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#149549 11/29/03 11:12 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
We are on the horns of a real Health and Safety nightmare at work.
It all comes down to a "new" idea called PPE,(You guys in the US have had this for years)but there has been no REAL definition of PPE(Personal Protective Equipment) until now!.
We are under a new bunch of Employment Contract negotiations and this has been brought up to encompass who provides what, in the way of PPE.
To MY way of thinking and that of OSH(Occupational Health And Safety) the Employer must provide:
  • Safety Glasses
  • Hard Hat
  • Overalls
  • Earmuffs, or similar Hearing Protection.

Now, I may be a tad jaded in this respect, having worked for a PoCo in the past, where everything was provided.
I add to the list:
  • Safety Boots
  • Insulated Gloves and Leather Outers (some Electricians also wear these, here)
  • Climbing Belt

A lot of Employers are trying to wimp out of thier legal requirements to provide even the most basic of PPE, saying that Safety Boots are provided in the Tool Allowance. (NZ$0.22/hour)
Don't spend that all in the same shop!.
Sure, I have always had and maintained my own set of PPE, but is this really fair?.
No safety gear, no work!. [Linked Image]

Arc Flash PPE Clothing, LOTO & Insulated Tools
#149550 11/30/03 06:00 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 202
J
Member
I have worked in both types of industrial shops. Those that provide tools and those that require you to buy them. However every place i have worked required the employee to purchase steel toe saftey boots but the companys paid anywhere from 50 to 100 dollars per year towards them. And all the companies that i worked for gave out saftey glasses and hearing protection. They also supplied heavy tools like hammer drills, saws, large tools like pipe wrenchs and insulated electrical gloves etc. You were only require to have general tools like pliers, sockets, meter, screw drivers. The last company i worked for went 50/50 split on all tools i left there with 17,000 dollars worth of MAC tools not bad only paid 8,500. My present job requires no tools all tools are supplied by the company and stay when you quite to be passed to the next guy.

#149551 12/01/03 11:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 218
S
Member
Current employer pays $100 for steel toed boots, 1/2 of prescription safety glasses. We have to provide our hand tools but company pays 35%. Company provides drills and large tools. I wanted to buy my own fall harness but was told the company would not allow it, the co provided ones are grimy and frayed. I don't really trust them. How do you guys that have your own "hot gloves" get them tested?

#149552 12/02/03 12:00 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
spkjpr—contact the manufacturer of your employer's fall-arrest devices for instructions on evaluating wear and tear on their products.

Burlington Safety Lab www.burlingtonsafety.com is one rubber-goods testing operation with stores on both US coasts. Also, you might call the line department at the local utility and see who they use.




[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 12-01-2003).]

#149553 12/02/03 11:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 218
S
Member
Thanks,Bjarny. I knew someone here could help.

#149554 12/05/03 01:44 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 202
J
Member
how offten are the gloves to be tested

#149555 12/05/03 02:07 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
I believe rubber-goods dielectric testing interval has to do with use — In some cases it’s 6 months. You might call Burlington
S.F. 888-817-1412
L.A. 800-296-2803
NY/NJ 800-220-2120
Louisiana 800-353-3411

#149556 12/05/03 04:28 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 394
B
Member
Regarding fall harnesses: The are considered PPE, key being Personal. You can make a very strong case that, once they have been work by one person - like a dirty, smelly, sweaty electrician, they can not be reissued to another employee without going through an approved cleaning/disinfecting process. If they are dirty or worn, obtain the manufacturers proceedures for inspecting and cleaning. If they are not being followed, rat the company off the OSHA or the local equivalent. Most regulatory people are really big on documentation (we all know they aren't much in the real world but they can follow a paper trail very well).

#149557 12/27/03 05:12 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Spkjpr, jlhmaint,
just with regard to the testing of Rubber Live Gloves.
The most important test you can do on these gloves is simply roll them up, from the gauntlet end to the fingers and listen for escaping air.
This should be done prior to wearing them, as a small hole can render these gloves useless if used at High Voltages.
And it is also important that leather over-gloves are always worn with them, to save damage to the rubber. [Linked Image]


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