Procedure 5.24.1 - Employer Provided Personal Protective Equipment

Part 1:  Purpose and Definition

This procedure describes the conditions under which Lake Superior College will provide protective clothing for employees.

Subpart A:  OSHA requires employers to pay for certain personal protective equipment (PPE).  This requirement is stated in 29 CFR Section 1910.  Examples of PPE are:

• eye and face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation
• head protection when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects
• footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard

These rules have the following exemptions:

• The employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, if the employer permits such items to be worn off the job-site.
• The employer is not required to pay for ordinary clothing, skin creams, or other items used solely for protection from weather such as: winter coats, jackets, gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Subpart B:  All labor contracts and plans (except the Administrators plan) have language requiring the appointing authority to provide and maintain, without cost to the employee, safety equipment and protective clothing required by the appointing authority, OSHA, or the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Subpart C:  The AFSCME contract incorporates a 2013 memo from Minnesota Management and Budget that describes the statewide policy on reimbursement for safety footwear.  The policy reimburses employees up to $125 once every 24 months, for safety footwear, if the employees are required to wear safety footwear.  The memo adds that the appointing authority will determine which employees are required to wear safety footwear.

Part 2.  LSC Application of Rule

Work Boots

Lake Superior College will provide employees with the appropriate PPE required for their work assignment.

Lake Superior College determines that the following job classifications are required to wear steel-toed boots and the employees can request a $125 reimbursement once every 24 months:

Plant Engineer

Fire Simulator System Engineer

General Repair Worker

Reflective Clothing

Lake Superior College will provide shirts and winter jackets to employees whose job duties require them to run grass cutting and snow removal equipment.  General Maintenance workers who shovel entryways are not eligible for this clothing.

Exceptions

Some College Laboratory Assistants have job duties that require safety boots or reflective clothing.  The President or designee will evaluate each person in this class to determine the necessary items.  The President of designee can also require these items if their work conditions require them.