1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Selecting and using PPE
Are we selecting to protect the workers or ourselves?
Derek Miller LFOH, MNZOHS
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2. NZOHNA Conference 21 - 22 September 2017
Disclaimer
Any mention of a supplier or manufacturer of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not an endorsement of their products. They are only mentioned for illustrative purposes
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

3. “I cannot teach anybody anything I can only make them think” Socrates
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

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What is PPE
Should satisfy two criteria:
Worn on any part of the body or held by a person at work, and
It is designed to protect that person against one or more health and or/safety hazards
This also includes protective outfits which combines several devices. e.g. an ensemble made up of respiratory protective equipment, gloves and a coverall with integrated foot protection.
Now includes clothing used to minimise risks to a persons health and safety
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

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Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

6. Why do employers and health and safety professionals get it wrong?
Blind believe in safety data sheets (SDS)
No research
Lack of knowledge about nature of contaminant or hazard
Company penny pinching
Poor advice from sales person
Good advice from sales people and others ignored
Not knowing where to look for good advice
No PPE programme or training
When selected it is not used as uncomfortable
Over belief in ones own knowledge
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

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What is suitable PPE?
It is suitable if it:
Is adequate against the hazard
Is matched to the worker
Is matched to the task/process
Is matched to the workplace conditions
Is matched to the environmental conditions
Is worn with minimum impediment
DOES NOT create additional risks
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9. Examples of PPE on sites
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10. Overalls Case – Dust and Styrene
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11. Are shorts adequate PPE?
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Gloves Case – suitable?
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

13. Overprotection – Easiest selection method!
We are seeing increases in cases of overprotection
Company’s SMS policy or safety departments are insisting on staff wearing a higher level of PPE than required
New trend seen since introduction of new legislation
Knee jerk reaction to a recent trend in a type of injury e.g. cuts on hands
Need to look at why it is happening before increasing PPE level
Often done without understanding the increased risks in other areas of health e.g. heat stress, missing safety alarms, worker isolation etc
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

14. Why this trend to the wrong PPE protection
Lack of understanding of subject
Reacting to a trend
Not carrying out proper risk assessment process
See a nice shiny or different piece of PPE at a show
Worrying about new legislation requirements on PPE
Confusion of technical information from manufacturers
Sold the best profit item for company not what was best for client
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Selecting PPE
Hazard
Form of hazard
Dust, vapour, sharp, abrasive, etc
Wear and tear (how will it be used)
Immersion or splash (how will it used- process/task)
Size
Ease of maintenance
Correct level/grade/class
User friendly (will it be used)
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

16. Pest controllers skin absorption rates - Personal habits?
Absorption rates for formulated pesticides are low for wettable powders, dusts and granules but higher for liquid thus the biggest risk. The main hazard comes from mixing the formulations as people are working with the concentrated pesticide that contain a high percentage of the active ingredients.
Cuts/scratches etc to the body can increase the absorption of a pesticide and it is easy to transfer pesticides on hands etc to other parts of the body. E.g. inadvertently wiping a hand over the forehead would increase the risk of pesticide poisoning. In some cases the risk of absorption of a pesticide through the skin is more dangerous than through swallowing it.
Reproduced from
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17. Other work related factors
High or low humidity
Wind
Excessive temperature
Other PPE worn
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18. Selecting PPE – Training considerations
Training – Initial and refresher required
Training when new or updated item introduced
Life spans of PPE (e.g. gloves degradation and breakthrough times)
Life span of filters
Change procedure (e.g. one for one exchange)
Cleaning
Servicing
Storing
NZOHNA Conference September 2017

19. Record keeping good practice
Item
Supervisor
User
Recording Actions
Head Protection
Monthly check
Pre-use check each time used
Document monthly checks
Eye Protection
Footwear
Not applicable
Reusable gloves
Protective Clothing
Hearing Protectors
Respirators
Filters
As per local guidance
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Remember
PPE that is:
correctly selected
Easy to use and well maintained
is capable of providing effective protection
Incorrectly selected may give little or no protection and may increase other health risks to the workers
PPE which provides little or no protection is a waste of money and time
DO NOT OVER or UNDER PROTECT
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“Life is full of questions
Idiots are full of answers” attributed to Socrates
NZOHNA Conference September 2017