Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)RegulationsHazardous Chemical Substances Regulations, 199511. Personal protective equipment and facilities |
| 1) | If it is not reasonably practicable to ensure that the exposure of an employee is adequately controlled as contemplated in regulation 10, the employer shall: |
| a) | in the case of an airborne HCS, provide the employee with suitable respiratory protective equipment and protective clothing; and |
| b) | in the case of an HCS which can be absorbed through the skin, provide the employee with suitable non-HCS impermeable protective equipment. |
| 2) | Where respiratory protective equipment is provided, the employer shall ensure: |
| a) | that the relevant equipment is capable of controlling the exposure to below the OEL for the relevant HCS; |
| b) | that the relevant equipment is correctly selected and properly used; |
| c) | that information, instructions, training and supervision which is necessary with regard to the use of the equipment is known to the employees; and |
| d) | that the equipment is kept in good condition and efficient working order. |
| 3) | An employer shall, as far as is reasonably practicable: |
| a) | issue no used personal protective equipment to an employee, unless the relevant protection equipment is decontaminated and sterilised; |
| b) | provide separate containers or storage facilities for personal protective equipment when not in use; and |
| c) | ensure that all personal protective equipment not in use is stored only in the place provided therefor. |
| 4) | An employer shall as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that all contaminated personal protective equipment is cleaned and handled in accordance with the following procedures: |
| a) | where the equipment is cleaned on the premises of an employer, care shall be taken to prevent contamination during handling, transport and cleaning; |
| b) | where the equipment is sent off the premises to a contractor for cleaning purposes: |
| c) | the equipment shall be packed in impermeable containers; |
| d) | the containers shall be tightly sealed and have clear indication thereon that the contents thereof are contaminated; and |
| e) | the relevant contractor shall be fully informed of the requirements of these regulations and the precautions to be taken for the handling of the contaminated equipment. |
| 5) | Subject to the provisions of subregulation (4)(b) an employer shall ensure that no person removes dirty or contaminated personal protective equipment from the premises: Provided that where contaminated personal protective equipment has to be disposed of, it shall be treated as HCS waste as contemplated in regulation 15. |
| 6) | Subject to the provisions of the Facilities Regulations, an employer shall, where reasonably practicable, provide employees using personal protective equipment as contemplated in subregulation (1), with: |
| a) | adequate washing facilities which are readily accessible and located in an area where the facilities will not become contaminated, in order to enable the employees to meet a standard of personal hygiene consistent with the adequate control of exposure, and to avoid the spread of an HCS; |
| b) | two separate lockers separately labelled 'protective clothing' and 'personal clothing', and ensure that the clothing is kept separately in the locker concerned; |
| c) | separate 'clean' and 'dirty' changerooms if the employer uses or processes an HCS to the extent that the HCS could endanger the health of persons outside of the workplace. |