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CIT Departmental Policy Statement

CIT requires that employees wear personal protective equipment (PPE) regardless of work status (refer to Definitions section for descriptions) in specified work areas, or while performing specific job duties and will ensure that such equipment is available. PPE includes footwear, eyewear, gloves, hard hats, and clothing, and any such safety equipment dictated by a site controller or supervisor. All PPE will be of safe design for the work to be performed. Only PPE that meets NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards will be accepted for use. This policy specifically addresses the requirement for protective footwear.

Protective Footwear

Employees are required to use appropriate protective footwear when working in areas where there is any danger of foot injuries due to falling/rolling objects, potential for objects piercing the sole, or in areas where electrical or chemical hazards may exist. Protective footwear is typically not required in an office environment. However, those employees whose work responsibilities require protective footwear (even on rare occasions) to be present in the hazardous areas noted, must have protective footwear available at their normal worksite for such use. Shoes should be leather upper and thick soled - steel-toed boots being the most appropriate.

1. When protective footwear is a requirement of the job, CIT will either reimburse the employee or authorize direct vendor payment from a university account.
2. Onsite vendors are regularly scheduled (generally every six months) by CIT to provide the opportunity for employees to purchase shoes/boots of an approved quality. Professional assistance for proper fit is provided by the visiting vendor at the time of purchase.
3. The NCS/OIT administrative assistant should be contacted for scheduling and processing the necessary documents for purchasing shoes from an onsite vendor. Costs in excess of allowed amounts are the responsibility of the employee and must be paid at the time of purchase.
4. Employees who do not purchase shoes from an on-site vendor may purchase shoes from a vendor of their choice and will be reimbursed up to an approved amount. This arrangement should first be discussed with a supervisor before committing to a purchase. The employee must provide the original receipt to the NCS/OIT administrative assistant who will verify purchase of the shoes and process reimbursement.
5. Proper care and utilization of safety footwear is the responsibility of the employee. Footwear that is lost, stolen, or damaged unrelated to the employee's job tasks will be replaced at the employee's expense.
6. A typical safety shoe replacement cycle is one year. If the safety footwear becomes unusable do to work related activities during this period, the employee may secure normal replacement after review and approval by the appropriate supervisor.
7. Employees who cannot wear protective footwear for medical reasons may be provided with alternative foot protection. The employee is expected to contact CIT HR who will assist the employee in obtaining appropriate protective footwear. The employee will be required to provide appropriate health care provider documentation.
8. This policy applies to 'on call' and any after hours work assignments.

Employee Responsibilities

The employee is required to:

a. Wear protective footwear as described in this policy.
b. Provide reasonable care and maintenance of their protective footwear.
c. Discuss special needs/circumstances with supervisor.
d. Provide medical documentation for alternate protective footwear, as necessary.

Supervisor Responsibilities

Supervisors are expected to:

1. Identify and maintain appropriate funds to purchase required PPE for employees.
2. Ensure compliance with all policies and procedures regarding purchase, replacement, and wearing of PPE.
3. Ensure employees do not begin working in any area requiring PPE until they have received training, as required by NIOSHA standards, and possess required PPE.
4. Ensure any alternative footwear or protective device has been evaluated and approved.

University Forms

• [None]

CIT Forms

• [None]

Related Documents and Policies

University Documents and Policies

• Environmental Health & Safety http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/
  
• National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
• American National Standards Institute http://www.ansi.org/

CIT Documents and Policies

• [None]

Process

Employee will be notified of any potential violations by supervisor.

Consequences

Possible consequences can include:

1. formal disciplinary action if protective footwear is not worn as specified above
2. denial of reimbursement for not following purchasing guidelines described above

University definitions are marked with an asterisk, all others are CIT definitions.

No Frequently Asked Questions are currently listed for this policy.