Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
To prevent injuries and illnesses in high risk working environments Dow Aero, LLC (“Company”) employees, customers, vendors, and other visitors are expected to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when and where required. The content below identifies the types of personal protective equipment (PPE) used within the Company, along with their respective Company-wide policies, regulatory information, and more. Towards the end of this page you may also find explanations and images of universal personal protection equipment (PPE) markings that are used throughout the Company, along with rules on a department’s role in developing and maintaining policies and procedures on personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements in their respective locations and areas.
Eye and Face Protection
The Company reasonably provides individuals with appropriate eye and face protection that has a safety rating of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, ANSI Z87.1-2003, or ANSI Z87.1-1989 (“ANSI Z87.1”). At minimum, the Company shall provide individuals working within:
The Avionics and Maintenance departments with a pair of safety glasses that have clear lenses.
Safety glasses that fit over prescription eyeglasses are provided to individuals if necessary.
Replacement safety glasses are provided within reason as required.
The Warehouse department with a pair of safety glasses that have clear lenses and an additional pair of safety glasses that have tinted lenses (for outdoor use).
Safety glasses that fit over prescription eyeglasses are provided to individuals if necessary.
Replacement safety glasses are provided within reason as as required.
Any other individual not regularly working with the departments identified above may collect safety glasses from shared bins that are located near areas where safety glasses are required.
Areas or tasks that require other types of eye and face protection shall be provided by the Company, and may either be assigned to an appropriate individual(s) and/or provided near areas or tasks where required. Examples for when other types of eye and face protection would be needed include:
Goggles for working on potentially hazardous liquids that may splash on an individual’s eyes.
Shaded lenses for operating or observing equipment that emits harmful light resulting in temporary or permanent vision damage and/or loss.
Face-shields for using a grinding, sanding, or other metal forming tool that may discharge sharp debris fragments into an individual’s face and/or eyes.
Welding masks for operating or observing metal fusing equipment that could result in hot debris landing on an individual’s face and/or eyes or causing vision damage and/or loss due to exposure from harmful light.
In certain cases any individual may supply their own eye and face protection, but in order for this to be permitted individuals will be required to provide the Company with information that confirms a safety rating of ANSI Z87.1 and/or that adequately satisfies other necessary requirements. Personally supplied eye and face protection shall also meet the following criteria as appropriate:
Safety glasses shall have an ANSI Z87.1 safety rating.
Eyeglasses shall have prescription lenses and optical side-shields with both having an ANSI Z87.1 safety rating.
Approved optical side-shields may be permanent or removable; optical side-shields may be provided by the Company upon request.
Other types of eye and face protection may have additional regulatory requirements.
Consult Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel for determining if additional requirements exist for a specific type of eye and face protection and whether it may be approved by the Company.
Damaged eye and face protection of any kind, including personally supplied eyeglasses with optical side-shields, are not permitted to be used in designated eye and face protection areas. Reasonable accommodations for individuals will be reviewed and implemented as practicable, consult your direct manager, your Department’s Lead, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel, and/or Human Resources personnel to request a reasonable accommodation.
Regulatory
This policy has been developed in an effort for the Company to maintain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Rule 29 CFR Part 1910.133 and supporting rule(s). If discrepancies exist between this policy and OSHA regulation, the regulation shall govern and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel shall be notified immediately.
Foot Protection
Individuals are generally expected to provide their own appropriate foot protection that has a safety rating of ASTM F-2412-2005, ANSI Z41-1999, or ANSI Z41-1999 (“ASTM F-2412 or ANSI Z41”). Departments and areas in which foot protection will be required include:
Battery & Avionics
Maintenance
Warehouse
Any individual needing to work within the departments identified above and who needs ASTM F-2412 or ANSI Z41 foot protection may use overshoe steel toe guards supplied by the Company on a temporary basis. Overshoe steel toe guards are located within the maintenance shop office.
Damaged foot protection of any kind are not permitted to be used in designated foot protection areas. Reasonable accommodations for individuals will be reviewed and implemented as practicable, consult your direct manager, your Department’s Lead, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel, and/or Human Resources personnel to request a reasonable accommodation.
Regulatory
This policy has been developed in an effort for the Company to maintain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Rule 29 CFR Part 1910.136 and supporting rule(s). If discrepancies exist between this policy and OSHA rule(s), the rule(s) shall govern and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel shall be notified immediately.
Head Protection
The Company reasonably provides individuals with appropriate head protection that has a safety rating of ANSA Z89.1-2009, ANSI Z87.1-2003, or ANSI Z87.1-1997 (“ANSI Z87.1”). At minimum, the Company shall provide individuals working within:
The Maintenance department with a personal use hard hat.
Replacement hard hats are provided free of charge within reason.
Any other individual not regularly working with the department identified above may collect shared head protection from hooks that are located near areas where head protection is required.
In certain cases any individual may supply their own head protection, but in order for this to be permitted individuals will be required to provide the Company with information that confirms a safety rating of ANSI Z87.1 and/or that adequately satisfies other necessary requirements. Personally supplied head protection shall also meet the following criteria as appropriate:
Hard hats shall have an ANSI Z87.1 safety rating.
Other types of protective eyewear may have additional regulatory requirements.
Consult Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel for determining if additional requirements exist for a specific type of head protection and whether it may be approved by the Company.
Damaged head protection of any kind is not permitted to be used in designated head protection areas. Reasonable accommodations for individuals will be reviewed and implemented as practicable, consult your direct manager, your Department’s Lead, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel, and/or Human Resources personnel to request a reasonable accommodation.
Regulatory
This policy has been developed in an effort for the Company to maintain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Rule 29 CFR Part 1910.135 and supporting rule(s). If discrepancies exist between this policy and OSHA regulation, the regulation shall govern and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel shall be notified immediately.
Respirators
The Company has developed an extensive policy on the use of respirators and provides individuals with appropriate respiratory equipment as needed. Please see the following link for full details on the Company’s respiratory protection program.
Select here to review the Company’s Respiratory Protection Program >
Markings
The Company has designated universal personal protection equipment (PPE) areas will be marked on appropriate flooring surfaces with taped or painted lines. These lines shall reflect the following:
Eye, Face, and Foot Protection — Striped Yellow and Black (Figure 1)
Head Protection — Striped Orange and Black (Figure 2)
Exit Pathway — Solid Reflective Red (Figure 3)
All markings shall remain visible and identifiable. This includes clearing excessive dirt and debris routinely and not storing or parking any materials or equipment on the markings. Sections of these markings that are damaged or extremely faded shall be replaced or repainted as soon as possible; notify your direct manager, your Department’s Lead, and/or Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel for assistance.
Figure 1 - Appearance May Differ
Figure 2 - Appearance May Differ
Figure 3 - Appearance May Differ
Departments
Designations on where personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be used, along with whether any exception periods are permitted, are to be determined by a Department Lead (a.k.a. Head of Department). Any determination made by a Department Lead shall remain in compliance with this policy and champion safe practices. A Department Lead shall document any determination in written policy and/or procedure. Documentation shall remain current and be reasonably accessible to any individual within or near the area where personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be used.
A Department Lead may seek collaboration with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel on creating a policy and/or protocol based on their determination, or in revising or eliminating a policy/protocol in which they previously developed and/or revised. Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel shall be notified of new, revised, and/or removed personal protective equipment (PPE) policies/procedures and be provided up to three (3) business days to review and respond before implemented. In situations where a determination invokes a violation with Company policy or contains an unsafe practice, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel will notify the Department Lead of any issues in writing and may delay the policy or procedure’s implementation if absolutely necessary.
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) personnel may also request or instruct that a department’s personal protective equipment (PPE) policy or procedure be created, revised, or revoked when violations of Company policy or regulatory requirements exists, or when unsafe practices are discovered.