Personal Protective Equipment - What’s it all about?

1. Personal Protective Equipment - What’s it all about? Prepared for University Safety Council May 2002 Curt Speaker EHS

2. Personal Protective Equipment • Definition: Devices used to protect an employees from injury or illness resulting from contact with chemical , radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards (OSHA) • The need for PPE and the type of PPE used is based on hazard present; each situation must be evaluated independently

3. Some Caveats • PPE is used as a last resort • The use of PPE signifies that the hazard could not be controlled by other methods, such as: • administrative controls (i.e., shift rotation) • engineering or industrial hygiene controls

4. Engineering & IH Controls • Design (remove hazard from process) • Substitution (of less hazardous materials) • Process modification (how and where) • Isolate the process or the worker • Wet methods for dust reduction • Local exhaust ventilation (at source) • Dilution ventilation (area) • Good housekeeping

5. Back to the caveats... • The use of PPE signals that the hazard still exists in the workplace • Unprotected individuals in the same area will be exposed • Failure of PPE means that the worker will be exposed • PPE can be combined with other controls

6. So, what is it???

7. PPE • Head protection • Eye and Face protection • Hearing protection • Respiratory protection • Arm and Hand protection • Foot and Leg protection • Protective clothing

8. Head Protection

9. Hard Hats work by dissipating force

11. Eye Protection

12. Eye Protection • Common Uses: • Impact Protection • Chemical Hazards • Radiation Protection • welder’s goggles • laser goggles • UV • Infrared

13. Eye Protection - Selection • Visitor specs are only appropriate for non-employees with no true exposure to hazards • Safety glasses are used to protect the eyes from flying objects (no face protection) • Chemical splash goggles protect against fluids by sealing tightly against the face • Face shields provide highest level of protection

14. Face Shield - the highest level of face protection

15. Hearing Protection

16. Hearing Protection Basics • Noise induced hearing loss can occur with exposures >90 dBA • A hearing conservation program becomes a requirement at exposures >85dBA • Higher levels of noise exposure have shorter allowable exposure times

17. Sound Level (dBA) 90 92 95 100 105 110 115 Exposure (hours) 8 6 4 2 1 0.5 0.25 Noise levels versus Duration

18. Hearing Protection • Rule of Thumb - if you cannot carry on a conversation in a normal tone of voice with someone at arm’s length, you are likely near 90dBA • All hearing protection devices should have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) = # of decibels they will reduce noise levels • Be conservative when using NRRs

19. A couple examples • Example 1 • Ear plugs with NRR of 25 dBA • exposure = 105 dBA • 105 minus 25 = 80 dB therefore okay • Example 2 • same plugs • exposure = 125 dBA • 125 minus 25 = 100 dB not acceptable; must be below 90 dB

20. Hearing Protection - Types • Ear Plugs - less expensive, disposable, good ones have fairly high NRRs - sometimes difficult to tell if employees are wearing them • Ear Muffs - more expensive, more durable, typically higher NRRs than plugs, more obvious • Can be used together in very high noise areas

21. Arm and Hand Protection

22. Gloves - Typical Uses • Chemical protection • Biohazard protection • Abrasion protection • Friction protection • Protection from extremes of heat and cold

23. Gloves - more caveats • No glove is good against all hazards; consult laboratory safety link on EHS web page for glove selection chart • Gloves have a finite lifespan and must be periodically replaced • When donning gloves, examine them for signs of tears, cracks, holes and dry rot • Hands should always be washed after removing gloves

24. Handwashing and gloves

25. Foot and Leg Protection

26. Protective Footwear • Steel-toed footwear, preferably with metatarsal guards, is used to protect feet from crushing injuries caused by heavy objects • Rubber boots are often used to protect feet from exposure to liquids • Chaps or leggings are used in certain applications (i.e., using a chainsaw)

27. Other Protective Clothing

28. Other Protective Clothing • Used to protect street clothes from hazards in the workplace • Often hazard specific • To be considered effective, protective clothing must prevent the contaminant from reaching the clothing or skin of the wearer!

29. Respiratory Protection

30. Respiratory Protection • Protects users by removing harmful materials that may enter the body via the lungs • Inhalation is one of the quickest, most efficient ways to introduce lethal levels of hazardous materials into the body

31. Respiratory System

32. Respirators - types • Air Purifying Respirators (APR) • Half-face • Full Face • Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) • Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

33. Respirators • Does not include: • surgical masks • dust masks • N-95 respirators are a special class of respiratory protection primarily used in the health care field

34. Respirators - A Big Caveat!!! • Employees should not wear a respirator unless they have been medically cleared to do so! • This clearance may take the form of a questionnaire, physical examination, pulmonary function testing, chest X-Ray, or a combination of the above

35. Why? • Respirators put additional resistance against the respiratory system of the wearer • Persons with undiagnosed respiratory system or cardiovascular problems could trigger a serious medical problem (respiratory distress, asthma, heart attack, etc.) by using a respirator

36. Respirators are incompatible with facial hair

37. Facial hair… • The respirator cannot form a tight seal against the cheeks and chin, resulting in air leaks which can allow airborne contaminants to be inhaled • Specially designed PAPR hoods can be used for employees with facial hair • small amounts of facial hair that fit inside of the respirator facepiece are acceptable

38. PPE Usage • PPE that is required to safely conduct University work should be purchased by the work unit • Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that PPE is available and worn • Employees are responsible for wearing & maintaining PPE, and reporting worn or defective PPE to their supervisor

39. Recap • PPE is hazard specific; the hazards of each workplace and task must be evaluated • PPE is used as a last resort when the hazard cannot be controlled by other methods • Supervisors are responsible to ensure it is available and worn; Employees must wear and maintain their PPE

40. Recap • PPE is only considered effective if it prevents the contaminant from reaching the wearer • Respirators should not be worn by employees unless they have been medically cleared to do so

41. Dressed for Success!

42. For additional information on PPE... • Check the EHS web site • http://www.ehs.psu.edu • Or contact EHS directly