Management Instruction EL-810-2009-4 1
Management Instruction
Personal Protective Equipment and
Respiratory Protection Programs
This management instruction (MI) establishes Postal Service policy and
requirements for the use of:
1. Personal protective equipment, including eye, face, head, foot,
and hand protection.
2. Respiratory protection, including voluntary use of filtering
facepieces (dust masks), at Postal Service facilities.
Policy
Regulatory Requirements
The Postal Service will comply with Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) standards set forth in Title 29, Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), Part 1910, Subpart I, Personal Protective
Equipment, especially the following sections:
1910.132, General Requirements.
1910.133, Eye and Face Protection.
1910.134, Respiratory Protection, including Appendix D.
1901.135, Head Protection.
1910.136, Foot Protection.
1910.138, Hand Protection.
Postal Service Policy
The preferred practice of the Postal Service is to avoid and minimize
the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory
protection (RP) and to eliminate workplace hazards when feasible. The
following policy applies to the use of PPE and RP:
1. Implement methods to eliminate, control, and reduce workplace
hazards to avoid the use of PPE and RP whenever feasible; such
methods may include, but are not limited to:
a. Use of engineering controls (isolation, enclosures, and
ventilation).
b. Adoption of administrative controls and approved work
practices.
c. Substitution of hazardous materials with non-hazardous
materials when feasible.
d. Incorporation of equipment with safety design features.
Date June 1, 2009
Effective Immediately
Number MI EL-810-2009-4
Obsoletes MI EL-810-2001-1
Unit Safety and Environment
Performance Management
Deborah Giannoni-Jackson
Vice President
Employee Resource Management
CONTENTS
Policy ............................................... 1
Regulatory Requirements ............ . 1
Postal Service Policy ................... . 1
Scope............................................... 2
Personal Protective Equipment
Program ........................................ 2
PPE Program Resources ............. . 2
Responsibilities............................ . 3
Hazard Assessments ................... . 3
Selection Considerations............. . 3
Training ........................................ . 4
Program Evaluation ..................... . 4
Other Requirements .................... . 5
Types of PPE................................... 5
Eye and Face Protection ............. . 5
Head Protection........................... . 6
Foot Protection ............................ . 6
Hand Protection........................... . 7
Protective Clothing ...................... . 8
Respiratory Protection
Programs ...................................... 8
Voluntary Use of Filtering
Facepieces .................................. . 8
Respiratory Protection
Requirements .............................. 10
References...................................... 12
Postal Service.............................. 12
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration .................. 12
Roles and Responsibilities ............ 13
Overall Responsibilities ............... 13
PPE Responsibilities.................... 16
RP Responsibilities...................... 20