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The Philippines, Occupational Safety and Health Standards

RULE 1080

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES

Source:
Occupational Safety and Health Standards (As Amended).
Bureau of Working Conditions, Department of Labour and
Employment, Manila, Philippines. Second Publication, as amended,
1990. Copyright Reserved per P.D. 49

RULE 1080

1081 : General Provisions:

1081.01 : Every employer as defined in 1002:

(1)  Shall at his own expense furnish his workers with
     protective equipment for the eyes, face, hands and feet,
     protective shields and barriers whenever necessary by
     reason of the hazardous nature of the process or
     environment, chemical or radiological or other mechanical
     irritants or hazards capable of causing injury or
     impairment in the function of any part of the body through
     absorption, inhalation or physical contact.

(2)  Deduction for the loss or damage of personal protective
     equipment shall be governed by Article 114, Book III, Labor
     Code of the Philippines, and Section 14, Rule VIII Book III
     Omnibus Rules Implementing the Labor Code.

1081.02 : All personal protective equipment shall be of the
approved design and construction appropriate for the exposure and
the work to be performed.

1081.03 : The employer shall be responsible for the adequacy and
proper maintenance of personal protective equipment used in his
workplace.

1081.04 : No person shall be subjected or exposed to a hazardous
environmental condition without protection.

1082 : Eye and Face Protection:

1082.01 : Eyes and face protective equipment shall be required
where there is reasonable probability of exposure to such
hazards. In such cases, the employer shall furnish a type of
protective equipment suitable for the work to be performed and
the employees shall use such equipment. Eye protection shall be
provided where the processes or operations present hazards of
flying objects, liquids, injurious radiation, glare or a
combination of these hazards.

1082.02 : Eye and face protective equipment shall conform with
the following minimum requirements:

(1)  provide adequate protection against the particular hazard
     for which they are designed or intended;

(2)  be reasonably comfortable to use;

(3)  fit snugly and shall not unduly interfere with the
     movements of the user;

(4)  be durable, easily cleaned and capable of being
     disinfected;

(5)  be kept clean and in good condition, and 
(6)  be of the approved type.

1082.03 : Whenever eye protection is needed, persons whose
visions require the use of corrective lenses shall wear goggles
or spectacles of any of the following types:

(1)  spectacles which provide optical correction; 

(2)  goggles that can be worn over corrective spectacles without
     disturbing the adjustment of the spectacles; or

(3)  goggles that incorporate corrective lenses mounted behind
     the protective lenses.

1082.04 : Limitations and precautions indicated by the
manufacturer shall be transmitted to the user and care shall be
taken to ensure that such limitations and precautions are
strictly followed and observed.

1082.05 : For purposes of design, construction, testing, use of
eye and face protection, the American National Standards for
Occupational Eye and Face Protection Equipment (ANSI z87.1-1968)
is adopted.

1083 : Respiratory Protection:

1083.01 : The primary corrective measure in the control of
occupational diseases caused by harmful dusts, fogs, fumes,
mists, gases, smokes, sprays or vapors shall be to prevent
atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished through the
use or application of accepted engineering control measures, like
enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local
ventilation and substitution of less toxic materials or a
combination of these. When effective engineering control measures
are not feasible or while they are in process of being
instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used.

1083.02 : Appropriate respirators shall be furnished by the
employer when such equipment are necessary to protect the health
of the employees.

1083.03 : The employee shall use the respiratory protection in
accordance with instruments.

1083.04 : Respiratory Protective Program:

In order to effectively implement the provisions of Rule 1083,
the employer shall institute a respiratory protective program
which shall include the following:

(1)  Proper selection of respirators on the basis of the hazards
     to which the worker is exposed;

(2)  Sufficient instruction and training in the proper use and
     the limitations of respirators;

(3)  When practicable, the assignment of respirators to
     individual workers for their exclusive use;

(4)  Regular cleaning and disinfecting of the respirators.
     Respirators issued for the exclusive use of one worker
     shall be cleaned after each day's use of as often as
     necessary. Those used by two or more workers shall be
     thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use;

(5)  Appropriate examination and testing of the conditions of
     the work area in order to assure that the allowable degree
     of employee exposure is maintained, and to determine the
     effectiveness of the control measures.

1083.05 : Selecting of Respirators:

(1)  For purposes of proper selection, design, construction,
     testing and use of respirators, the American National
     Standards Practices for Respiratory Protection (ANSI
     z88.-2- 1059) is adopted.

1083.06 : Use of Respirators:

(1)  Standard procedures shall be developed for the use of
     respirators. These should include all information and
     guidance necessary for their proper selection, use and
     care.

     Possible emergency uses of respirators should be
     anticipated and planned for.

(2)  Written procedures shall be prepared covering safe use of
     respirators in dangerous atmospheres that might be
     encountered in normal operations or in emergencies. All
     personnel shall be familiar with these procedures and the
     available respirators to use. 

a.   Workers in enclosed toxic or oxygen-deficient atmosphere
     shall be assisted in case of accident by at least one
     additional worker stationed in an area unaffected by the
     incident and provided with proper rescue equipment to
     assist the other(s) in case of emergency. Communication
     (visual, voice or signal line) shall be maintained among
     the individuals present;

b.   When self-contained breathing apparatus or hose masks with
     blowers are used in atmospheres dangerous to life or
     health, standby men must be present with suitable rescue
     equipment;

c.   Persons using air line respirators in atmospheres hazardous
     to life or health, shall be equipped with safety harnesses
     and safety lines for lifting or removing persons from
     hazardous atmospheres or other equivalent provisions for
     the rescue of persons. A standby man or men with suitable
     self-contained breathing apparatus shall be at the nearest
     fresh air base for emergency rescue.

(3)  For the safe use of any respirator, the user shall be
     properly instructed in its selection, use and maintenance.

1083.07 : Maintenance and Care of Respirators: 

A program for the maintenance and care of respirators shall be
adopted to the type of plant, working conditions, and hazards
involved and shall include the following basic services: 

(1)  inspection for defects (including leak check), 

(2)  cleaning and disinfecting, and 

(3)  Repair and storage.

1084 : Head Protection:

1084.01 : Head Protection:

(1)  Hard hats for the protection of workers from impact
     penetration from falling and flying objects, blows, and
     from limited electric shock and bums shall be provided
     where there is reasonable probability of exposure to such
     hazards. 

(2)  Hard hats shall be made of non-combustible or slow-burning
     materials and when used in electrical environment shall be
     non-conductor of electricity.

(3)  The total weight of complete hard hat should not be more
     than 0.45 kgs. (16 ounces). 

(4)  Hard hats shall have a brim all around to provide
     protection for the head, face and back of the neck.

(5)  Hard hats without brims and low crowns may be allowed only
     in confined spaces. 

(6)  The cradle and sweatband of hard hats shall be detachable
     and replaceable.

(7)  For work in excessive moisture, hard hats shall be
     water-proof material.

(8)  For the purpose of proper selection, design, construction,
     testing and use of head protectors the American National
     Standards Safety Requirement for Industrial Head Protection
     (ANSI zS9-1-1969) is adopted.

1984.02: Hair Protection:

(1)  All persons with long hair employed around machinery shall
     completely cover their hair with well fitting caps or other
     equivalent protection.

(2)  Caps shall be of materials not easily flammable and
     sufficiently durable to withstand regular laundering,
     disinfecting and cleaning.

1085 : Hand and Ann Protection:

1085.01: When selecting gloves, consideration should be given to
the hazards to which the wearer may be exposed to and the ease
and free movement of the fingers.

1085.02 : Gloves shall not be worn by workers operating drills,
punch presses or other machinery in which the hand may be caught
by moving parts.

1085.03 : Gloves, mittens, and leathers or pads for workers
handling sharp-edged or abrasive objects shall be made of tough
materials and where necessary provided with special
reinforcement.

1085.04 : Gloves, mittens and sleeves for workers handling hot
metals shall be made of suitable heat resisting material.

1085.05 : Gloves and sleeves for electrical workers shall be made
of rubber or other suitable materials conforming with the test
requirements on dielectric strength.

1085.06 : Gauntlets for workers handling corrosive substances,
such as acids and caustics, shall be made of natural rubber,
synthetic rubber or pliable plastic material resistant to
corrosion.

1085.07 : Gauntlets for protecting workers against the action of
toxic, irritating or infectious substances shall:

(1)  cover the forearm as much as possible,

(2)  have a close fit at the upper end and

(3)  not have the slightest break. 

     Gloves tom during use shall be replaced immediately.

1086 : Safety Belts, Life Lines and Safety Nets:

1086.01 : General Provisions:

(1)  Workmen; working in unguarded surface above open pits or
     tanks, steep slopes, moving machinery and similar
     locations, or working from unguarded surfaces six (6)
     meters (20 ft.) or more above water or ground; temporary or
     permanent floor platform, scaffold construction or where
     otherwise exposed to the possibility of falls hazardous to
     life or limb, shall be secured by safety belts and life
     lines. In situations where safety belts and life lines in
     guarded platforms and scaffolds or temporary floors are not
     feasible, safety nets shall be provided and installed.

(2)  Window washers or cleaners working outside buildings six
     (6) meters (20 ft.) or more above the ground or other
     surfaces unless protected from falling by other means,
     shall use safety belts attached to suitable anchors.

(3)  Workmen entering a sewer, flue, duct, or other similarly
     confined places shall be provided and required to wear
     safety belts with life lines attached and held by another
     person stationed at the opening ready to respond to agreed
     signals.

(4)  Workers who are required to climb and work on top of poles
     six (6) meters or more shall use safety belts. On top of
     structures where there is no place to strap a safety belt,
     a messenger line shall be installed for strapping the
     safety belt or life line.

1086.02 : Requirements:

(1)  Safety belts shall be made of chromed tanned leather, linen
     or cotton webbing, or other suitable materials at least
     11.5 cm. (4 1/2 in.) wide and 0.65 cm. (1/4 in.) thick and
     of sufficient strength to support a weight of 114 kgs. (250
     lbs.) without breaking.

(2)  Hardware used for safety belts should have a strength of
     approximately equal to the full strength of the waist band.
     Buckles shall hold securely without slippage or other
     failure. This holding power should be achieved by only a
     single insertion of the strap through the buckle in the
     normal or usual way.

(3)  Belt anchors shall be made of metal machined from bar
     stock, forged or heat treated, capable of supporting a pull
     of 2730 kgs. (6,000 lbs.) without fracture applied in the
     direction which the anchor must withstand should a man
     fall. All anchors and fastenings shall be provided with
     means to prevent turning, backing off or becoming loose.
     Anchor fittings with single thread section which is merely
     screwed into reinforcing plates shall not be used. Metals
     recommended for belt anchors are nickel copper alloy and
     stainless steel.

(4)  Life lines shall be made of good quality manila rope of at
     least 1.9 cm. (3/4 in.) diameter or equivalent material
     such as nylon rope of at least 1.27 cm. (1/2 in .) diameter
     and shall be of sufficient strength to support a weight of
     1140 kgs. (2,500 lbs.)without breaking.

(5)  Safety nets shall not be less than 094 cm. (3/8 in.)
     diameter mesh ropes and not less than 1.90 cm. (3/4 in.)
     diameter border ropes (perimeter) made of manila rope or
     other materials that can absorb the impact of a falling
     body equally as nets fabricated from manila rope of the
     dimensions specified. The mesh shall be arranged not to
     exceed 15.25 cm. (6 in.) on centers positively and securely
     attached to avoid wear at each crossing point and at points
     of contact with the border.

(6)  Safety nets shall be equipped with adequately padded
     thimble sockets or equivalent means of attachments.
     Supports and anchorages shall be of sufficient size and
     strength to catch any falling worker. The nets shall be
     attached to sufficient supports outside and beyond the area
     of possible fall and supported at sufficient heights to
     prevent sagging to any solid object beneath when cushioning
     the fall of a worker.

(7)  Safety belts, life lines and safety nets shall be inspected
     before use and at least once each week thereafter.
     Defective belts, lines or nets shall be immediately
     discarded and replaced or repaired before reuse.

1087 : Use of Safely Shoes: 

Workers shall be provided with approved safety shoes and leg
protection whenever necessary as determined by the nature of
work.

The International Labour Organization is a United Nations specialized agency.

Updated by PAP/SUT/TRS. Approved by BKL. Last updated on 5 March 2001