5-Star Safety and Health

Management System
Protective Clothing
Date: 30/10/2014 Revision: Pages: 8
Element: 2.18 Safety Manual: Section 3 OHSAS: 4.3.1

Purpose
To ensure that where the risk of injuries cannot be engineered out of the workplace, and where the
risks have been reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable (ALARP), that correct protective
clothing is purchased, issued and maintained

Recommend By:

5-Star Team
Ronald McKinnon
Approved by:

Abdullah Fahad Aljabjob

cting General Services Senior VP

Adoption By:

Ziyad Mohammed Al-Shiha

CEO of Saudi Electricity Company

1. Objective

1.1. To provide and maintain protective clothing suitable for the specific tasks
performed at the workplace.

1.2. To ensure that where the risk of injuries cannot be mechanically engineered
out of the workplace, and where the risks have been reduced to as low as
is reasonably practicable (ALARP), that correct protective clothing is
purchased, issued and maintained.

2. Introduction

2.1. Managers have both a statutory and moral obligation to provide adequate
and suitable protective clothing and to ensure that it is worn and
maintained. Injuries caused by hazardous conditions / situations can be
prevented by the provision of suitable protective clothing as a last resort.

2.2. This standard shall establish controls for the safe and effective use of
protective clothing especially for hazardous occupations and tasks, and:

2.2.1. Ensure that all protective clothing is specifically matched to the hazard.

2.2.2. Establish selection criteria for the use of protective clothing.

3. Risk Assessment and Selection

3.1. Protective clothing depends on the hazards and tasks to which employees
and others are exposed to, and which they perform.

3.2. Protective clothing selected and used shall be matched to the potential
hazard(s):

3.2.1. Electrical Hazards: shall include electrical shock, arc flash, and static
build up.

3.2.2. Mechanical Hazards: shall include abrasion and moving machinery.

 3.2.3. Physical Hazards: shall include dust, heat, cold, flying sparks, IR /
UV radiation (welding operations), and molten metal splashes.

3.2.4. Multiple Hazards: shall have specific protective clothing designated.

Note: Protective Clothing shall include shirts, trousers, coveralls, welding

aprons, laboratory coats, insulated jackets, neck protection, etc.

4. The Wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Management at all levels must set a good example to employees by wearing the
appropriate clothes and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when visiting a
workplace such as a power plant, a warehouse, a distribution or sub-station or other
work areas where employees are required to wear "work clothing" and certain items
of PPE. This would include when inspecting or visiting construction sites or other
work areas. Not even a quick visit should be made to these areas without the correct
clothing and PPE. Any venture into the "plant" or "work area" or "work site" requires
the wearing of "work clothes" and the required PPE for the area.

A simple guideline is ask the question, "What clothing and PPE are others in the
area wearing?" In all cases discretion is required. It is not incorrect to ask the host
of the area what clothing and PPE should be worn during the visit. In most instances
the host will indicate, and provide, non-personal items of PPE for the visit. Personal
items of PPE such as safety shoes should always be taken with in case a visit into
the "work place" or "working area" is required at short notice.

5. Responsibility and Accountability

5.1. PPE Committee

PPE committee consist of members represent all business lines

(Generation, National Grid, Distribution, Supply Chain, HR., Finance,
General Services). PPE committee do the following:

5.1.1. Determine the technical specifications for personal protective

equipment and continually review and update.

5.1.2. Adoption of technical specifications of personal protective equipment.

 5.1.3. Technical evaluation of suppliers' samples of PPE equipment.

5.1.4. Determine the approximate numbers needed for each item of PPE or
safety equipment through representatives of business lines and provide
the material sector specialists with minimum required numbers.

5.1.5. All business lines representatives shall receive notes and suggestions
related to PPE and safety equipment in order to update specifications.

5.2. Materials Sector

5.2.1. Update technical specifications of PPEs in materials' system.

5.2.2. Sign contracts with suppliers according to technical evaluation.

5.2.3. Ensure that all supplied PPEs match the approved items.

5.2.4. Supply chain are to ensure that adequate quantities of protective

clothing are maintained in stock.

5.2.5. Simplify initiating purchase orders in the system and train and educate
proponents regularly on establishing and tracking orders.

5.2.6. Preparation of monthly reports on PPEs orders status and complete

and delivered items to every unit.

5.3. Managers, Supervisors, Contractors (Responsible Persons) shall:

5.3.1. Conduct a risk assessment of their areas and the tasks carried out in
their areas of responsibility and identify suitable PPEs (protective
clothing ).

5.3.2. Compile a PPE risk matrix for their areas of responsibility and identify
required items to be used by workers or contractors when doing tasks.

5.3.3. Educate their employees and contractors on the correct use of PPEs
(protective clothing ).

5.3.4. Ensure that adequate supplies of PPE (protective clothing ) are

available and are provided for employee use and ensure that
contractors provide approved PPE to their employees.
 5.3.5. Ensure that personal protective equipment (protective clothing ) are
in good condition, and replace when necessary in cases where
inadequate, worn out, or damaged, or exceeding the its' lifetime.

5.3.6. Ensure that work with new tasks, equipment, and/or chemicals are
evaluated by the Responsible Persons for selection of the
appropriate personal protective equipment (protective clothing ).

5.3.7. Ensure that ordered or purchased personal protective equipment

(protective clothing ) meet the minimum specifications approved by
PPE committee (5-Star team).

5.3.8. Ensure that employees who supervise contractors are trained

annually on the appropriate selection and proper use of appropriate
personal protective equipment (protective clothing ) which ensure
the required protection.

5.4. Employees

5.4.1. Must use approved foot protection equipment that is adequate for
the hazard(s) and is within the designated life span.

5.4.2. Shall use protective clothing when in areas / operations or execute

tasks designated for protective clothing use.

5.4.3. Must report changes in protective clothing function, which may

indicate protector failure to their Supervisors.

5.4.4. Shall not structurally modify protective clothing nor fabricate devices,
which defeat the operation and effectiveness of protective clothing.

5.4.5. Shall ensure that protective clothing issued to them is kept in good
condition.

5.5. Visitors

All SEC employees hosting visitors shall provide their visitor(s) with protective
clothing and ensure that protective clothing are worn at all times, where
applicable.
6. General Requirements

Employees shall wear protective clothing when working in areas where there is
a danger of injuries due to energised equipment, moving machinery, molten
metal splashes, and where such employees are exposed to electrical hazards,
IR / UV radiation or flying sparks.

6.1. Arc welders shall wear welding aprons, spats, gauntlets and a welding
helmet.

6.2. Laboratory workers and other workers handling hazardous chemicals shall
wear laboratory coats and other suitable PPEs when working with acids or
other corrosive substances.

6.3. Electrical operators shall wear the correct work uniform correctly buttoned
up and the shirt tucked in. All trouser legs to be worn outside of boots, not
tucked in.

6.4. Machine operators shall wear the correct work uniform correctly buttoned
up and the shirt tucked in. All trouser legs to be worn outside of boots, not
tucked in.

6.5. Visitors must wear long trousers and other protective clothing where
applicable. Open-toed shoes are not allowed in operational areas.

6.6. Fire fighters shall wear approved fire fighting protective clothing.

6.7. Canteen workers shall wear white overalls or coats and aprons, and caps (if
working with food)

6.8. Medical workers shall wear appropriate protective clothing and specific
items such as medical gloves and eye protection, where necessary.

7. Protective Clothing Program

7.1. Departments shall administer a continuing, effective Protective Clothing Program.

7.2. Training for protective clothing selection and use shall be developed and
included in the induction training courses.
 7.3. The PPE selection committee shall evaluate protective clothing selection,
and use criteria, periodically, or more frequently, as is necessary.

7.4. Protective clothing selection, maintenance and use criteria shall be based
upon the manufacturers guidelines along with MSHA, OSHA, ANSI, SABS,
and NIOSH criteria, where deemed necessary.

8. Signs and Labels

Signs shall be provided for all areas where specific protective clothing is
required as per SEC Element 2.24 (Notices and Signs).

9. Engineering Controls

9.1. Engineering controls shall be considered wherever exposure to radiation,

mechanical, electrical and chemical hazards, molten metal splashes, and
extreme heat conditions exist.

9.2. Process / equipment modifications and upgrades are to include engineering

controls for the above hazards wherever applicable and feasible.

10. Document Retention

This document needs to be kept in the Safety and Health Management System
(5-Star) files and made available for auditing purposed.
 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Risk Matrix

Department / Area / Task / Person

Tasks
PPE Required

FOOT
PROTECTOR
RESPIRATOR

DUST MASK
FLAME
RETARDANT
CLOTHING
HARD TOE
SHOES
GLOVES

(TYPE)

LEATHER
GLOVES

EYE
PROTECTION

FALL
PROTECTION
EAR PLUGS

EAR MUFFS

WELDING
SHIELD

DUST
GOGGLES

COVERALL

List all the Areas / Departments and tasks carried out in the section/area on the top of the matrix. Do not
leave any area or task out. Select what PPE is to be used by placing a tick in the appropriate block. This will
determine what PPE must be worn by employees in areas and doing specific tasks. Consider Mechanical,
Physical, Chemical and Multiple hazards