(1) Provision and use. Where a hazard is present or is likely to be present from skin or eye contact with chromium (VI), the employer must provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost to employees, and must ensure that employees use such clothing and equipment.

(2) Removal and storage.

(a) The employer must ensure that employees remove all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) at the end of the work shift or at the completion of their tasks involving chromium (VI) exposure, whichever comes first.

(b) The employer must ensure that no employee removes chromium (VI) contaminated protective clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for those employees whose job it is to launder, clean, maintain, or dispose of such clothing or equipment.

(c) When contaminated protective clothing or equipment is removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, the employer must ensure that it is stored and transported in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers.

(d) The employer must ensure that bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing or equipment that are removed from change rooms for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal shall be labeled in accordance with the requirements of the hazard communication standard, WAC 296-901-140.

(3) Cleaning and replacement.

(a) The employer must clean, launder, repair and replace all protective clothing and equipment required by this section as needed to maintain its effectiveness.

(b) The employer must prohibit the removal of chromium (VI) from protective clothing and equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means that disperses chromium (VI) into the air or onto an employee's body.

(c) The employer must inform any person who launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to chromium (VI) and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner that minimizes skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) and effectively prevents the release of airborne chromium (VI) in excess of the PEL.