PPE: Clothing/Ensembles

1. PPE: Clothing/Ensembles Instructional Goal: The participant will recognize the purpose of personal protective equipment and personal protective clothing.

2. PPE: Clothing/Ensembles • Shield or isolate individuals from waste site hazards • Careful selection and use of adequate PPE • No single combination of equipment and clothing is capable of protecting against all hazards

3. Developing a PPE Program • Hazard identification • Medical monitoring • Environmental surveillance • Selection, use, maintenance, and decontamination of PPE

4. Developing a PPE Program • Training • Program review and evaluation • Protective clothing

5. Selection of Chemical Protective Clothing

6. Permeation and Degradation • Permeation • Degradation • Penetration

7. Permeation Rate • Clothing material • Manufacturing method • Concentration of hazardous material • Temperature, pressure and humidity • Solubility of the chemical through the clothing material

8. Heat Transfer Characteristics • “clo” value is thermal insulation value of the material

9. Work Mission Duration • Air supply consumption • work rate • fitness • body size • breathing patterns

10. Work Mission Duration • Ambient temperature - hot and cold temperatures affect • valve operation • durability and flexibility of suit materials • integrity of suit fasteners • permeation rate of chemicals • concentration of airborne contaminants

11. Work Mission Duration • Permeation and penetration by chemical contaminants into the material of a Suit/Ensemble • Coolant supply

12. Selection Summary • Durability • Will the material resist tears, puncture and abrasions? • Will the material withstand repeated use after contamination/decontamination? • Flexibility • Will the CPC interfere with a worker's ability to perform his or her assigned tasks? (This is particularly important to consider for gloves.) • Temperature effects • Will the material maintain its protective integrity and flexibility under the extremes of heat and cold?

13. Selection Summary • Ease of decontamination • Are decontamination procedures available on site? • Will the material pose any decontamination problems? • Should disposable clothing be used? • Compatibility with other equipment • Does the clothing prevent the use of another, necessary piece of protective equipment (e.g., suits that preclude hardhat use in a hardhat area)? • Duration of use • Can the required task be accomplished before contaminant breakthrough occurs, or before degradation of the CPC becomes significant?

14. Special Conditions • fire • explosion • radiation

15. Personal Protective EquipmentLevels of Protection • Level A- Maximum skin and respiratory protection • Level B- Maximum respiratory with some skin protection • Level C- Limited level of respiratory protection and skin protection from airborne hazards • Level D- No respiratory protection and limited skin protection from airborne hazards

16. Personal Protective EquipmentLevels of Protection • Level A • fully-encapsulating • maximum skin and respiratory protection NOTE: recommended for site entries if operations involve high potential for slash or for exposure to vapors, gases or particles that have high degree of hazard to the skin.

17. Personal Protective EquipmentLevels of Protection • Level B • maximum respiratory protection • some skin protection NOTE:This is the minimum level recommended for initial site entries until the hazards have been further identified.

18. Personal Protective EquipmentLevels of Protection • Level C • limited level of respiratory protection • skin protection from airborne hazards NOTE: can be used only when all atmospheric contaminants have been identified and their concentrations measured and when it has been determined that the air-purifying respirator can remove the contaminants.

19. Personal Protective EquipmentLevels of Protection • Level D • no respiratory protection • limited skin protection from airborne hazards NOTE:can be used only when all atmospheric contaminants have been identified and concentrations measured, and when it has been determined that there is no hazard to the respiratory system or to the skin.

20. Reasons to Upgrade PPE • Dermal Hazard? • Gas or Vapor Emission? • Increase in contact or potential contact? • At request of individual

21. Reasons to Downgrade PPE • New information - situation less hazardous than originally thought • Change in conditions that decreases hazard • Change in work task that reduces contact with hazardous material

22. PPE Inspection Program • inspection and operational testing of equipment from factory • inspection of equipment as it is issued to workers • inspection after use or training or prior to maintenance

23. PPE Inspection Program • periodic inspection of stored equipment • periodic inspection when a question arises concerning the appropriateness of selected equipment

24. Other PPE Considerations • Maintenance and Storage • Donning an ensemble • In-Use Monitoring • Doffing • Clothing reuse

25. Heat Stress

26. Prevention • Daily fluid intake must approximately equal the amount of water lost in sweat • When heavy sweating occurs, encourage the worker to drink more • Maintain water temperature at 50 degrees to 60 degrees F • Provide small disposable cups that hold about 4 ounces (0.1 liter)

27. Monitoring • heart rate • oral temperature • body water loss (weight change)

28. Possible Death 108 Loss of ability for self help 106 Muscle slow down 104 Sweating 101 98.6 Normal Temperature

29. Heat Rash - tiny raised blister-like rash keep area dry and cool Heat Cramps - muscular pain and spasms replacement of salt through liquids Heat Exhaustion - headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and heavy sweating move to cooler environment and elevate feet Heat Stroke - very small pupils, confusion, unconsciousness and very high body temperature summon medical help immediately Symptoms and Treatment