Chapter 10 Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment PPE provides an effective means for protecting technicians from hazardous situations Engineering and environmental controls provide another layer of protection. The primary purpose of PPE is to prevent exposure to hazards when engineering or environmental controls cannot.

Outerwear Safety hats Safety glasses Fire-retardant clothing Safety shoes Hearing protection Gloves Face shield Chemical monogoggles Slicker suit Total encapsulating chemical protective suit

Hand Protection Many of the gloves used by chemical technicians have a wide variety of operational limitations; one type of glove cannot be used for every job. Glove charts will provide all the information you need to select the right glove.

Eye Protection Wear approved eye protection where minimum eye protection is insufficient. Wear approved face protection where face and eye injury is a concern.

Figure 10-2 Approved Eyewear

Foot Protection The design composite of the soles must be chemical resistant, puncture proof, slip resistant, abrasion resistant, and provide cushioning support. Footwear must pass performance tests for impact and compression according to ANSI Z41.1-1967 and meet class 75 requirements for men’s and women’s shoes.

Ear Protection The CPI regulates noise levels over an eight-hour, time weighted average (TWA) work shift to be around 85 dBA. Exposure should never exceed 115 dBA.

Hazards in the Workplace Burning Exploding Cutting Electrocution Impaling Tripping Toxic chemicals Chemical burns Asphyxiants

Emergency Response Four levels of PPE: Level A is the highest requiring TECP, Level B deals with chemical exposures that are not considered extremely toxic unless absorbed through the skin, Level C is used when the hazard is determined to not adversely affect human skin, Level D is the minimal amount of protection- usually just work uniform.

Written Respiratory Protection Programs Fit testing is a procedure that ensures the respirator forms a good seal on the technician’s face. During fit test training the technician learns the following: Which respirator will be used in their area Which respirator fits their face How to properly don a respirator How to select a respirator Specific hazards in their assigned units

Air-Purifying Respirator Designed to remove specific contaminants or organic vapors from the air. Half-face covers the mouth and nose. Full-face covers the eyes, mouth, and noise.

Air-purifying respirators remove contaminants from the atmosphere by putting a filter between the contaminant and the respiratory tract of a technician. Air is purified through mechanical filtration or chemical absorption. Air-purifying respirators do not provide oxygen, so the atmosphere’s oxygen content must not be below 19.5%.

Air-Supplying Respirators Designed to be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres and to provide protection. Comes in two designs: self-contained breathing apparatus and hose line respirators.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Most SCBA have full-face pieces and weigh between 35 and 45 lbs. SCBAs provide a self-contained air supply that will last 30 to 60 minutes.

Selecting a Respirator Will the respirator I choose protect me from the environment I will be working in? The process technician is required to reference the MSDS.

Caring for and Using Respirators OSHA inspectors will cite the company for improper storage of a respirator. SCBA users typically train monthly on donning and using the air-supplying respirator. When a respirator is used the technician should perform a positive or negative fit test.

Figure 10-8 SCBA

Figure 10-9 Hose Line Respirator

Fall Protection Fall protection is a standard designed to reduce or eliminate injuries from falls. The standard requires fall protection to be used when a technician needs access, movement, or works at an elevation of 6 feet or higher.

Hoisting Equipment Hoisting systems are used to safely raise, lower, and move loads that are too heavy to moved manually. The most difficult aspect of the job is estimating the load. Loads should be suspended no longer than necessary.