................................................... 11

Table 3. Selecting Laser Safety Glasses .................................................................................... 12

Table 4. Glove Chemical Resistance Selection Chart ............................................................... 25

Table 5. Permissible Noise Exposures ....................................................................................... 31

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Recommended Eye and Face Protectors .................................................................. 13

Figure 2. Hard Hat ....................................................................................................................... 16

Figure 3. Safety Shoes ................................................................................................................ 21

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Who should read this guide?

If you employ one or more persons, you shouldread this guide.

How will this guide help protect myemployees?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administra-tion (OSHA) requires employers to protect theiremployees from workplace hazards such asmachines, work procedures, and hazardous sub-stances that can cause injury. The preferred way todo this is through engineering controls or workpractice and administrative controls, but when thesecontrols are not feasible or do not provide sufficientprotection, an alternative or supplementary methodof protection is to provide workers with personalprotective equipment (PPE) and the know-how touse it properly.

This guide will help you to

• Examine your workplace,

• Review the work procedures you require youremployees to follow,

• Select appropriate PPE (except for respiratorsand insulating rubber equipment) to protect youremployees, and

• Teach your employees how to wear and care forthe PPE you provide.

This guide will help you comply with OSHA’sgeneral PPE requirements, but it is not a substitutefor OSHA standards requiring PPE (Title 29, Codeof Federal Regulations [CFR] 1910.132).* Thisstandard requires employers to establish generalprocedures, called a PPE program, to give employ-ees necessary protective equipment and to trainthem to use it properly. Respirators and insulatingdevices are not included in this guide becauseOSHA requires employers to develop separateprograms specifically addressing the issues associ-ated with those types of protective devices (29 CFR1910.134 and 29 CFR 1910.137, respectively).Although not specifically directed to constructionand maritime industry, the information, methods,and procedures in this guide are also applicable to,

and will help you comply with, OSHA’s generalPPE requirements for the construction industry at29 CFR 1926.95 and for the maritime industry at 29CFR 1915.152.

Although the checklists and other informationpresented in this guide are intended to help you tothe greatest extent possible, please keep in mindthat this publication is general in nature and doesnot address all workplace hazards or PPE require-ments.

What is personal protective equipment?

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, includes avariety of devices and garments to protect workersfrom injuries. You can find PPE designed to protect

• Eyes,

• Face,

• Head,

• Ears,

• Feet,

• Hands and arms, and

• Whole body.

PPE includes such items as

• Goggles,

• Face shields,

• Safety glasses,

• Hard hats,

• Safety shoes,

• Gloves,

• Vests,

• Earplugs, and

• Earmuffs.

1Introduction

*To obtain copies of the CFR, see the order form at the endof this publication.

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■ ■ Identify steps taken to assess potential hazards in every employee’s work space and in workplaceoperating procedures

■ ■ Identify appropriate PPE selection criteria■ ■ Identify how you will train employees on the use of PPE, including

■ ■ What PPE is necessary■ ■ When PPE is necessary■ ■ How to properly inspect PPE for wear or damage■ ■ How to properly put on and adjust the fit of PPE■ ■ How to properly take off PPE■ ■ The limitations of the PPE■ ■ How to properly care for and store PPE

■ ■ Identify how you will assess employee understanding of PPE training■ ■ Identify how you will enforce proper PPE use■ ■ Identify how you will provide for any required medical examinations■ ■ Identify how and when to evaluate the PPE program

Checklist A:Establishing a PPE Program

Respirators and rubber insulating equipment(gloves, sleeves, blankets) are also considered PPE,but because OSHA has specific requirements forthose kinds of PPE, this general guide does notaddress such equipment. For assistance in deter-mining the need for and the appropriate choice ofrespiratory protection for your employees, seeOSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.54, RespiratoryProtection Program Manual.*

What is a PPE program?

This program sets out procedures for selecting,providing, and using PPE as part of your routine

Establishing a PPE Program

operation. A written PPE program is easier toestablish and maintain as company policy andeasier to evaluate than an unwritten one.

How do I develop a PPE program for mycompany?

You have already begun to establish a PPEprogram by thinking about how best to protect youremployees from potential hazards. Use Checklist Afor information on establishing a PPE program.Working through the PPE selection process in thisguide will produce the foundation for your pro-gram. Then you will need to decide how to enforcePPE use at your facility, provide for any requiredmedical examinations, and evaluate your PPEprogram.

2

*CPL 2-2.54, 2/10/1992, on http//:www.osha-slc.gov/. SeeOther OSHA Documents, at http://www.osha.gov/ orcontact your nearest OSHA regional or area office listed atthe end of this publication.

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Who must provide PPE?

You must provide PPE for your employees if

• Their work environment presents a hazard or islikely to present a hazard to any part of theirbodies;

OR

• Their work processes present a hazard or arelikely to present a hazard to any part of theirbodies;

OR

• During their work, they might come into contactwith hazardous chemicals, radiation, or me-chanical irritants;

AND

• You are unable to eliminate their exposure orpotential exposure to the hazard by engineering,work practice, or administrative controls.

How do I identify potential hazards in myworkplace?

Begin with a survey of your workplace. Observethe environment in which your employees work.Ask employees how they perform their tasks. Lookfor sources of potential injury such as thefollowing:

• Objects that might fall from above.

• Exposed pipes or beams at work level.

• Exposed liquid chemicals.

• Sources of heat, intense light, noise, or dust.

• Equipment or materials that could produceflying particles.

Checklist B at the end of this section will helpyou conduct this survey.

I have identified potential hazards.Now what?

Determine if there are feasible engineering andwork practice controls that could be used to avoidhazards.

3The Need for PPE

If... Then...

You can physically change the machine or You have eliminated the hazard withwork environment to prevent employee an engineering control.exposure to the potential hazard (adding aguard to the machine or building a barrier inthe room between employees and the hazard).

You can remove your employees from You have eliminated the hazard with aexposure to the potential hazard by changing work practice control.the way they do their jobs.

Employers should institute all feasible engineering, work practice, and administrative controls toeliminate or reduce hazards before using PPE to protect employees against hazards.

What are work practice and engineering controls?

These controls can be described by the following examples once you’ve identified a potentialhazard on a machine or in the room in which your employees work

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All feasible engineering and work practicecontrols are in place, but my employeesare still exposed to potential hazards. Isnow the time to provide PPE?

Yes. You must examine each likely hazard verycarefully and determine the nature of the threat thehazard poses to your employees. Then choose theappropriate PPE for protection against that hazard,and make sure that any PPE you choose will fit theemployee(s) who must wear it. Next, train youremployees in the proper use and care of the PPEyou provide.

How do I get started assessing my work-place operations for PPE needs?

Use Checklist B to assess the work environmentand procedures. Keep in mind, though, that this is

not an exhaustive list of operations that couldcause injury. Many workplace operations createhazards; all of them could not be listed here. Ifyou don’t find a specific task on the checklist

• Look for similarities between your workplaceoperations and those listed here

• Try to anticipate whether such operations alsomight create similar hazards, and

• Remember, an operation need only have thepotential to cause injury to require PPE.

Once you have identified the tasks that requirePPE, read the specific sections in the checklist tohelp you choose the appropriate PPE for youremployees.

Machine Shop

In a machine shop, a milling operation produces large quantities of metal chips that fly all over thesurrounding work areas. Recognizing that flying metal chips were a potential hazard to employees inthe surrounding areas, the machine shop owner had to decide how best to protect the workers.

Option 1—PPE:

Provide employees with safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields.

Option 2—Engineering and administrative controls:

Enclose the milling operation or install a deflector to contain the metal chips and prevent them fromflying into the surrounding areas (engineering control).

Operate the machine only at certain times of the day when adjacent operations have stopped(administrative/work practice control).

Option 2 is more effective since enclosing the operation will eliminate the hazard of flying metalchips. Providing a deflector will contain most, if not all, of the flying chips. In a machine shop,however, safety glasses should also be required for added protection.

4 The Need for PPE

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The Need for PPE

Suggested Questions Typical Operationsof Concern Yes No

Do employees perform tasks, or work near Sawing, cutting, drilling, sanding,employees who perform tasks, that might grinding, hammering, chopping,produce airborne dust or flying particles? abrasive blasting, and punch press ■ ■ ■■

operations.

Do your employees handle, or work near Pouring, mixing, painting, cleaning,employees who handle, hazardous liquid syphoning, dip tank operations, andchemicals or encounter blood splashes? dental and health care services. ■ ■ ■■

Are your employees’ eyes exposed to other Battery charging, installing fiberglasspotential physical or chemical irritants? insulation, and compressed air or gas ■ ■ ■■

operations.

Are your employees exposed to intense light Welding, cutting, and laseror lasers? operations. ■ ■ ■■

Do your employees handle, or work near Pouring, mixing, painting, cleaning,employees who handle, hazardous liquid syphoning, and dip tank operations. ■ ■ ■■chemicals?

Are your employees’ faces exposed to Welding, pouring molten metal,extreme heat? smithing, baking, cooking, and

drying. ■ ■ ■■

Are your employees’ faces exposed to other Cutting, sanding, grinding,potential irritants? hammering, chopping, pouring,

mixing, painting, cleaning, andsyphoning. ■ ■ ■■

Might tools or other objects fall from above Work stations or traffic routes locatedand strike your employees on the head? under catwalks or conveyor belts,

construction, trenching, and utilitywork. ■ ■ ■■

Checklist B:Need for PPE

Eyes

Face

Head

5

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When your employees stand or bend, Construction, confined spaceare their heads near exposed beams, machine operations, and buildingparts, or pipes? maintenance. ■ ■ ■■

Do your employees work with or near Building maintenance; utility work;exposed electrical wiring or components? construction; wiring; work on or near

communications, computer, or otherhigh-tech equipment; and arc orresistance welding. ■ ■ ■■

Could tools, heavy equipment, or other Construction, plumbing, smithing,objects roll, fall onto, or strike your building maintenance, trenching,employees’ feet? utility work, and grass cutting. ■ ■ ■■

Do your employees work with or near Building maintenance; utility work;exposed electrical wiring or components? construction; wiring; work on or near

communications, computer, or otherhigh-tech equipment; and arc orresistance welding. ■ ■ ■■

Do your employees work with explosives or Demolition, explosivesin explosive atmospheres? manufacturing, grain milling, spray

painting, abrasive blasting, and workwith highly flammable materials ■ ■ ■■

Do your employees’ hands come into Grinding, sanding, sawing,contact with tools or materials that might hammering, and material handling. ■ ■ ■■scrape, bruise, or cut?

Do your employees handle chemicals that Pouring, mixing, painting, cleaning,might irritate skin, or come into contact syphoning, dip tank operations, andwith blood? health care and dental services. ■ ■ ■■

Do work procedures require your employees Welding, pouring molten metal,to place their hands and arms near extreme smithing, baking, cooking, andheat? drying. ■ ■ ■■

Suggested Questions Typical Operationsof Concern Yes No

Feet

Hands

6 The Need for PPE

Checklist B:Need for PPE (continued)

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Are your employees’ hands and arms placed Building maintenance; utility work;near exposed electrical wiring or construction; wiring; work on or nearcomponents? communications, computer, or other

high-tech equipment; and arc orresistance welding. ■ ■ ■■

Are your employees’ bodies exposed to Pouring, mixing, painting, cleaning,irritating dust or chemical splashes? syphoning, dip tank operations,

machining, sawing, battery charging,installing fiberglass insulation, andcompressed air or gas operations. ■ ■ ■■

Are your employees’ bodies exposed to Cutting, grinding, sanding, sawing,sharp or rough surfaces? glazing, and material handling. ■ ■ ■■

Are your employees’ bodies exposed to Welding, pouring molten metal,extreme heat? smithing, baking, cooking, and

drying. ■ ■ ■■

Are your employees’ bodies exposed to Pouring, mixing, painting, cleaning,acids or other hazardous substances? syphoning, and dip tank operations. ■ ■ ■■

Are your employees exposed to loud noise Machining, grinding, sanding, workfrom machines, tools, or music systems? near conveyors, pneumatic

equipment, generators, ventilationfans, motors, and punch and brakepresses. ■ ■ ■■

Suggested Questions Typical Operationsof Concern Yes No

The Need for PPE

Body

Ears/Hearing

THE NEED FOR PPE

7

Checklist B:Need for PPE (continued)

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Eye and Face Protection

When must I provide eye protectionfor employees?

You must provide eye protection for employeeswhenever they are exposed to potential eye injuriesduring their work if work practice or engineeringcontrols do not eliminate the risk of injury. Someof the things that might cause eye injuries includethe following:

• Dust and other flying particles, such as metalshavings or wool fibers.

• Molten metal that might splash.

• Acids and other caustic liquid chemicals thatmight splash.

• Blood and other potentially infectious bodyfluids that might splash, spray, or splatter.

• Intense light such as that created by weldingarcs and lasers.

How do I select the proper protectiveeyewear for employees?

Begin with the following criteria:

• Eye protection must protect against the specifichazard(s) encountered in the workplace.

• It must be reasonably comfortable to wear.

• Eye protection must not restrict vision or move-ment.

• Eye protection must be durable and easy toclean and disinfect.

• Eye protection must not interfere with thefunction of other required PPE.

In addition, the American National StandardsInstitute, Inc. (ANSI)* has issued standard require-ments for the design, construction, testing, and useof protective devices for eyes and face.

OSHA requires that all protective eyewear youpurchase for your employees meet the requirementsof ANSI Z87.1-1989 for devices purchased afterJuly 5, 1994, and ANSI Z87.1-1968 for devicespurchased before that date.**

If employees wear eyeglasses with pre-scription lenses, may I consider theseeye protection?

No. Eyeglasses designed for ordinary wear donot provide the level of protection necessary toprotect against workplace hazards. Special caremust be taken when choosing eye protectors foremployees who wear eyeglasses with correctivelenses such as the following:

• Prescription spectacles, with side shields andprotective lenses meeting the requirements ofANSI Z87.1, that also correct the individualemployee’s vision.

• Goggles that can fit comfortably over correctiveeyeglasses without disturbing the alignment ofthe eyeglasses.

• Goggles that incorporate corrective lensesmounted behind protective lenses.

You also must provide protective eyewear toemployees who wear contact lenses and are ex-posed to potential eye injury. Eye protectionprovided to these employees may also incorporatecorrective eyeglasses. Thus, if an employee mustdon eyeglasses in the event of contact lens failureor loss, he or she will still be able to use the sameprotective eyewear.

What kind of eye and face protectors arethere? What are they for?

• Safety spectacles. These protective eyeglassesare made with safety frames constructed ofmetal and/or plastic and are fitted with eithercorrective or plano impact-resistant lenses.They come with and without side shields, butmost workplace operations will require sideshields.

• Impact-resistant spectacles. This eyewear canbe used for moderate impact from particlesproduced by such jobs as carpentry, woodwork-ing, grinding, and scaling.

• Side shields. These protect against particlesthat might enter the eyes from the side. Sideshields are made of wire mesh or plastic. Eye-cup type side shields provide the best protection.

8

*ANSI, 11 West 42nd St., New York, NY 10035.**ANSI, Z87.1, Occupational and Educational Eye andFace Protection.

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• Goggles. You may choose from many differenttypes of goggles, each designed for specifichazards. Generally, goggles protect eyes, eyesockets, and the facial area immediately sur-rounding the eyes from impact, dust, andsplashes. Some goggles fit over correctivelenses.

• Welding shields. Constructed of vulcanizedfiber or fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens,these protective devices are designed for thespecific hazards associated with welding.Welding shields protect your employees’ eyesfrom burns caused by infrared or intense radiantlight, and they protect face and eyes from flyingsparks, metal spatter, and slag chips producedduring welding, brazing, soldering, and cutting.See Table 1 for assistance in choosing theappropriate filter for your employees’ tasks.

• Laser safety goggles. Laser safety gogglesprovide a range of protection against the intenseconcentrations of light produced by lasers. Thetype of laser safety goggles you choose willdepend upon the equipment and operatingconditions in your workplace. Table 2 of thisdocument and Chapter II:6, “Laser Hazards,” inthe OSHA Technical Manual* will help youselect the appropriate protection for your em-ployees.

• Face shields. These transparent sheets ofplastic extend from the brow to below the chinacross the entire width of the employee’s head.Some are polarized for glare protection. Chooseface shields to protect your employees’ facesfrom nuisance dusts and potential splashes orsprays of hazardous liquids.

Can face shields protect employeesinstead of goggles or protectivespectacles?

Face shields do not protect employees fromimpact hazards. You may use however, face shieldsin combination with goggles or safety spectacles, toprotect against impact hazards, even in the absenceof dust or potential splashes, for additional protec-tion beyond that offered by goggles or spectaclesalone.

How do I choose the correct eye protec-tion from among all the different types?

Each kind of protective eyewear is designed toprotect against specific hazards. By completing thehazard assessment of your workplace outlined inthe previous section, you will identify the specificworkplace hazards that pose a threat to your em-ployees’ eyes and faces. Tables 1 through 3 andFigure 1 will help you find the protective devicesmost suited for your employees and your work-place. Locate the operations and hazards mostsimilar to those in your workplace in Table 1 andmatch the number to the corresponding drawing inFigure 1. Welding and laser operations requirelenses to be tinted to a degree sufficient to protectagainst the specific intensity of light present duringthat tasks your employees perform (see Tables 2and 3).

9

*TED1-0.15A, January 20, 1999. See OSHA TechnicalManual under Other OSHA Documents athttp//:www.osha.gov. Copies of the manual may also bepurchased from the Superintendent of Documents,Goernment Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Theprice of the subscription is $40 and the order number is929-060-0000-8. GPO’s phone number is (202) 512-1800;the fax number is (202) 512-2250.

Eye and Face Protection

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Operation Hazards Recommended protectors:(numbers refer to Figure 1)

Acetylene-burning, acetylene- Sparks, harmful rays, 7,8,9cutting, acetylene-welding molten metal, flying particlesChemical handling Splash, acid burns, fumes 2,10 (for severe exposure add 10 over 2)Chipping Flying particles 1,3,4,5,6,7A,8AElectric (arc) welding Sparks, intense rays, molten metal 9,11 (11 in combination with 4,5,6 in

tinted lenses advisable)Furnace operations Glare, heat, molten metal 7,8,9 (for severe exposure add 10)Grinding - light Flying particles 1,3,4,5,6,10Grinding - heavy Flying particles 1,3,7A,8A (for severe exposure add 10)Laboratory Chemical splash, glass breakage 2 (10 when in combination with 4,5,6)Machining Flying particles 1,3,4,5,6,10Molten metals Heat, glare, sparks, splash 7,8 (10 in combination with 4,5,6 in

tinted lenses)Spot welding Flying particles, sparks 1,3,4,5,6,10

Eye and Face Protection

Source: 29 CFR 1926.102(a)(5)

How dark do lenses on welding helmetsand goggles need to be?

The intensity of light or radiant energy producedby welding, cutting, or brazing operations variesaccording to a number of factors including the taskproducing the light, the electrode size, and the arccurrent. Table 2 shows the minimum protectiveshade for a variety of welding, cutting, and brazingoperations. To protect employees who are exposedto intense radiant energy, begin by selecting a shadetoo dark to see the welding zone. Then try lightershades until you find one that allows a sufficientview of the welding zone without going below theminimum protective shade.

Table 1.Eye and Face Protector Selection Guide

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11Eye and Face Protection

Source: 29 CFR 1910.133(a)(5).

*As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which gives sufficient viewof the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding or cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light,it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the visible light of the (spectrum) operation.** These values apply where the actual arc is clearly seen. Experience has shown that lighter filters may be used when the arc ishidden by the workpiece.

Table 2.Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy

Operations Electrode size in Arc current Minimum* protective1/32” (0.8mm) shade

Shielded metal arc <3 <60 7welding 3-5 60-160 8

5-8 160-250 10>8 250-550 11

Gas metal-arc welding <60 7and flux-cored arc 60-160 10welding 160-250 10

250-500 10

Gas tungsten-arc <50 8welding 50-150 8

150-500 10

Air carbon arc cutting (light) <500 10(heavy) 500-1,000 11

Plasma arc welding <20 620-100 8100-400 10400-800 11

Plasma arc cutting (light)** <300 8(medium)** 300-400 9(heavy)** 400-800 10

Torch blazing 3

Torch soldering 2

Carbon arc welding 14

Gas welding:Light <1/8 <3.2 4Medium 1/8-1/2 3.2-12.7 5Heavy >1/2 >12.7 6

Oxygen cutting:Light <1 <25 3Medium 1-6 25-150 4Heavy >6 >150 5

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Eye and Face Protection

How do I protect employees fromexposure to laser beams?

You must provide safety goggles specificallydesigned to protect the employees’ eyes from thespecific intensity of light produced by the laser.The level of protection will vary according the levelof radiation emitted by the laser. If your employeesare exposed to laser beams, you must determine themaximum power density, or intensity, that the lasers

can produce.* Based on this knowledge, you mustselect lenses that will protect against this maximumintensity. Table 3 shows the minimum opticaldensity of lenses required for various laser intensi-ties. Employers with lasers emitting radiationbetween two measures of power density (or lightblocking capability) must provide lenses that offerprotection against the higher of the two intensities.

Intensity, CW maximum power Optical density (O.D.) Attenuation factor density (watts/cm2)

10-2 5 105

10-1 6 106

1 7 107

10 8 108

Table 3.Selecting Laser Safety Glass

Source: 29 CFR 1926.102(b)(2)(i)

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*The manufacturer usually provides this information on the laser.

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13Eye and Face Protection

Figure 1. Recommended Eye and Face Protectors

Eye and face protectors are identified belowby number and type. Refer to Table 1 forrecommended usage applications.

1. Goggles, flexible fitting, regularventilation

2. Goggles, flexible fitting, hoodedventilation

3. Goggles, cushioned fitting, rigid body4. Spectacles, metal frame, with side shields*5. Spectacles, plastic frame, with side shields*6. Spectacles, metal-plastic frame, with

flatfold side shields*7. Welding Goggles, eyecup type, tinted

lenses**

7A. Chipping Goggles, eyecup type, clear safety lenses (not illustrated)

8. Welding Goggles, coverspec type,tinted lens**

8A.Chipping Goggles, coverspec type,clear safety lenses (not illustrated)

9. Welding Goggles, coverspec type,tinted plate lens**

10.Face Shield (available with plastic ormesh window, tinted/transparent)

11. Welding Helmets**

Source: 29 CFR 1926.102 (a)(5) Table E-1.*These are also available without side shields for limited use requiring only frontal protection.** See Table 2, Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy.

1 2 3

4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11

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Eye and Face Protection

How can I be sure that laser safety gogglesprovide enough protection?

Every pair of safety goggles intended for use withlaser beams must bear a label with the followinginformation:

• The laser wavelengths for which they are in-tended to be used.

• The optical density of those wavelengths.

• The visible light transmission.

Train your employees to know…

■ ■ Why eye protection is necessary—i.e., the workplace hazards that threaten their eyes

■ ■ How the eye protection will protect them

■ ■ The limitations of the eye protection

■ ■ When they must wear the eye protectors

■ ■ How to put the protective eyewear on properly

■ ■ How to adjust straps and other parts for a comfortable and effective fit

■ ■ How the protective eyewear fits over or contains an employee’s corrective lenses

■ ■ How to identify signs of wear such as

■ ■ Chipped, scratched, or scraped lenses

■ ■ Loss of elasticity or fraying of head bands

■ ■ How to clean and disinfect the safety eyewear

Checklist C:Use and Care of Eye and Face Protection

Once I have selected the appropriate eye-protection equipment, how do I makesure employees use it properly?

Train your employees to use the protectiveeyewear. Checklist C will help you prepare youremployees to use and care for the eye protectionyou provide.

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My workplace gets pretty dirty. How willmy employees keep their protectiveeyewear clean and effective?

Train your employees how to clean the eyeprotectors. Allow them time at the end of theirshifts to do the following:

• Disassemble goggles or spectacles,

• Thoroughly clean all parts with soap and warmwater,

• Carefully rinse off all traces of soap, and

• Replace all defective parts.

Occasionally, you must disinfect the protectiveeyewear. To do so, after cleaning you can do thefollowing:

• Immerse and swab all parts for 10 minutes in agermicidal solution.

• Remove all parts from the solution and hang in aclean place to air dry at room temperature orwith heated air.

• Do not rinse the parts after submerging them inthe disinfectant. Rinsing will remove thegermicidal residue that remains after drying.

• You may also use ultraviolet disinfecting andspray-type disinfecting solutions after washing.

My employees work in shifts. Could Iprovide one pair of protective eyewear foreach position instead of each employee?

Yes. If you do this, however, you must disinfectshared protective eyewear after each use. If thegoggles or spectacles do not have to be individuallydesigned to incorporate an employee’s correctivelenses and you disinfect the eyewear between usesby different employees, more than one employeemay use the same set of protective eyewear.

If a Wood Chip Chips…

Eight employees work four at a time duringtwo shifts in a custom woodworking shop.During the course of their shifts, the employ-ees might saw, lathe, sand, and finish wood.

Before beginning shop operations, theiremployer conducted a hazard assessment anddetermined that flying sawdust and wood chipspresented an impact hazard to workers’ eyes.In addition, stains, polyurethane finishes, andliquid waxes might splash into employees’eyes.

The employer purchased four flexible-fitting,ventilated goggles to be shared by employeeson different shifts. The employer trained eachemployee to use and care for the goggles andrequired the employees to wear them when inthe shop. In addition, the employer made faceshields available for employee comfort andadded protection.

During the final 15 minutes of each shift,employees wash the goggles they wore inwarm water and soap. After rinsing the gogglesclean, the employees douse them in disinfect-ing solution for 10 minutes and then placethem under a blower to dry before the nextshift arrives to don the goggles.

15Eye and Face Protection

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1 1/4" Safety zone

Figure 2. Hard Hat

Head Protection

When do my employees need headprotection?

You must provide head protection for youremployees if:

• Objects might fall from above and strike themon the head;

• They might bump their heads against fixedobjects, such as exposed pipes or beams; or

• They work near exposed electrical conductors.

What should I look for in headprotection?

In general, protective helmets, or hard hats, should

• Resist penetration by objects,

• Absorb the shock of a blow,

• Be water resistant and slow burning, and

• Come with instructions explaining properadjustment and replacement of the suspensionand headband.

Hard hats require a hard outer shell and a shock-absorbing lining. The lining should incorporate ahead band and straps that suspend the shell from 1to 11/

4 inches (2.54 cm to 3.18 cm) away from the

user’s head. This design provides shock absorp-tion during impact and ventilation during wear.

*ANSI Z89.1, Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers.

As with devices designed to protect eyes, thedesign, construction, testing, and use of protectivehelmets must meet standards established by ANSI.Protective helmets purchased after July 5, 1994,must comply with ANSI Z89.1-1986,* whereas,those purchased before this date must meet theANSI Z89.1-1969 standard.

What types of head protection areavailable?

Hard hats are divided into three industrial classes:

• Class A. These helmets are for general service.They provide good impact protection but limitedvoltage protection. They are used mainly inmining, building construction, shipbuilding,lumbering, and manufacturing.

• Class B. Choose Class B helmets if youremployees are engaged in electrical work. Theyprotect against falling objects and high-voltageshock and burns.

• Class C. Designed for comfort, these light-weight helmets offer limited protection. Theyprotect workers from bumping against fixedobjects but do not protect against falling objectsor electric shock.

Look at the inside of any protective helmet youare considering for your employees, and you shouldsee a label showing the manufacturer’s name, theANSI standard it meets, and its class. Figure 2shows the basic design of hard hats.

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The Sky is Falling…

An employer contracted with cable televisionproviders to string coaxial cable on utilitypoles. The employer hired work crews of two.Generally, one employee worked aloft in anaerial lift, or cherry picker, while the otheremployee worked at ground level. Employeesalternated these tasks.

The employer’s assessment determined that,among other hazards, certain aspects of thework posed a potential for head injuries.

Ground-level employees risked being struckby falling tools from the work basket above, aswell as from the basket and the lift boom whenthey maneuvered into position. Employeesaloft risked impact with utility poles and high-voltage electrical transformers.

Employees with long hair faced additionalhazards. On the ground, long hair could gettangled in lift machinery. On the lift, the windcould blow long hair and tangle it with cablesand electrical hazards.

To protect employees’ heads, the employerprovided Class B hard hats. These helmetsprotect against impact and contact with electri-cal hazards. The employer also issued bandanasof sufficient size to cover the long hair ofemployees.

As part of initial training, the employerintroduced all new employees to the reasonswhy they must wear hard hats and the proce-dures for the proper care and maintenance ofthe hard hats. In addition, the employer periodi-cally reviews these procedures with employeesduring refresher training sessions.

How do I choose the correct protectivehelmets from among the different types?

Each kind of protective helmet is designed toprotect against specific hazards. By completing thehazard assessment outlined above, you will identifythe specific workplace hazards that pose a threat toyour employee’s head.

I have purchased new hard hats that meetthe ANSI requirements. Have I fulfilledmy responsibility to protect myemployees’ heads?

No. Issuing appropriate head protection toemployees is a major first step, but you must makesure that the hard hats continue to provide sufficientprotection to your employees. Do this by trainingyour employees in the proper use and maintenanceof hard hats including daily inspection of them. Ifyour employees identify any of the followingdefects, remove the hard hats from service:

• The suspension system shows signs ofdeterioration such as:

– Cracking,

– Tearing, or

– Fraying.

• The suspension system no longer holds the shellfrom 1 inch to 11/

4 inches (2.54cm - 3.18cm)

away from the employee’s head.

• The brim or shell is cracked, perforated, ordeformed.

• The brim or shell shows signs of exposure toheat, chemicals, ultraviolet light, or otherradiation. Such signs include:

– Loss of surface gloss,

– Chalking, or

– Flaking (a sign of advanced deterioration).

17Head Protection

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Head Protection

Could employees wearing hard hats andworking at elevations create a potentialhazard for the employees working below?

To protect employees working below, you mustprovide chin straps for the protective helmets wornby employees working at higher elevations,whether in an aerial lift or at the edge of a pit. Thechin straps should be designed to prevent the hardhats from being bumped off the employees’ heads.

Can I require employees to cut their hair ifit is long enough to get tangled inmachinery?

Long hair (longer than four inches) can be drawninto machine parts such as chains, belts, rotatingdevices, suction devices, and blowers. Hair mayeven be drawn into machines otherwise guardedwith mesh. Although you need not require youremployees to cut their hair, you must require themto cover and protect their hair with bandanas, hairnets, turbans, soft caps, or the like. These items,however, must not themselves present a hazard.

Once I have selected helmets to protectmy employees’ heads, how do I makesure they use them properly?

Train your employees to use the hard hats.Checklist D will help you instruct your employeesto use and care for the head protection you provide.

How do I make sure that the hard hats Iprovide will be kept in good condition?

You must train your employees to maintain andcare for the head protection. Your training commu-nicates the importance of wearing head protectionand taking proper care of it. Important informationyou will want to consider when training employeeson how to care for their hard hats includes thefollowing:

• Paints, paint thinners, and some cleaning agentscan weaken the shell of the hard hat and mayeliminate electrical resistance. Consult thehelmet manufacturer for information on theeffects of paint and cleaning materials on theirhard hats. Keep in mind that paint and stickerscan also hide signs of deterioration in the hardhat shell. Limit their use.

• Ultraviolet light and extreme heat, such as thatgenerated by sunlight, can reduce the strength ofthe hard hats. Therefore, employees should notstore or transport hard hats on the rear-windowshelves of automobiles or otherwise in directsunlight.

Also, instruct employees to clean the protectivehelmets periodically by:

• Immersing for one minute in hot (approximately1400 F, or 600 C) water and detergent,

• Scrubbing, and

• Rinsing in clear hot water.

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Checklist D:Use and Care of Head Protection

19Head Protection

Train your employees to know…

■ ■ Why head protection is necessary—i.e., the workplace hazards threatening their heads

■ ■ How the head protection will protect them

■ ■ The limitations of the head protection

■ ■ When they must wear the head protection

■ ■ How to wear the protective head gear properly

■ ■ How to adjust straps and other parts for a comfortable and effective fit

How to identify signs of wear, such as

■ ■ Cracked, torn, frayed, or otherwise deteriorated suspension systems

■ ■ Deformed, cracked, or perforated brims or shells

■ ■ Flaking, chalking, or loss of surface gloss

■ ■ How to clean and disinfect the hard hats you provide for them.

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Foot and Leg Protection

When must I provide foot and legprotection?

You must provide foot and leg protection if yourworkplace hazard assessment reveals potential dangersto these parts of the body. Some of the potentialhazards you might identify include the following:

• Heavy objects such as barrels or tools that mightroll onto or fall on employees’ feet.

• Sharp objects such as nails or spikes that mightpierce the soles or uppers of ordinary shoes.

• Molten metal that might splash on feet or legs.

• Hot or wet surfaces.

• Slippery surfaces.

What are the types of protection and wheredo I use them?

The type of foot and leg protection you provide youremployees will depend upon the specific workplacehazards you identify and the specific parts of the feetor legs exposed to potential injury. Safety footwearmust meet minimum compression and impact perfor-mance standards and testing requirements establishedby ANSI. Protective footwear purchased after July 5,1994, must meet the requirements of ANSI Z41-1991.* Protective footwear bought before that date

must comply with ANSI Z41-1967. Foot and legprotection choices includes the following:

• Leggings. Use these to protect the lower legs andfeet from heat hazards, like molten metal orwelding sparks. Safety snaps allow leggings to beremoved quickly.

• Metatarsal guards. Made of aluminum, steel,fiber, or plastic, these guards may be strapped tothe outside of shoes to protect the instep area fromimpact and compression.

• Toe guards. Toe guards may be made of steel,aluminum, or plastic. They fit over the toes ofregular shoes. These guards protect only the toesfrom impact and compression hazards.

• Combination foot and shin guards. Theseguards may be used in combination with toeguards when greater protection is needed.

• Safety shoes. These sturdy shoes have impact-resistant toes and heat-resistant soles that protectagainst hot work surfaces common in roofing,paving, and hot metal industries. The metal insolesof some safety shoes protect against puncturewounds. Safety shoes may also be designed to beelectrically conductive to prevent the buildup ofstatic electricity in areas with the potential forexplosive atmospheres, or nonconductive toprotect workers from workplace electrical hazards.

A Shoe Thing…A small foundry employs workers to cast metal rods. Although engineering controls and work prac-

tice procedures eliminated most employee exposure to molten metal, a hazard assessment conducted bythe employer revealed that during pouring, spatters of the molten metal could reach employees’ legsand feet. In addition, the wheels of the material handling equipment that lift the rods pass near em-ployee work areas and constitute a compression hazard to employees’ feet.

The employer provided employees with leggings and foundry shoes. The leggings fit over the shoesand provide protection against molten metal spatters to the employees’ legs, while the shoes keep theburning material from making contact with employees’ feet. The mandatory safety toes built into thefoundry shoes provide protection against the possibility that heavy machinery could injure employees ifit rolls onto their feet.

The employer also trained employees to use and care for the protective gear properly, according tothe manufacturers’ instructions.

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* ANSI Z41, Protective Footwear.

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What should I look for when choosingsafety shoes for my employees?

Generally, safety shoes must be sturdy and musthave impact-resistant safety toes, instep protection,and heat-resistant soles (see Figure 3). All safetyshoes must comply with the ANSI standard(s)mentioned above. In addition, depending on thetypes of worker exposures, you may need to providespecially designed safety shoes such as conductiveor electrical-hazard safety shoes.

Conductive Shoes

Electrically conductive shoes protect against thebuildup of static electricity. Essentially, these shoesground the employees wearing them. Employeesworking in explosive and hazardous locations suchas explosives manufacturing facilities or grainelevators must wear conductive shoes to reduce the

Figure 3. Safety Shoes

If your employees... Then...

Work near explosive or hazardous You must provide them with conductive shoes.atmosphere.

Work near exposed electrical conductors You must provide them with electrical-hazard,or components. safety-toe shoes.

Work with molten metal. You must provide them with foundry shoes.

21Foot and Leg Protection

risk of static electricity buildup on an employee’sbody that could produce a spark and cause anexplosion or fire. During training, employees mustbe instructed not to use foot powder or wear socksmade of silk, wool, or nylon with conductive shoes.Foot powder insulates and retards the conductiveability of the shoes. Silk, wool, and nylon producestatic electricity.

Conductive shoes are not general-purpose shoesand must be removed upon completion of the tasksfor which they are required. Employees exposed toelectrical hazards must never wear conductive shoes.

Electrical Hazard, Safety-Toe Shoes

Electrical hazard, safety-toe shoes are nonconduc-tive and will prevent your employees’ feet fromcompleting an electrical circuit to the ground. Theycan protect employees against open circuits of up to600 volts in dry conditions. Electrical hazard,

Instep protection made of aluminum, steel, fiber, or plastic to protect the top of the foot and front of the ankle

Outline of instep protection showing position.

Outline of top capshowing position.

Safety toe must meet standards for impact(obects falling on toe) and for compression(weight pressing on toe).

Insulated against heat and cold. May also be waterproof and chemical resistant.

To protect against slipperiness, oil, heat,chemicals, or electrical hazards, soles may bemade of leather, rubber, or wood.

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safety-toe shoes should be used in conjunction withother insulating equipment and precautions to reduceor eliminate the potential for your employees’ bodiesor parts of their bodies to provide a path for hazard-ous electrical energy. Note: Nonconductive foot-wear must not be used in explosive or hazardouslocations; in such locations, electrically conductiveshoes are required.

Train your employees to recognize that the insulat-ing protection of electrical hazard, safety-toe shoesmay be compromised if

• The shoe is wet,

• The rubber sole is worn through,

• Metal particles become embedded in the sole orheel, or

• Other parts of the employees’ bodies come intocontact with conductive, grounded items.

Foundry Shoes

In addition to insulating your employees’ feet fromthe extreme heat of molten metal, foundry shoesprohibit hot metal from lodging in shoe eyelets,tongues, or other parts. These snug-fitting leather orleather-substitute shoes have leather or rubber solesand rubber heels. In addition, all foundry shoes musthave built-in safety toes.

Once I have selected equipment to protectmy employees’ feet and legs, how do Imake sure they use it properly?

Train your employees to use the protective foot-wear. Checklist E will help you instruct your em-ployees to use and care for the foot and leg protec-tion you provide.

Checklist E:Use and Care of Foot and Leg Protection

Train your employees to know...

■ ■ Why foot or leg protection is necessary—i.e., the workplace hazards that threaten the feet or legs

■ ■ How the equipment you provide will protect your employees

■ ■ The limitations of the foot or leg protection

■ ■ When employees must wear the protective leggings, guards, or shoes

■ ■ How to properly put on the protective equipment

■ ■ How to adjust straps, laces, and other parts for a comfortable and effective fit

How to identifity signs of wear such as

■ ■ Scuffed, cracked, or lacerated uppers

■ ■ Signs of separation between soles and uppers

■ ■ Holes or cracks in soles or heel

■ ■ Metal embedded in heels or soles of electrical hazard, safety-toe shoes

■ ■ How to clean and maintain the leg and foot protection you provide

Foot and Leg Protection22

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When must I provide hand and armprotection?

If your workplace hazard assessment reveals thatyour employees risk injury to their hands and arms,and engineering and work practice controls do noteliminate the hazards, you must provide youremployees with appropriate protection. The injuriesyou may need to guard against in your workplaceinclude the following:

• Burns

• Bruises

• Abrasions

• Cuts

• Punctures

• Fractures

• Amputations

• Chemical exposures.

What kind of equipment is necessary toprotect the hands and arms?

For many workplace operations, machine guardssuch as point-of-operation guards will be sufficient.For example, install a barrier that makes it impossiblefor employees to put their hands at the point where atable saw blade makes contact with the wood it cuts.For other hazardous operations, you may be able toinstitute work procedures that eliminate the risk ofinjury to your employees’ hands or arms. When suchmeasures fail to eliminate the hazard, however, protec-tive gloves will be the primary means of protectingemployees’ hands. When the risk of injury includes thearm, protective sleeves, often attached to the gloves,may be appropriate.

Is there one kind of glove that will protectagainst all workplace hazards?

No. The nature of the hazard(s) and the operation tobe performed will determine your selection of gloves.The variety of potential occupational hand injuries maymake selecting the appropriate pair of gloves moredifficult than choosing other protective equipment.Take care to choose gloves designed for the particularcircumstances of your workplace.

Hand and Arm Protection

What kinds of protective gloves areavailable?

Gloves made from a wide variety of materials aredesigned for virtually every workplace hazard. Ingeneral, however, they may be divided into fourgroups:

• Durable work gloves made of metal mesh,leather, or canvas.

• Fabric and coated fabric gloves.

• Chemical and liquid resistant gloves.

• Insulating rubber gloves.*

Metal Mesh, Leather, or Canvas Gloves

Sturdy gloves made from metal mesh, leather, orcanvas provide protection against cuts, burns, andsustained heat.

• Leather gloves. Leather gloves protect againstsparks, moderate heat, blows, chips, and roughobjects. Welders in particular need the durabil-ity of higher-quality leather gloves.

• Aluminized gloves. These gloves usually areused for welding, furnace, and foundry workbecause they provide reflective and insulatingprotection against heat. Aluminized glovesrequire an insert made of synthetic materials thatprotect against heat and cold.

• Aramid fiber gloves. Aramid is a syntheticmaterial that protects against heat and cold.Many glove manufacturers use aramid fiber tomake gloves that are cut- and abrasive-resistantand wear well.

• Other synthetic materials. Several manufac-turers make gloves with other synthetic fabricsthat offer protection against heat and cold. Inaddition to protection against temperatureextremes, gloves made with other syntheticmaterials are cut- and abrasive-resistant and maywithstand some diluted acids. These materialsdo not stand up against alkalis and solvents.

*See 29 CFR 1910.137 for detailed requirements for theselection and use of insulating rubber gloves.

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Hand and Arm Protection

Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves

These gloves are made of cotton or other fabric toprovide varying degrees of protection.

• Fabric gloves. These gloves can protect againstdirt, slivers, chafing, and abrasion. These glovesdo not provide sufficient protection, however, tobe used with rough, sharp, or heavy meterials.

Adding a plastic coating to some fabric glovesstrengthens them and makes them effective protec-tion for a variety of tasks.

• Coated fabric gloves. Manufacturers normallymake these gloves from cotton flannel withnapping on one side. By coating the unnappedside with plastic, fabric gloves are transformedinto general-purpose hand protection offeringslip-resistant qualities. These gloves are usedfor tasks ranging from handling bricks and wirerope to handling chemical containers in labora-tory operations. When selecting gloves toprotect against chemical exposure hazards,always check with the manufacturer (or reviewthe manufacturer’s product literature) to deter-mine the gloves’ effectiveness against thespecific chemicals and conditions in the work-place.

Chemical- and Liquid-Resistant Gloves

Gloves made of rubber (latex, nitrile, or butyl),plastic, or synthetic rubber-like material such as

Helping Hands…

An independent laboratory employs 25chemists and technicians. The technicianshandle small amounts of organic acids andsolvents during tasks that require dexterity andaccuracy. Lab coats provide sufficient protec-tion to the technicians’ arms and bodies.

The employer supplies the technicians withneoprene gloves. The gloves allow employeesfull dexterity and are particularly good atprotecting their hands from the acids.

neoprene protect workers from burns, irritation, anddermatitis caused by contact with oils, greases,solvents, and other chemicals. The use of rubbergloves also reduces the risk of exposure to bloodand other potentially infectious substances. Somecommon gloves used for chemical protection aredescribed below. In addition, Table 4 rates variousgloves as protectors against specific chemicals andwill help you select the most appropriate gloves toprotect your employees.

• Butyl rubber gloves. These gloves protectagainst nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoricacid, red fuming nitric acid, rocket fuels, andperoxide. Highly impermeable to gases, chemi-cals, and water vapor, butyl rubber gloves alsoresist oxidation and ozone corrosion. In addi-tion, they resist abrasion and remain flexible atlow temperatures.

• Natural latex or rubber gloves. The comfort-able wear and pliability of latex gloves as wellas their protective qualities make them a populargeneral-purpose glove. In addition to resistingabrasions caused by sandblasting, grinding, andpolishing, these gloves protect workers’ handsfrom most water solutions of acids, alkalis, salts,and ketones. When selecting hand protection,you should be aware that latex gloves havecaused allergic reactions in some individualsand thus may not be appropriate for all of youremployees. Hypoallergenic gloves, glove liners,and powderless gloves are possible alternativesfor individuals who are allergic to latex gloves.

• Neoprene gloves. These gloves have goodpliability, finger dexterity, high density, and tearresistance which protect against hydraulic fluids,gasoline, alcohols, organic acids, and alkalis.

• Nitrile rubber gloves. These sturdy glovesprovide protection from chlorinated solventssuch as trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.Although intended for jobs requiring dexterityand sensitivity, nitrile gloves stand up to heavyuse even after prolonged exposure to substancesthat cause other gloves to deteriorate. In addi-tion, nitrile gloves resist abrasions, punctures,snags, and tears.

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Chemical Neoprene gloves Latex or rubber Butyl gloves Nitrile latexgloves gloves

Acetaldehyde* VG G VG GAcetic acid VG VG VG VGAcetone G VG VG PAmmonium hydroxide VG VG VG VGAmy acetate* F P F PAniline G F F P

Benzaldehyde* F F G GBenzene* P P P FButyl acetate G F F PButyl alcohol VG VG VG VG

Carbon disulfide F F F FCarbon tetrachloride* F P P GCastor oil F P F VGChlorobenzene* F P F PChloroform* G P P FChloronaphthalene F P F FChromic acid (50%) F P F FCitric acid (10%) VG VG VG VGCyclohexanol G F G VG

Dibutyl phthalate* G P G GDiesel fuel G P P VGDiisobutyl ketone P F G PDimethylformamide F F G GDioctyl phthalate G P F VGDioxane VG G G G

Epoxy resins, dry VG VG VG VGEthyl acetate* G F G FEthyl alcohol VG VG VG VGEthyl ether* VG G VG GEthylene dichloride* F P F PEthylene glycol VG VG VG VG

Formaldehyde VG VG VG VGFormic acid VG VG VG VGFreon 11 G P F GFreon 12 G P F GFreon 21 G P F GFreon 22 G P F GFurfural* G G G G

Table 4.Glove Chemical Resistance Selection Chart

25Hand and Arm Protection

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Hand and Arm Protection

Gasoline, leaded G P F VGGasoline, unleaded G P F VGGlycerin VG VG VG VG

Hexane F P P GHydrazine (65%) F G G GHydrochloric acid VG G G GHydrofluoric acid (48%) VG G G GHydrogen peroxide (30%) G G G GHydroquinone G G G F

Isooctane F P P VG

Kerosene VG F F VGKetones V VG VG PLacquer thinners V F F P

Lactic acid (85%) VG VG VG VGLauric acid (36%) VG F VG VGLineolic acid VG P F GLinseed oil VG P F VG

Maleic acid VG VG VG VGMethyl alcohol VG VG VG VGMethylamine F F G GMethyl bromide G F G FMethyl chloride* P P P PMethyl ethyl ketone* G G VG PMethyl isobutyl ketone* F F VG PMethyl metharcrylate G G VG FMonoethanolamine VG G VG VGMorpholine VG VG VG G

Naphthalene G F F GNapthas, alaphatic VG F F VGNaphthas, aromatic G P P GNitric acid* G F F FNitric acid, red and white P P P PfumingNitromethane (95.5%)* F P F FNitropropane (95.5%) F P F F

Octyl alcohol VG VG VG VGOleic acid VG F G VG

Chemical Neoprene gloves Latex or rubber Butyl gloves Nitrile latexgloves gloves

Table 4. Glove Chemical Resistance Selection Chart (Continued)

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Oxalic acid VG VG VG VG

Palmitic acid VG VG VG VGPerchloric acid (60%) VG F G GPerchloroethylene F P P GPetroleum distillates G P P VG(naphtha)Phenol VG F G FPhosphoric acid VG G VG VGPotassium hydroxide VG VG VG VGPropyl acetate G F G FPropyl alcohol VG VG VG VGPropyl alcohol (iso) VG VG VG VG

Sodium hyrdoxide VG VG VG VGStyrene P P P FStyrene (100%) P P P FSulfuric acid G G G G

Tannic acid (65) VG VG VG VGTetrahydrofuran P F F FToluene* F P P FToluene diisocyanate (TDI) F G G FTrichloroethylene* F F P GTriethanolamine (85%) VG G G VGTung oil VG P F VGTurpentine G F F VG

Xylene* P P P F

Chemical Neoprene gloves Latex or rubber Butyl gloves Nitrile latexgloves gloves

Table 4. Glove Chemical Resistance Selection Chart (Continued)

Source: OSH Technical Reference Manual, U.S. Department of Energy*Limited service.VG=Very Good; G=Good; F=Fair; P=Poor (not recommended).

27Hand and Arm Protection

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How do I make sure my employees prop-erly use the equipment I have selected?

Train your employees to use the protective glovesand sleeves. Checklist F will help you teach youremployees how to use and care for the equipment.

Checklist F:Use and Care of Hand and Arm Protection

Hand and Arm Protection28

Train your employees to know…

■ ■ Why hand and arm protection is necessary—i.e., the workplace hazards that threaten their hands and arms.

■ ■ How the protective gloves and sleeves will protect them

■ ■ The limitation of the protective equipment you’ve supplied

■ ■ When they must wear the gloves and sleeves

■ ■ How to wear the protective gloves and sleeves properly

■ ■ How to ensure a comfortable and effective fit

■ ■ How to identify signs of wear, such as

■ ■ Cracks, scrapes, or lacerations

■ ■ Thinning or discoloration

■ ■ Break through to the skin

■ ■ How to clean and disinfect the nondisposable protective gloves and sleeves

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Body Protection

When must I provide my employees withfull body protection?

You must provide body protection for employeesif they are threatened with bodily injury of one kindor another while performing their jobs, and ifengineering, work practice, and administrativecontrols have failed to eliminate these hazards.Workplace hazards that could cause bodily injuryinclude the following:

• Intense heat

• Splashes of hot metals and other hot liquids

• Impacts from tools, machinery, and materials

• Cuts

• Hazardous chemicals

• Contact with potentially infectious materials,like blood

• Radiation.

If only part of the body faces potentialinjury, must I provide my employees withfull body protection?

As with all protective equipment, protectiveclothing is available to protect against specifichazards. You need to provide personal protectiveequipment only for the parts of the body exposed topossible injury. Depending upon hazards in yourworkplace, you may need to provide your employ-ees with one or more of the following:

• Vests

• Jackets

• Aprons

• Coveralls

• Surgical gowns

• Full body suits.

If your hazard assessment indicates that you mustprovide full body protection against toxic sub-stances or harmful physical agents, you must:

• Inspect the clothing carefully,

• Ensure proper fit, and

• Make sure the protective clothing functionsproperly.

From what material should protectiveclothing be made?

Protective clothing comes in a variety of materials,each suited to particular hazards. Conduct yourhazard assessment. Identify the sources of anypossible bodily injury. Install any feasible engineer-ing controls, and institute work practice controls toeliminate the hazards. If the possibility of bodilyinjury still exists, provide protective clothing con-structed of material that will protect against thespecific hazards in your workplace. Materials forprotective clothing include the following:

• Paperlike fiber. Disposable suits made of thismaterial provide protection against dust andsplashes.

• Treated wool and cotton. Protective clothingmade from treated wool and cotton adapts well tochanging workplace temperatures and is comfort-able as well as fire resistant. Treated cotton andwool clothing protects against dust, abrasions,and rough and irritating surfaces.

• Duck. This closely woven cotton fabric protectsemployees against cuts and bruises while theyhandle heavy, sharp, or rough materials.

• Leather. Leather protective clothing is oftenused against dry heat and flame.

• Rubber, rubberized fabrics, neoprene, andplastics. Protective clothing made from thesematerials protects against certain acids and otherchemicals.

Be aware that different materials will protectagainst different chemical and physical hazards.When chemical or physical hazards are present,check with the clothing manufacturer to make surethat the material selected will provide protectionfrom the specific chemical or physical hazards inyour workplace.

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Avoiding the Itch…

Among the services offered by a general contractor is the installation of fiberglass insulation. Inaddition to the hazards posed by airborne glass fibers from the insulation, fiberglass insulation irritatesskin. Also, the insulation often is installed in attics during the summer heat.

The contractor provides employees with cotton gloves and long-sleeve cotton flannel shirts to wearwhile installing fiberglass insulation. The heavy cotton protects against the skin irritation while stillproviding as much breathability as possible.

The contractor also provides employers with respirators selected in accordance with applicableOSHA standards to protect against breathing fiberglass.

How do I make sure employees properlyuse the body protection I provide?

Train your employees to use the protectiveclothing. Checklist G will help you instruct themin the use and care of the body protection.

Checklist G:Use and Care of Body Protection

Body Protection30

Train your employees to know…

■ ■ Why protective clothing is necessary—i.e., the workplace hazards that threaten their bodies

■ ■ How the protective clothing will protect them

■ ■ The limitation of the body protection

■ ■ When they must wear the protective clothing

■ ■ How to put on the protective clothing properly

■ ■ How to adjust parts for a comfortable and effective fit

■ ■ How to identify signs of wear, such as

■ ■ Rips, tears, scuffs, and

■■ Loss of elasticity in tight-fitting parts

■ ■ How to clean and disinfect the protective clothing

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Hearing Protection

When must I provide hearing protectionfor my employees?

Determining the need to provide hearing protec-tion can be tricky. Employee exposure to excessivenoise depends upon a number of factors:

• How loud is the noise as measured in decibels(dBA)?

• What is the duration of each employee’s expo-sure to the noise?

• Do employees move between separate workareas with different noise levels?

• Is noise generated from one source or multiplesources?

Generally, the louder the noise, the shorter theexposure time before you must provide hearingprotection. For instance, employees may beexposed to a noise level of 90 dBA for 8 hours perday before you must provide hearing protection forthem. Suppose, however, that the noise levelreaches 115 dBA in your workplace. Then youmust provide hearing protection if their anticipatedexposure exceeds 15 minutes.

Table 5 shows when you must provide hearingprotection to employees exposed to occupationalnoise at specific levels for specific periods. Noisesare considered continuous if the interval betweenoccurrences of the maximum noise level is 1second or less. Noises not meeting this definitionare considered impact or impulse noises. Exposureto impact or impulse noises (loud momentaryexplosions of sound) must not exceed 140 dB.Examples of impact or impulse noises may includethe noise from a powder-actuated nail gun, thenoise from a punch press, or the noise from drophammers.

For more information on noise, consult ChapterII:5, “Noise Measurement,” of the OSHA TechnicalManual.*

*TED 1-0.15A, January 20, 1999, on http://www.osha-slc.gov/.

Table 5. Permissible Noise Exposures

Duration per day, hours Sound level dBA slowresponse

8 906 924 953 972 100

1 1/2 1021 105

1/2 1101/4 or less 115

Source: 29 CFR 1910.95 Table G-16.

Will earplugs reduce employee exposureto high noise levels?

As with other types of hazards, you must imple-ment feasible engineering controls and workpractices before resorting to PPE such as earplugsor earmuffs. If engineering and work practicecontrols do not lower employee exposure to work-place noise to acceptable levels, then you mustprovide employees with appropriate PPE.

What if my employees are exposed todifferent levels of noise throughout theday?

If employees move from location to location andthe noise level is different in each location, or if thenoise levels in an area change throughout the day(e.g., equipment turns on or off), you must calculatean “equivalent noise factor” to determine whetheryou must provide hearing protection.

• Measure the noise level at each location inwhich the employee works.

• For each noise level, find the allowable durationin Table 5.

• For each location, divide the actual time theemployee spends there by the permissibleduration for the noise at the measured level,according to Table 5.

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Hearing Protection

• Add all the results from your division.

• If the total is greater than one, you must imple-ment engineering controls or work practices orprovide hearing protection to your exposedemployees.

The formula for calculating this exposure is asfollows:

Fe= (C

1/T

1)+(C

2/T

2)...(C

n/T

n)

Where

Fe= the equivalent noise factor.

C = the period of actual noise exposure at an essentially constant level at each location in which the employee works.

T = the permissible duration of noise expo- sure at an essentially constant noise

level, from Table 5.

What kinds of devices protect againsthigh noise levels? Is cotton sufficient asearplugs?

Plain cotton does not effectively protect againstoccupational noise. You may, however, choosefrom several products that are effective at protect-ing your employees’ hearing.

• Single-use earplugs. Made of waxed cotton,foam, or fiberglass wool, these ear plugs areself- forming and, when properly inserted, workas well as most molded earplugs.

• Preformed or molded earplugs. Sometimessingle-use and disposable, these plugs must beindividually fitted by a professional. Nondispos-able plugs should be cleaned after each use.

• Earmuffs. Earmuffs require a perfect sealaround the ear. Glasses, long sideburns, longhair, and facial movements such as chewing mayreduce the protective value of earmuffs. Youmay purchase special earmuffs designed for usewith eyeglasses or beards.

If I provide my employees with hearingprotection, can they then work in areaswith any level of noise for any period oftime?

No. Hearing protectors reduce only the amountof noise that gets through to the ears. The amountof this reduction is referred to as attenuation.Attenuation differs according to the type of hearingprotection used and how well they fit. The hearingprotectors you choose must be capable of achievingthe attenuation needed to reduce the employee’snoise exposure to within the acceptable limits notedin Table 5. Appendix B of 29 CFR 1910.95,Occupational Noise Exposure, describes methodsfor estimating the attenuation of a particular hearingprotector based on the device’s noise reductionrating (NRR). Manufacturers of hearing protectiondevices must report the device’s NRR on theproduct packaging.

Once I have selected equipment to pro-tect my employees’ hearing, how do Imake sure they use it properly?

Train your employees to use the hearing protec-tion. Checklist H will help you train your employ-ees to use and care for the earplugs or earmuffs thatyou provide.

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Checklist H:Use and Care of Hearing Protection

Once I have provided my employees withhearing protection and training in how touse it, how do I know that it is reallyprotecting their hearing?

If your employees are exposed to occupationalnoise at or above 85 dBA averaged over an 8-hourperiod, then you must institute a hearing conserva-tion program that includes regular testing of em-ployees’ hearing by qualified professionals. TheOSHA occupational noise standard, at 29 CFR1910.95, sets forth the requirements for a hearingconservation program.

33Hearing Protection

Train your employees to know…

■ ■ Why hearing protection is necessary—i.e., the workplace hazards that threaten their hearing

■ ■ How the earplugs or earmuffs will protect them

■ ■ The limitations of the hearing protection

■ ■ When they must insert or wear the hearing protectors

■ ■ How to adjust earmuff parts for a comfortable and effective fit, or form the earplugs to fit their ears

■ ■ How special earmuffs fit over an employee’s corrective lenses

■ ■ How to clean and disinfect the hearing protection

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Summary

You must consider many factors when selectingPPE to protect your employees from workplacehazards. With all of the types of operations that canpresent hazards and all of the types of PPE availableto protect the different parts of a worker’s body fromspecific types of hazards, this selection process canbe confusing and at times overwhelming. Becauseof this, OSHA requires that you implement a PPEprogram to help you systematically assess thehazards in the workplace and select the appropriatePPE that will protect your workers from thosehazards. As part of this PPE program, you must dothe following:

• Assess the workplace to identify equipment,operations, chemicals, and other workplacecomponents that could harm your employees.

• Implement engineering controls and work prac-tices to control or eliminate these hazards to theextent feasible.

• Select the appropriate types of PPE to protectyour employees from hazards that cannot beeliminated or controlled through engineeringcontrols and work practices.

• Inform your employees why the PPE is neces-sary and when it must be worn.

• Train your employees how to use and care forthe selected PPE and how to recognize PPEdeterioration and failure.

• Require your employees to wear the selectedPPE in the workplace.

The basic information presented here attempts toestablish and illustrate a logical, structured ap-proach to hazard assessment and PPE selection andapplication for you to use as a starting point foryour PPE program.

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Other Sources of OSHA Assistance

Safety and Health Program ManagementGuidelines

Effective management of worker safety and healthprotection is a decisive factor in reducing the extentand severity of work-related injuries and illnessesand their related costs. To assist employers andemployees in developing effective safety and healthprograms, OSHA published recommended Safetyand Health Program Management Guidelines(Federal Register 54 (18): 3908-3916, January 26,1989). These voluntary guidelines apply to all placesof employment covered by OSHA.

The guidelines identify four elements that arecritical to the development of a successful safety andhealth management program:

• Management commitment and employee involve-ment

• Worksite analysis

• Hazard prevention and control

• Safety and health training.

The guidelines recommend specific actions undereach of these general elements to achieve an effectivesafety and health program. A single free copy of theguidelines can be obtained from the U.S. Departmentof Labor, OSHA/OSHA Publications, P.O. Box37535, Washington, DC 20013-7535, by sending aself-addressed mailing label with your request. Seealso Federal Register notices on OSHA’s Web site athttp://www.osha.gov.

State Programs

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970encourages states to develop and operate their ownjob safety and health plans. States with plans ap-proved under section 18(b) of the Act must adoptstandards and enforce requirements that are at leastas effective as federal requirements. There arecurrently 25 state-plan states: 23 of these statesadminister plans covering both private and public(state and local government) employees; the othertwo states, Connecticut and New York, cover publicemployees only. Plan states must adopt standardscomparable to Federal requirements within six

months of a Federal standard’s promulgation. Until astate standard is promulgated, Federal OSHA pro-vides interim enforcement assistance, as appropriate,in these states. A listing of approved state plansappears at the end of this publication.

Free On-Site Consultation

Free on-site safety and health consultation servicesare available in all states to employers who want helpin establishing and maintaining a safe and healthfulworkplace. Primarily developed for smaller employ-ers with more hazardous operations, the OSHAConsultation Service is largely funded by OSHA andis delivered by state governments employing profes-sional safety consultants and health consultants. Thefull service assistance that is offered includes anappraisal of all mechanical systems, physical workpractices, occupational safety and health hazards ofthe workplace, and all aspects of the employer’spresent job safety and health program. In addition,the service offers assistance to employers in develop-ing and implementing an effective workplace safetyand health program that corrects and continuouslyaddresses safety and health concerns.

This program is completely separate from OSHA’sinspection efforts. No penalties are proposed orcitations issued for any safety or health problemsidentified by the consultant. The service is confiden-tial. The employer’s name, the firm’s name, and anyinformation about the workplace, plus any unsafe orunhealthful working conditions that the consultantuncovers will not be reported routinely to the OSHAinspection staff.

The only obligation is the employer’s commitmentto correct serious job safety and health hazards in atimely manner. The employer is asked to make thiscommitment prior to the actual visit.

For more information concerning consultationservices, see the list of state consultation projects atthe end of this publication.

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) aredesigned to recognize and promote effective safety

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and health program management. In the VPP,management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperativerelationships at workplaces that have implementedstrong programs.

Sites approved for VPP’s Star, Merit, and Demonstra-tion programs have met, and must continue to meet,rigorous participation standards. Benefits of VPPparticipation include improved employee motivation towork safely, leading to better quality and productivity;lost-workday case rates that generally are 60-80 percentbelow industry averages; reduced workers’ compensa-tion and other injury- and illness-related cost; positivecommunity recognition and interaction; further im-provement and revitalization of already good safety andhealth programs; and partnership with OSHA.

A valuable offshoot of the Voluntary ProtectionPrograms is the Mentoring Program operated by theVPP Participants’ Association, a private, nonprofitorganization that supports the VPP’s goals. Worksitesthat have qualified for participation in the VPP sharetheir experience and expertise with sites that haverequested help in developing and implementing effec-tive worker safety and health programs. Information onmentoring can be obtained from the VPP Participants’Association, 7600-E Leesburg Pike, Suite 440, FallsChurch, VA 22043, telephone (703) 761-1148.

Voluntary Protection Programs and on-site consulta-tion services, when coupled with an effective enforce-ment program, expand worker protection to help meetthe goals of the OSH Act.

For additional information about the VPP, contact theVPP Manager in your OSHA Regional Office, listed atthe end of this publication.

Training and Education

OSHA’s area offices offer a variety of informationservices such as publications, audiovisual aids, techni-cal advice, and speakers for special engagements.OSHA’s Training Institute in Des Plaines, IL, providesbasic and advanced courses in safety and health forfederal and state compliance officers, state consultants,federal agency personnel, and private-sector employers,employees, and their representatives.

The OSHA Training Institute also has establishedOSHA Training Institute Education Centers to addressthe increased demand for its courses from the privatesector and from other Federal agencies. These centersare nonprofit colleges, universities, and other organiza-tions that have been selected after a competition forparticipation in the program. They are located invarious parts of the United States.

OSHA also provides grants to nonprofit organiza-tions for workplace training and education in subjectswhere OSHA believes there is a lack of workplacetraining. Grants are awarded annually, and grantrecipients are expected to contribute 20 percent of thetotal grant cost.

For more information on grants, training, and educa-tion, contact the OSHA Training Institute, Office ofTraining and Education, 1555 Times Drive, DesPlaines, IL 60018, telephone (847) 297-4810.

For further information on any OSHA program,contact your nearest OSHA area or regional office. Alist of these offices is at the end of this publication.

Electronic Information

Internet: OSHA standards, interpretations, directives,and additional information are now on the WorldwideWeb at http://www.osha.gov/.

CD-ROM: A wide variety of OSHA materialsincluding standards, interpretations, directives, andmore can be purchased on CD-ROM from the Govern-ment Printing Office. To order, write to the Superinten-dent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA15250-7954. Specify OSHA Regulations, Documentsand Technical Information on CD-ROM, (ORDT), S/N729-013-000000-5. The price is $46.00 per year;single copy $17.00.

Emergencies

For life-threatening situations, call (800) 321-OSHA.Complaints will go immediately to the nearest OSHAarea or state office for help.

For further information on any OSHA program,contact your nearest OSHA area or regional office.

Other Sources of OSHA Assistance36

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States with Approved Plans

CommissionerAlaska Department of Labor1111 West 8th StreetRoom 304Juneau, AK 99801-1149(907) 465-2700

DirectorIndustrial Commission of Arizona800 W. WashinagtonPhoenix, AZ 85007-2922(602) 542-5795

DirectorCalifornia Department of Industrial Relations455 Golder Gate Avenue-10th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94102(415) 703-5050

CommissionerConnecticut Department of Labor200 Folly Brook BoulevardWethersfield, CT 06109(203) 566-5123

DirectorHawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations830 Punchbowl StreetHonolulu, HI 96813(808) 586-8844

CommissionerIndiana Department of LaborState Office Building402 West Washington StreetRoom W195Indianapolis, IN 46204-2751(317) 232-2378

CommissionerIowa Division of Labor Services1000 E. Grand AvenueDes Moines, IA 50319-0209(515) 281-3447

SecretaryKentucky Labor Cabinet1049 U.S. Highway, 127 South, Suite 4Frankfort, KY 40601(502) 564-3070

CommissionerMaryland Division of Labor and IndustryDepartment of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 613Baltimore, MD 21201-2206(410) 767-2215

DirectorMichigan Department of Consumer and Industry ServicesP.O. Box 30643Lansing, MI 48909-8143(517) 322-1814

CommissionerMinnesota Department of Labor and Industry443 Lafayette RoadSt. Paul, MN 55155-4307(651) 296-2342

DirectorNevada Division of Industrial Relations400 West King StreetCarson City, NV 89710(751) 687-3032

SecretaryNew Mexico Environment Department1190 St. Francis DriveP.O. Box 26110Santa Fe, NM 87502(505) 827-2850

CommissionerNew York Department of LaborW. Averell Harriman State Office Building - 12, Room 500Albany, NY 12240(518) 457-2741

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CommissionerNorth Carolina Department of Labor4 West Edenton StreetRaleigh, NC 27601-1092(919) 807-7166

AdministratorDepartment of Consumer & Business ServicesOccupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA)350 Winter Street, NE, Room 430Salem, OR 97310-0220(503) 378-3272

SecretaryPuerto Rico Department of Labor and Human ResourcesPrudencio Rivera Martinez Building505 Munoz Rivera AvenueHato Rey, PR 00918(809) 754-2119

CommissionerSouth Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and RegulationKoger Office Park, Kingstree Building110 Centerview DriveP.O. Box 11329Columbia, SC 29210(803) 896-4300

CommissionerTennessee Department of Labor710 James Robertson ParkwayNashville, TN 37243-0659(615) 741-2582

CommissionerLabor Commission of Utah160 East 300 South, 3rd FloorP.O. Box 146650Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6650(801) 530-6898

CommissionerVermont Department of Labor and IndustryNational Life Building - Drawer 20National Life DriveMontpelier, VT 05620-3401(802) 828-5098

CommissionerVirginia Department of Labor and IndustryPowers-Taylor Building13 South 13th StreetRichmond, VA 23219(804) 786-2377

CommissionerVirgin Islands Department of Labor2203 Church StreetChristiansted St. Croix, VI 00820-4660(340) 773-1994

DirectorWashington Department of Labor and IndustriesP.O. Box 44001Olympia, WA 98504-4001(360) 902-4200

AdministratorWorker’s Safety and Compensation Division (WSC)Wyoming Department of EmploymentHerschler Building, 2nd Floor East122 West 25th StreetCheyenne, WY 82002(307) 777-7786

States with Approved Plans38

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OSHA Consultation Project Directory

Alabama (Region IV)Safe State ProgramUniversity of Alabama425 Martha Parham WestP.O. Box 870388Tuscaloosa, AL 35487(205) 348-3033

Alaska (Region X)Consultation SectionADOL/OSHA3301 Eagle StreetP.O. Box 107022Anchorage, AK 99510(907) 269-4957

Arizona (Region IX)Consultation and TrainingDivision of Occupational Safety & HealthIndustrial Commission of Arizona800 West WashingtonPhoenix, AZ 85007-9070(602) 542-1695

Arkansas (Region VI)OSHA ConsultationArkansas Department of Labor10421 West MarkhamLittle Rock, AK 72205(501) 682-4522

California (Region IX)CAL/OSHA Consultation ServiceDepartment of Industrial Relations455 Golden Gate Avenue, 10th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94102(415) 972-5270

Colorado (Region VIII)Occupational Safety & Health SectionColorado State University115 Environmental Health BuildingFort Collins, CO 80523(970) 491-6151

Connecticut (Region I)Division of Occupational Safety & HealthConnecticut Department of Labor38 Wolcott Hill RoadWethersfield, CT 06109(860) 566-4550

Delaware (Region III)Occupational Safety and HealthDivision of Industrial AffairsDelaware Department of Labor4425 Market StreetWilmington, DE 19802(302) 761-8219

District of Columbia (Region III)Office of Occupational Safety and HealthD. C. Department of Employment Services950 Upshur Street, N.W.Washington, DC 20011(202) 576-6339

Florida (Region IV)7(c)(1) Onsite Consultation ProgramDivision of SafetyFlorida Department of Labor & Employment Security2002 St. Augustine RoadBuilding E, Suite 45Tallahassee, FL 32399-0663(850) 922-8955

Georgia (Region IV)7(c)(1) Onsite Consultation ProgramGeorgia Institute of Technology151 6th Street, NWO’Keefe Building, Room 22Atlanta, GA 30332-0837(404) 894-2643

Guam (Region IX)OSHA Onsite ConsultationDepartment of Labor, Government of Guam107 F StreetTiyam, GU 96931(671) 475-0136

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OSHA Consultation Project Directory

Hawaii (Region IX)Consultation and Training BranchDepartment of Labor and Industrial Relations830 Punchbowl StreetHonolulu, HI 96813(808) 586-9100

Idaho (Region X)Safety and Health Consultation ProgramBoise State UniversityDepartment of Health Studies1910 University DriveBoise, ID 83725(208) 426-3283

Illinois (Region V)Illinois Onsite ConsultationIndustrial Service DivisionDepartment of Commerce & Community AffairsState of Illinois CenterSuite 3-400100 West Randolph StreetChicago, IL 60601(312) 814-2337

Indiana (Region V)Division of LaborBureau of Safety, Education, and TrainingRoom W195402 West WashingtonIndianapolis, IN 46204-2287(317) 232-2688

Iowa (Region VII)7(c)(1) Consultation ProgramIowa Bureau of Labor2016 DMACC BoulevardBuilding17, Room 10Ankeny, IA 50021(515) 281-5352

Kansas (Region VII)Kansas 7(c)(1) Consultation ProgramKansas Department of Human Resources512 South West 6th StreetTopeka, KS 66603-3150(785) 296-7476

Kentucky (Region IV)Division of Education and TrainingKentucky Labor Cabinet1047 U.S. Highway 127, SouthFrankfort, KY 40601(502) 564-6895

Louisiana (Region VI)7(c)(1) Consultation ProgramLouisiana Department of Labor1001 N. 23rd Street, Room 230P.O. Box 94094Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9094(504) 342-9601

Maine (Region I)Division of Industrial SafetyMaine Bureau of Labor StandardsDivision of Industrial SafetyState House Station #45Augusta, ME 04333-0045(207) 624-6460

Maryland (Region III)MOSH Consultation Services312 Marshall Avenue, Room 600Laurel, MD 20707(410) 880-4970

Massachusetts (Region I)Division of Occupational Safety and HealthDepartment of Workforce Development1001 Watertown StreetWest Newton, MA 02165(617) 727-3982

Michigan (Health) (Region V)Divison of Occupational Health7150 Harris DriveP.O. Box 30649Lansing, MI 48909(517) 322-6823

Michigan (Safety) (Region V)Department of Consumer and Industry Services7150 Harris DriveLansing, MI 48909(517) 322-1809

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Minnesota (Region V)Department of Labor and IndustryConultation Divison433 LaFayette RoadSaint Paul, MN 55155(612) 297-2393

Mississippi (Region IV)Mississippi State UniversityCenter for Safety and Health2906 North State StreetSutie 201Jackson, MS 39216(601) 987-3981

Missouri (Region VII)Onsite Consultation ProgramDivision of Labor StandardsDepartment of Labor and Industrial Relations3315 West Truman BoulevardP.O. Box 449Jefferson City, MO 65109(573) 751-3403

Montana (Region VIII)Department of Labor and IndustryBureau of SafetyP.O. Box 1728Helena, MT 59624-1728(406) 444-6418

Nebraska (Region VII)Division of Safety and Labor StandardsNebraska Department of LaborState Office Building, Lower level301 Centennial Mall, SouthLincoln, NE 68509-5024(402) 471-4717

Nevada (Region IX)Safety Consultation and Training SectionDivision of Industrial RelationsDepartment of Business and Industry1301 Green Valley ParkwayHenderson, NV 89014(702) 486-9140

New Hampshire (Region I)New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services6 Hazen DriveConcord, NH 03301-6527(603) 271-2024

New Jersey (Region II)New Jersey Department of LaborDivision of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health255 E. State Street, 8th Floor WestP.O. Box 953Trenton, NJ 08625-0953(609) 292-3923

New Mexico (Region VI)New Mexico Environment DepartmentOccupational Health and Safety Bureau525 Camino de los Marquez, Suite 3P.O. Box 26110Santa Fe, NM 87502(505) 827-4230

New York (Region II)Division of Safety and HealthState Office CampusBuilding 12, Room 130Albany, NY 12240(518) 457-2238

North Carolina (Region IV)Bureau of Consultative ServicesNorth Carolina Department of Labor4 West Edenton StreetRaleigh, NC 27603-1092(919) 807-2905

North Dakota (Region VIII)Division of Environmental EngineeringRoom 3041200 Missouri AvenueBismarck, ND 58504(701) 328-5188

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OSHA Consultation Project Directory

Ohio (Region V)Division of Onsite ConsultationBureau of Employment Services145 S. Front StreetColumbus, OH 43215(614) 644-2246

Oklahoma (Region VI)Oklahoma Department of LaborOSHA Division4001 North Lincoln BoulevardOklahoma City, OK 73105-5212(405) 528-1500

Oregon (Region X)Oregon OSHADepartment of Consumer and Business Services350 Winter Street, N.E., Room 430Salem, OR 97310(503) 378-3272

Pennsylvania (Region III)Indiana University of PennsylvaniaRoom 210 Walsh Hall302 East WalkIndiana, PA 15705-1087(412) 357-2396

Puerto Rico (Region II)Occupational Safety and Health OfficeDepartment of Labor and Human Resources21st Floor505 Munoz Rivera AvenueHato Rey, PR 00918(787) 754-2171

Rhode Island (Region I)OSH Consultation ProgramDivision of Occupational Health and Radiation ControlRhode Island Department of Health3 Capital HillProvidence, RI 02908(401) 277-2438

South Carolina (Region IV)South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation3600 Forest DriveP.O. Box 11329Columbia, SC 29204(803) 734-9614

South Dakota (Region VIII)Engineering ExtensionOnsiteTechnical ProgramSouth Dakota State UniversityWest Hall, Box 510907 Harvey Dunn StreetBrookings, SD 57007(605) 688-4101

Tennessee (Region IV)OSHA Consultative Services DivisionTennessee Department of Labor3rd Floor710 James Robertson ParkwayNashville, TN 37243-0659(615) 741-7036

Texas (Region VI)Workers’ Health and Safety DivisionWorkers’ Compensation CommissionSouthfield Building4000 South I H 35Austin, TX 78704(512) 440-4640

Utah (Region VIII)Utah Labor CommissionWorkplace Safety and HealthConsultation Services160 East 300 SouthSalt Lake City, UT 84114-6650(801) 530-6901

Vermont (Region I)Division of Occupational Safety and HealthVermont Department of Labor and IndustryNational Life Building, Drawer #20Montpelier, VT 05602-3401(802) 828-2765

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Virginia (Region III)Virginia Department of Labor and IndustryOccupational Safety and Health Training and Consultation13 South 13th StreetRichmond, VA 23219(804) 786-6359

Virgin Islands (Region II)Division of Occupational Safety and HealthVirgin Islands Department of Labor3021 Golden RockChristianstedSt. Croix, VI 00840(340) 772-1315

Washington (Region X)Washington Department of Labor and IndustriesDivision of Industrial Safety & HealthP.O. Box 44643Olympia, WA 98504(360) 902-5638

West Virginia (Region III)West Virginia Department of LaborCapitol Complex Building #3, Room 3191800 East Washington StreetCharleston, WV 25305(304) 558-7890

Wisconsin (Health) (Region V)Wisconsin Department of Health and Human ServicesDivision of Public HealthSection of Occupational HealthRoom 1121414 East Washington AvenueMadison, WI 53703(608) 266-8579

Wisconsin (Safety) (Region V)Wisconsin Department of CommerceBureau of Marketing, Advocacy, and Technology DevelopmentBureau of Manufacturing and AssessmentNI4 W23833 Stone Ridge DriveSuite B100Waukesha, WI 53188-1125(414) 523-3040

Wyoming (Region VIII)Wyoming Department of EmploymentWorkers’ Safety and Compensation DivisionHerschler Building, 2 East122 West 25th StreetCheyenne, WY 82002(307) 777-7786

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Other Relevant Addresses

Consultation Training CoordinatorOSHA Training Institute1555 Times DriveDes Plaines, IL 60018(847) 297-4810

Laboratory Services AgreementWisconsin Occupational Health Lab979 Jonathan DriveMadison, WI 53713(608) 263-8807

New York Public Sector ConsultationProjectNew York State Department of LaborBuilding #12State Building CampusAlbany, NY 12240(518) 457-3518

Director of Consultation Support ServicesUniversity of AlabamaCollege of Continuing Studies425 Martha Parham WestP.O. Box 870388Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0388(205) 348-4585

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US Department of Labor - OSHA2047 Canyon Road - Todd MallBirmingham, AL 35216-1981Telephone: (205) 731-1534

US Department of Labor - OSHA3737 Government Blvd., Suite 100Mobile, AL 36693-4309Telephone: (334) 441-6131

US Department of Labor - OSHA301 W. Northern Lights Blvd.Suite 407Anchorage, AK 99503-7571Telephone: (907) 271-5152

US Department of Labor - OSHA3221 North 16th Street, Suite 100Phoenix, AZ 85016Telephone: (602) 640-2007

US Department of Labor - OSHA425 West CapitolSuite 450Little Rock, AR 72201Telephone: (501) 324-6291

US Department of Labor - OSHA5675 Ruffin Road, Suite 330San Diego, CA 92123Telephone: (619) 557-2909

US Department of Labor - OSHA101 El Camino Plaza, Suite 105San Francisco, CA 95815Telephone: (916) 566-7470

US Department of Labor - OSHA1391 North Speer BoulevardSuite 210Denver, CO 80204-2552Telephone: (303) 844-5285

US Department of Labor - OSHA7935 E. Prentice Avenue, Suite 209Englewood, CO 80111-2714Telephone: (303) 843-4500

OSHA Area Offices

US Department of Labor - OSHAClark Building1057 Broad StreetBridgeport, CT 06604Telephone: (203) 579-5581

US Department of Labor - OSHAFederal Office Building450 Main Street, Room 613Hartford, CT 06103Telephone: (203) 240-3152

US Department of Labor - OSHA1 Rodney Square920 King Street, Suite 402Wilmington, DE 19801-3319(302) 573-6115

US Department of Labor - OSHA8040 Peters RoadBuilding H-100Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324Telephone: (954) 424-0242

US Department of Labor - OSHARibault Building1851 Executive Center DriveSuite 227Jacksonville, FL 32207Telephone: (904) 232-2895

US Department of Labor - OSHA5807 Breckenridge ParkwaySuite ATampa, FL 33610-4249Telephone: (813) 626-1177

US Department of Labor - OSHA450 Mall Boulevard, Suite JSavannah, GA 31406Telephone: (912) 652-4393

US Department of Labor - OSHA2400 Herodian Way, Suite 250Smyrna, GA 30080-2968Telephone: (770) 984-8700

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OSHA Area Offices

US Department of Labor - OSHABuilding 7, Suite 1102183 N. Lake ParkwayLa Vista Perimeter Office ParkTucker, GA 30084-4154Telephone: (770) 493-6644

US Department of Labor - OSHA300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 5146Honolulu, HI 96850Telephone: (808) 541-2685

US Department of Labor - OSHA1150 N. Curtis RoadSuite 201Boise, ID 83706Telephone: (208) 321-2960

US Department of Labor - OSHA1600 167th Street, Suite 12Calumet City, IL 60409Telephone: (708) 891-3800

US Department of Labor - OSHA2360 E. Devon AvenueSuite 1010Des Plaines, IL 60018Telephone: (847) 803-4800

US Department of Labor - OSHA11 Executive Drive, Suite 11Fairview Heights, IL 62208Telephone: (618) 632-8612

US Department of Labor - OSHA344 Smoke Tree Business ParkNorth Aurora, IL 60542Telephone: (630) 896-8700

US Department of Labor - OSHA2918 West Willow Knolls RoadPeoria, IL 61614Telephone: (309) 671-7033

US Department of Labor - OSHA46 East Ohio Street, Room 423Indianapolis, IN 46204Telephone: (317) 226-7290

US Department of Labor - OSHA210 Walnut Street, Room 815Des Moines, IA 50309Telephone: (515) 284-4794

US Department of Labor - OSHA300 Epic Center301 N. MainWichita, KS 67202Telephone: (316) 269-6644

US Department of Labor - OSHAJohn C. Watts Federal Building, Room 108330 W. BroadwayFrankfort, KY 40601-1922Telephone: (502) 227-7024

US Department of Labor - OSHA9100 Bluebonnet Centre BoulevardSuite 201Baton Rouge, LA 70809Telephone: (225) 389-0474

US Department of Labor - OSHA40 Western Avenue, Room 608Augusta, ME 04330Telephone: (207) 622-8417

US Department of Labor - OSHAU.S. Federal Building202 Harlow StreetRoom 211Bangor, ME 04401Telephone: (207) 941-8177

US Department of Labor - OSHA1099 Winterson Road, Suite 140Linthicum, MD 21090-2218Telephone: (410) 865-2055

US Department of Labor - OSHA639 Granite Street, 4th FloorBraintree, MA 02184Telephone: (617) 565-6924

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US Department of Labor - OSHAValley Office Park13 Branch StreetMethuen, MA 01844Telephone: (617) 565-8110

US Department of Labor - OSHA1145 Main Street, Room 550Springfield, MA 01103-1493Telephone: (413) 785-0123

US Department of Labor - OSHA801 South Waverly RoadSuite 306Lansing, MI 48917-4200Telephone: (517) 377-1892

US Department of Labor - OSHA300 South 4th Street, Room 1205Minneapolis, MN 55415Telephone: (612) 664-5460

US Department of Labor - OSHA3780 I-55 NorthSuite 210Jackson, MS 39211-6323Telephone: (601) 965-4606

US Department of Labor - OSHA6200 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 100Kansas City, MO 64120Telephone: (816) 483-9531

US Department of Labor - OSHA911 Washington AvenueRoom 420St. Louis, MO 63101Telephone: (314) 425-4249

US Department of Labor - OSHA2900 4th Avenue North, Suite 303Billings, MT 59101Telephone: (406) 247-7494

US Department of Labor - OSHAOverland Wolf Building, Room 1006910 Pacific StreetOmaha, NE 68106Telephone: (402) 221-3182

US Department of Labor - OSHA705 North Plaza, Room 204Carson City, NV 89701Telephone: (702) 885-6963

US Department of Labor - OSHA279 Pleasant Street, Suite 201Concord, NH 03301Telephone: (603) 225-1629

US Department of Labor - OSHA1030 Saint Georges AvenuePlaza 35, Suite 205Avenel, NJ 07001Telephone: (732) 750-3270

US Department of Labor - OSHA500 Route 17 South, 2nd FloorHasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604Telephone: (201) 288-1700

US Department of Labor - OSHAMarlton Executive Park701 Route 73 South Building 2Suite 120Marlton, NJ 08053Telephone: (609) 757-5181

US Department of Labor - OSHA299 Cherry Hill Road, Suite 304Parsippany, NJ 07054Telephone: (973) 263-1003

US Department of Labor - OSHA505 Marquette Avenue, NWSuite 820Alburquerque, NM 87102Telephone: (505) 248-5302

US Department of Labor - OSHA401 New Karner RoadSuite 300Albany, NY 12205-3809Telephone: (518) 464-4338

US Department of Labor - OSHA42-40 Bell BoulevardBayside, NY 11361Telephone: (718) 279-9060

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OSHA Area Offices

US Department of Labor - OSHA5360 Genesee StreetBowmansville, NY 14026Telephone: (716) 684-3891

US Department of Labor - OSHA6 World Trade Center, Room 881New York, NY 10048Telephone: (212) 466-2482

US Department of Labor - OSHA3300 Vikery RoadNorth Syracuse, NY 13212Telephone: (315) 451-0808

US Department of Labor - OSHA660 White Plains Road4th FloorTarrytown, NY 10591-5107Telephone: (914) 524-7510

US Department of Labor - OSHA1400 Old Court Road, Room 208Westbury, NY 11590Telephone: (516) 334-3344

US Department of Labor - OSHACentury Station, Room 438300 Fayetteville Street MallRaleigh, NC 27601-9998Telephone: (919) 856-4770

US Department of Labor - OSHA1640 East Capitol AvenueBismarck, ND 58501Telephone: (701) 250-4521

US Department of Labor - OSHA36 Triangle Park DriveCincinnati, OH 45246Telephone: (513) 841-4132

US Department of Labor - OSHAFederal Office Building, Room 8991240 East Ninth StreetCleveland, OH 44199Telephone: (216) 522-3818

US Department of Labor - OSHAFederal Office Building, Room 620200 N. High StreetColumbus, OH 43215Telephone: (614) 469-5582

US Department of Labor - OSHAFederal Office Building, Room 734234 North Summit StreetToledo, OH 43604Telephone: (419) 259-7542

US Department of Labor - OSHA420 West Main Place, Suite 300Oklahoma City, OK 73102Telephone: (405) 231-5351

US Department of Labor - OSHA1220 S.W. Third Avenue, Room 640Portland, OR 97204Telephone: (503) 326-2251

US Department of Labor - OSHA850 N. 5th StreetAllentown, PA 18102Telephone: (610) 776-0592

US Department of Labor - OSHA3939 West Ridge RoadSuite B-12Erie, PA 16506-1887Telephone: (814) 833-5758

US Department of Labor - OSHAProgress Plaza49 N. Progress AvenueHarrisburg, PA 17109Telephone: (717) 782-3902

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US Department of Labor - OSHAU.S. Custom House, Room 242Second and Chestnut StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19106-2902Telephone: (215) 597-4955

US Department of Labor - OSHAFederal Building, Room 14281000 Liberty AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15222-4101Telephone: (412) 395-4903

US Department of Labor - OSHAPenn Place, Room 200520 North Pennsylvania AvenueWilkes-Barre, PA 18701-3590Telephone: (717) 826-6538

US Department of Labor - OSHABBV Plaza Building1510 F.D. Roosevelt AvenueGuaynabo, PR 00968Telephone: (787) 277-1560

US Department of Labor - OSHA380 Westminster Mall, Room 243Providence, RI 02903Telephone: (401) 528-4669

US Department of Labor - OSHA1835 Assembly Street, Room 1468Columbia, SC 29201-2453Telephone: (803) 765-5904

US Department of Labor - OSHA2002 Richard Jones RoadSuite C-205Nashville, TN 37215-2809Telephone: (615) 781-5423

US Department of Labor - OSHA903 San Jacinto BoulevardSuite 319Austin, TX 78701Telephone: (512) 916-5783

US Department of Labor - OSHAWilson Plaza606 N. Carancahua, Suite 700Corpus Christi, TX 78476Telephone: (512) 888-3420

US Department of Labor - OSHA8344 East R.L. Thornton FreewaySuite 420Dallas, TX 75228Telephone: (214) 320-2400

US Department of Labor - OSHANorth Star 2 BuildingSuite 3028713 Airport FreewayFort Worth, TX 76180-7610Telephone: (817) 428-2470

US Department of Labor - OSHA17625 El Camino Real, Suite 400Houston, TX 77058Telephone: (281) 286-0583

US Department of Labor - OSHA350 North Sam Houston Parkway EastSuite 120Houston, TX 77060Telephone: (281) 591-2438

US Department of Labor - OSHAFederal Building, Room 8061205 Texas AvenueLubbock, TX 79401Telephone: (806) 472-7681

US Department of Labor - OSHA1781 South 300 WestSalt Lake City, UT 84115-1802Telephone: (801) 487-0680

US Department of Labor - OSHAAFOB, Room 835200 Granby MallNorfolk, VA 23510Telephone: (757) 441-3820

49OSHA Area Offices

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US Department of Labor - OSHA505 106th Ave, N.E., Suite 302Bellevue, WA 98004Telephone: (360) 553-7520

US Department of Labor - OSHA405 Capitol Street, Suite 407Charleston, WV 25301Telephone: (304) 347-5937

US Department of Labor - OSHA2618 North Ballard RoadAppleton, WI 54911-8664Telephone: (920) 734-4521

US Department of Labor - OSHAFederal Building U.S. Courthouse500 Barstow Street, Room B-9Eau Claire, WI 54701Telephone: (715) 832-9019

US Department of Labor - OSHA4802 East BroadwayMadison, WI 53716Telephone: (608) 264-5388

US Department of Labor - OSHAHenry S. Reuss BuildingSuite 1180310 West Wisconsin AvenueMilwaukee, WI 53202Telephone: (414) 297-3315

OSHA Area Offices50

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Region I(CT,* MA, ME, NH, RI, VT*)JFK Federal BuildingRME-340Boston, MA 02203Telephone: (617) 565-9860

Region II(NJ, NY,* PR,* VI*)201 Varick StreetRoom 670New York, NY 10014Telephone: (212) 337-2378

Region III(DC, DE, MD,* PA, VA,* WV)The Curtis Center - Suite 740 West170 S. Independence Mall WestPhiladelphia, PA 19106-3309Telephone: (215) 861-4900

Region IV(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC, SC,* TN*)Atlanta Federal Center61 Forsyth Street, SWRoom 6T50Atlanta, GA 30303Telephone: (404) 562-2300

Region V(IL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)230 South Dearborn StreetRoom 3244Chicago, IL 60604Telephone: (312) 353-2220

Region VI(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)525 Griffin StreetRoom 602Dallas, TX 75202Telephone: (214) 767-4731

Region VII(IA,* KS, MO, NE)City Center Square1100 Main Street, Suite 800Kansas City, MO 64105Telephone: (816) 426-5861

Region VIII(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY*)1999 Broadway, Suite 1690Denver, CO 80202-5716Telephone: (303) 844-1600

Region IX(American Samoa, AZ,* CA,* Guam,HI,* NV,* Trust Territories of the Pacific)71 Stevenson Street4th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94105Telephone: (415) 975-4310

Region X(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)1111 Third AvenueSuite 715Seattle, WA 98101-3212Telephone: (206) 553-5930

*These states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved job safety and health programs (Connecticut andNew York plans cover public employees only). States withapproved programs must have a standard that is identicalto, or at least as effective as, the federal standard.

OSHA Regional Offices 51

If you are unable to contact your local OSHA Area Office, you may contact the appropriate OSHA Re-gional Office for information and/or assistance.


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