Operator Safety - Wastewater Operators - page 24

present or are likely to be present. If the plantwide hazard assessment
survey shows that hazards, or the likelihood of hazards, are possible,
employers must select and have affected employees use properly fitted
PPE suitable for protection from the existing hazards. Standby PPE
protection should be on hand in case potential hazards become actual
hazards.

For PPE to be effective it must be properly selected. To aid the
employer in the selection process, each employer is required to perform
the workplace hazard assessment mentioned earlier. Each employer
must prepare a written certification of hazard assessment , which at a
minimum contains the following information:

• Location of the workplace evaluated

• Details of the hazards assessed

• The person certifying the evaluation

• Dates of hazard assessments

Once the workplace hazard assessment has been completed, the
employer is required to select and require each employee to use the
correct PPE. For PPE to be effective in hazard control, workers must be
aware of the importance of their role in the proper fitting and wearing
of it. Moreover, the appropriate PPE for each workplace must be clearly
described to each worker in that area. Work areas where hazardous
operations such as welding and chemical handling take place must be
labeled for the hazard and for the PPE that is required.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' injury reports, a sig-
nificant number of workers who are injured on the job have never been
trained in the proper use of PPE. Worker training is absolutely essen-
tial in the proper use of PPE. Workers must be trained to know when to
wear PPE. They must know what PPE to wear and how to wear it, they
must understand the limitations of PPE, and they must be trained in
the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of PPE. Once the
worker has demonstrated an understanding of PPE training, the safety
person must verify the worker's certification in writing.

Another word about training: By now you have picked up on the fact
that the author feels that the importance of training cannot be overem-
phasized. Important as training is it is just as important to ensure that
training that is completed is documented. Training completed but not
properly documented is training that was never done; that is, if you can
not demonstrate to OSHA in writing that training was accomplished,
then, in the regulator's view, it was not.

To verify the effectiveness of PPE training or any other safety train-
ing it is always prudent to give a test or quiz at the end of each training
presentation. This test or quiz should be straightforward and on the sub-
ject matter that was taught. The test should be written in such a manner
that all workers will be able to easily understand its content. The test
should be reviewed, and all questions that were incorrectly answered