PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT POLICY

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1 Contents 1 Policy Purpose Policy Objective and Scope Policy Definition Legislative Framework Policy/Procedure Target Audience General Policy Provisions PPE Procurement Role of Line Managers Provisioning of Protective Clothing/Equipment Equipment Selection, Allocation, Use and Maintenance Training PPE Control and Management Policy Implementation, Duration, Maintenance, and Review Record Keeping and Reporting...

2 1 Policy Purpose The municipality considers the health and safety of its employees of paramount importance and as such undertakes as far as is reasonably practicable, to provide Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] to all employees in order to protect them from identified hazards and risks in the workplace. To provide a framework for the selection, procurement, issuing and control of PPE to employees of the municipality and persons affected by the municipality s activities with a view to protect them against identified hazards and risks in the workplace. 2 Policy Objective and Scope This policy is applicable to all employees and persons on the municipality s work sites/depots and/or premises where a relevant hazard or risk has been identified. 3 Policy Definition The following policy definitions are applicable to this policy: Accident Means and event arising out of and in the course of an employee s employment and resulting in a personal injury, and/or damage other than as contemplated in Section 24 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, 1993 [Act 85 of 1993]. Incident An event that occurs at the workplace and which is reportable to an inspector in terms of Section 24(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, 1993 [Act 85 of 1993]. Personal Protective Equipment Specialized equipment/clothing designed to protect employees against specific health and safety hazards in the workplace. 4 Legislative Framework This document is established within the framework of the following legislation and policies. Please ensure that latest legal prescripts are consulted when implementing and reviewing the policy. Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 [Act 85 of 1993]. Regulations promulgated in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 [Act 85 of 1993]. Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993 [Act 130 of 1993]. National Health Act, 2003 [Act 61 of 2003]. Regulations promulgated in terms of the National Health Act, 2003 [Act 61 of 2003]. 5 Policy/Procedure Target Audience a) Employees and line managers are to take personal responsibility for their health and safety and for of a person affected by their work activities. b) Good governance and accountability shall underpin the procurement, issuing and control of personal protective equipment in accordance with corporate directives. c) The municipality shall conduct hazard assessments to determine what PPE may be necessary and training shall be conducted to ensure the proper use and care of PPE.

3 d) The municipality views PPE as an employee s last line of defence against injury and illness while at work and as such, working without PPE in a working environment where PPE is required shall not be permitted. e) The municipality undertakes to comply with relevant legislation as the minimum acceptable standard for occupational health and safety. f) The municipality shall ensure as far as is reasonably practicable, an environment that is safe and without risk to the health of all employees by progressively reducing the occurrence of disabling health and safety incidents or accidents through the provision of appropriate PPE, training in the use thereof and enforcing the use thereof. 6 General Policy Provisions Human Resources shall determine and initiate processes and guidelines to ensure standardization for the selection, purchasing, issuing and control of PPE. 6.1 PPE Procurement Personal Services shall be based on the consolidated result of the assessment and evaluation of workplace hazards and risks that require the use of PPE, co-ordinate bulk purchasing through the approved supply chain management processes. 6.2 Role of Line Managers a) Line managers shall, for the duration of a tender, purchase PPE from approved suppliers and no line manager shall be allowed to use their own suppliers unless in the case of an emergency to purchase what has not been provided for in the existing tender. b) In the event of the latter, the line manager shall comply with the approved deviation procedures and report the requirements to Human Resources for inclusion in the next tender. c) Such a deviation shall not compromise the quality of PPE to be purchased. d) Replenishing of PPE at departmental level shall be the responsibility of each line manager who will be expected to budget for such needs in their departmental budgets. 6.3 Provisioning of Protective Clothing/Equipment The municipality shall provide employees with PPE to protect them against identified hazards and risks as well as to members of the public who visit the municipality s premises during operational activities. Line managers shall, in the process of applying predetermined procedures in the above regard, do all that is practically possible to:

4 Avoid and eliminate potential cases of wasteful expenditure. Ensure proper asset control and management in terms of the approved Asset Management Policy in the municipality. Use PPE wherever there is an identified possibility of employees being exposed to hazards associated with processes, the environment, biological, chemical and radiological agents, or mechanical irritants encountered, which are capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, ingestion, inhalation or physical contact. 6.4 Equipment Selection, Allocation, Use and Maintenance The selection of the type, nature and quality of relevant equipment shall be guided by the results of the assessment and evaluation process mentioned above. The line manager shall prepare a schedule for recommended PPE to effectively protect employees against identified hazards and risks by using the approved form. It is the duty of each line manager to inform employees of the correct use and the limitations of selected PPE. No employee shall be permitted to work with defective or damaged PPE and in instances where PPE is defective or damaged, the employees shall report it to the line manager and such PPE shall be replaced free of charge unless such damage was due to the wilful destruction of council property. Loss, abuse or misuse of PPE shall be investigated and, if deemed necessary, dealt with in terms of the Disciplinary Procedure and Code Collective Agreement. In areas where the existence of a hazard or risk necessitates the use of PPE, no employee shall be permitted to work without the benefit of appropriate PPE. Line management shall not assign any task requiring PPE to any employee unless such PPE is made available and the use thereof enforced. 6.5 Training The employer shall ensure the provision of adequate training to each employee who is required to use PPE to enable each employee to know at least the following: When PPE is necessary. What PPE is necessary. How to properly wear, remove, and adjust PPE. The limitations of PPE. The proper care, useful life span, disinfection and disposal of PPE. Line managers shall keep a record of all employees that have been trained in the above regard on an approved form.

5 6.6 PPE Control and Management PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT POLICY Line managers shall be responsible for recording all objects on loan that have been issued as objects on loan to be managed according to the approved procedure. PPE shall for this purpose be categorised as assets and consumables, which may include such things as disposable gloves, etc. Human Resources shall, in collaboration with the Finance Directorate, develop procedures and relevant templates for the purposes of recording and managing the allocation of PPE. 6.7 Policy Implementation, Duration, Maintenance, and Review This policy shall be implemented on the date to be determined by the Municipal Manager and shall remain in place until it is formally reviewed. Maintenance of the policy shall be the responsibility of Human Resources, which will be monitoring the application and compliance levels at departmental level. 6.8 Record Keeping and Reporting Line managers shall be expected to annually report on the trends in the use of PPE in their respective directorates. All PPE related records and documents shall be managed in accordance with the approved records and documents management system.