510 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 1-8

Sections

5-3. Personnel Required Qualification/Training.

Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE)

Employees must be trained on proper use, care procedures, and understanding the limitations of each PPE component.
Training includes selecting, donning, doffing, maintaining, inspecting, and disposing of PPE.

Hearing Protection

Employees exposed to hazardous noise must receive training as per regulatory standards.
Noise evaluation personnel require specific training.

Respiratory Protection

Employees required to use respirators must be qualified and trained by USACE RPPAs and RPPMs before initial use and annually thereafter.
Respirator users must receive comprehensive training on usage, maintenance, limitations, and emergency procedures.
Voluntary respirator users also require training on usage, limitations, and related standards.

Automatic-Inflatable Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs)

Users must be trained in the use, maintenance, care, and post-deployment procedures of PFDs as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Lifesaving and Safety Skiffs

Employees must be trained to launch and operate lifesaving and/or safety skiffs as required.

Retraining

Employers must retrain any employee who lacks the necessary understanding and skill in the use of PPE.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

5-2. When must respirator users be trained by the USACE RPPA/RPPM?

Within one week of being hired

Only when required by a CP or COR

Initially and annually thereafter

Prior to work at a new project

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 5-3.

5-3. Personnel Required Qualification/Training.

a.  Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE). All employees required to use PPE must be trained and demonstrate an understanding of the following for each component of PPE prior to use:  (5-3.a)

(1)  Proper use, to include knowing when to use, selecting the appropriate PPE for specific hazards, donning, doffing, and adjusting.

(2)  Care procedures, to include maintenance, inspection, testing, storage, cleaning, and disposal.

(3)  Any limitations of the equipment, to include the useful life.

b.  Hearing Protection. (5-3.b)

(1)  Employees exposed to hazardous noise and/or ototoxic chemicals must be trained according to 29 CFR 1910.95 (contractors) or ER 385-1-89 (USACE only).

(2)  Personnel who perform noise evaluations must be trained according to ER 385-1-89 (USACE only).

c.  Respiratory Protection.  When respiratory protection is required, employees must be qualified and trained according to the following:  (5-3.c)

(1)  Respiratory Protection Program Administrator (RPPA).

(a)  USACE RPPAs must meet the training and qualifications according to ER 385-1-90.

(b)  Contractor RPPAs must have documented knowledge and experience to understand OSHA’s respiratory protection standard (that is, 29 CFR 1910.134) evaluate respiratory hazards, select appropriate respirators based on identified hazards, and train employees on respirator use.

(2)  Respiratory Protection Program Manager (RPPM) (USACE only).  USACE RPPMs must meet the training and qualifications according to ER 385-1-90.

(3)  Respirator Users. In addition to the elements identified for general PPE training, all employees required to use respirators must be trained before initial use and annually by an RPPA/RPPM thereafter on the following:

(a)  Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator.

(b)  Capabilities and limitations of the respirator.

(c)  How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions.

(d)  How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator.

(e)  Procedures for maintenance, cleaning, storage, and disposal of the respirator.

(f)  How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators.

(g)  The general requirements of the OSHA respiratory protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134.

(4)  Voluntary Respirator Users.  Employees who choose to voluntarily use a respirator must be trained on the following:

(a)  Correct method of wearing, cleaning, using, and disposal of the respirator.

(b)  Limitations of the respirator.

d.  Automatic-Inflatable Personal Floatation Device (PFDs) Users.  Users of automatic-inflatable PFDs must be trained in the use, including restrictions, maintenance, care, cleaning, storage, inspection, and post-deployment procedures according to the manufacturer’s instructions before use.  Wearer must be a confident swimmer (that is, able to tread water and swim for 100').  (5-3.d)

e.  Lifesaving and Safety Skiffs.  When lifesaving and/or safety skiffs are required, employees must be trained to launch and operate the skiff (see para 19-3).  (5-3.e)

f.  Retraining. When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has been trained does not have the understanding and skill required for the use of the PPE, the employer must retrain the employee to acquire the appropriate skills.  (5-3.f)