Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one of the cornerstones of construction work. It helps protect workers from various hazards that they may encounter on the job, including falling objects, exposure to harmful chemicals, electrical hazards, and more.
What kind of PPE do I need as a Project Manager?
At minimum, you should have a hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, safety gloves and safety boots. These are often required when doing job walks or entering job sites / buildings. Some folks on our electrical team may need additional PPE since they may enter or handle more hazardous equipment during outages, for example.
Where can I get or replace my PPE?
Most PPE is purchased via eBuy, but sometimes we need to submit a requisition to procurement so a buyer can purchase PPE not available on eBuy. We may have some items in stock at the lab but reach out to the PIMD Sr. Admin for help ordering PPE.
Can I purchase my own PPE and get reimbursed?
In most cases, this is not recommended. The lab encourages employees to use eBuy or go through procurement first. Some items may also be on a restricted list so please reach out to the PIMD Sr. Admin so they can double check.
Some exceptions do exist, for example the lab’s Safety Shoe program allows employees to purchase approved safety boots on their own and submit receipts for reimbursement if eBuy does not have what they need and as long as they have supervisor approval.
Is there a place on-site where I can get fitted for Safety Shoes?
Yes, there is a Safety Shoe Mobile on-site quarterly from 8am – 3pm at the N3 parking lot, across from Buildings 27 and 17. Staff authorized to purchase safety shoes can try them on and then order them through eBuy (S&S Supplies and Solutions catalog). Dates that the Safety Shoe Mobile are on-site can be found on the Lab Calendar by searching for ‘safety shoes’ and looking for S&S Boot Trailer On-Site.
Where can I find more information on PPE?
Determining PPE is part of the Lab’s Integrated Safety Management (ISM) process and is also addressed in Chapter 19 of Berkeley Lab’s ES&H Manual (PUB-3000). More information is located here.
Reach out to Matt Lindsay, our Division Safety Coordinator, if you have questions about the type of PPE you may need and other lab requirements. EHS Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) can also provide assistance on the selection of the proper PPE for specific work. These individuals are the first point of contact when you need help; however, they work with other experts within EHS and across the Lab.
