Section 325.51865. Protective work clothing and equipment.  


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  • (1) If an employee is exposed to airborne cadmium above the PEL or if skin or eye irritation is associated with cadmium exposure at any level, then an employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and ensure that the employee uses, appropriate protective work clothing and equipment that prevents contamination of the employee and the employee’s garments. Protective work clothing and equipment includes all of the following:

    (a)  ) Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing.

    (b)   Gloves, head coverings, and boots or foot coverings.

    (c)    Face shields, vented goggles, or other appropriate protective equipment that is in compliance with General Industry Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 325.51851a.

    (2)  All of the following provisions pertain to the removal and storage of protective work clothing and equipment:

    (a)     An employer shall ensure that employees remove all protective clothing and equipment that is contaminated with cadmium at the completion of the work shift and that employees  do   so  only  in  change  rooms  that   are  provided  in   accordance  with R 325.51866(2).

    (b)    An employer shall ensure that an employee does not take cadmium-contaminated protective clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for employees who are authorized to do so for purposes of laundering, cleaning, maintaining, or disposing of cadmium-contaminated protective clothing and equipment at an appropriate location or facility away from the workplace.

    (c)    An employer shall ensure that contaminated protective clothing and equipment, when removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, is placed and stored in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers that are designed to prevent the dispersion of cadmium dust.

    (d)  An employer shall assure that bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment that are to be taken out of the change rooms or the workplace for laundering,  cleaning,    maintenance,   or    disposal   bear    labels   in    accordance   with R 325.51879.

    (3)   All of the following provisions pertain to the cleaning, replacement, and disposal of protective clothing and equipment:

    (a)  An employer shall provide the protective clothing and equipment required by subrule

    (1)     of this rule in a clean and dry condition as often as necessary to maintain its effectiveness, but at least weekly. An employer is responsible for cleaning and laundering the protective clothing and equipment required by this rule to maintain its effectiveness and is also responsible for disposing of the clothing and equipment.

    (b)   An employer is responsible for repairing or replacing required protective clothing and equipment as needed to maintain its effectiveness. An employer shall ensure that rips or tears, which are detected while an employee is working are immediately mended or the worksuit shall be immediately replaced.

    (c)    An employer shall prohibit the removal of cadmium from protective clothing and equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means that disperses cadmium into the air.

    (d)  An employer shall ensure that any laundering of contaminated clothing or cleaning of contaminated equipment in the workplace is done in a manner that prevents the release of airborne cadmium in excess of the PEL.

    (e)   An employer shall inform any person who launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment contaminated with cadmium of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to cadmium and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner to effectively prevent the release of airborne cadmium in excess of the PEL.

History: 1993 AACS; 1998 AACS; 2013 AACS.