Employers are responsible for safety equipment

Jobs have different types of hazards and when companies have assessed those and still come up with the need for personal protective equipment (PPE), they must provide for the safety of their workers.

As an employer, Washington State requires you to make sure that your employees have and know how to use protective equipment. It could be used to protect the eyes, face, head, body, arms, hands, legs, and feet with items such as goggles, helmets, head covers, gloves, rubber slickers, disposable coveralls, respirators, protective shields and barriers.  WAC 296-800-160

Even if the worker provides their own equipment such as safety shoes, the employer must ensure that it is adequate to protect the worker from hazards.

Retraining is required if you have reason to believe an employee’s understanding, motivation, and skills required to use the equipment have not been retained.  Also, if you have made changes to the job process with new equipment, this would call for a review of any job hazard analysis and new equipment needs, if any.

There are some good videos in RASI SAFETY TV PPE section and our Retro members will find additional information in the Safety Library that can help on this topic.

WR’s Safety Specialist Rick Means is available to members to help draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198 x18, or [email protected]