Chapter 15. Personal Protective Equipment

I. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be used to shield workers from potential hazards. In various situations, several types of PPE may be required. A proper attitude toward PPE may be the greatest asset for warding off risk and injury in the work environment. Learn how to use and wear PPE correctly. Adjustments can be made to make the equipment more comfortable, but should be done without altering its safety protecting aspects.

II. Head protection.

A. Hard hats are to be worn to protect the worker's head from injury due to falling and flying objects or from bumping into objects. Specific jobs may require hard hat protection. For some jobs wearing a hard hat may be left to the discretion of the wearer or the supervisor. A chin strap can be used to hold the hat in place for windy conditions or when the wearer is bending over frequently. A hard hat made of fiberglass or hard plastic may be practical for most jobs as either are lightweight and may offer some protection from possible electrocution. An insulating liner can be added for cold conditions.

B. Hair must not be a hindrance with regard to safety when performing a job task. It must not be in the eyes of the worker. If the hair is long it must be tied back and out of reach of potentially dangerous situations by either tucking under a hat or tied in a bun.

III. Footwear should provide a reasonable measure of protection and also provide agility, support, and comfort. Steel toed shoes can offer some protection from falling objects. Hightop shoes can provide support to ankles. The appropriate style of sole can prevent slipping on slick or unstable surface and also prevent absorption of oil and grease. In common work situations, the worker is responsible for providing proper footwear and socks. In application of chemicals, working around water, cold temperatures, or various uncommon work environments, proper footwear may be provided by the employer. Metatarsal (toe) guards may be appropriate and can be found in some footwear.

IV. Eye Protection. If eye protection is necessary in an operation, management has the right to require workers to wear whatever eye protection deemed necessary. Eye protection is required if the worker faces flying particles, dusts, chemical splashes, or radiant light.

A. Types of eye protection:

1. Standard safety glasses offer basic protection for operations where a hazard is most likely to strike you from the front.

2. Semiside shield safety glasses provide protection for the sides of your eyes.

3. Eyecup side glasses provide more thorough eye protection where hazards may come from the front, side, above, or below.

4. Goggles with regular ventilation (direct air flow) offer protection with regular ventilation by fitting snugly around your eyes when a hazard may strike you from many angles.

5. Goggles with hood ventilation (indirect air flow) protect from dusts and chemical splashes.

6. Face shields are to be worn in conjunction with safety glasses or goggles and protect the wearer from splashes, heat, glare, and flying particles.

7. Welding helmets protect the wearer from the intense light of welding, sparks, and splashes of molten metal. Safety glasses are to be worn under the helmet. Clear or tinted lenses are appropriate for certain jobs.

B. Eye protectors must meet the following minimum requirements.

1. Provide adequate protection against particular hazards for which they are designed.

2. Be reasonably comfortable when worn under designated conditions.

3. Fit snugly without interfering with the movements or vision of the wearer.

4. Be durable.

5. Be capable of being disinfected.

6. Be easy to clean.

7. Be kept clean and in good condition.

8. Goggles should be worn over corrective spectacles without disturbing the adjustment of the spectacles.

V. Respirators are required PPE if the worker is exposed to dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, and gases. They are also used in oxygen deficient and extreme temperature environments. Breathing hazards should be identified and measured for the proper respirator. If a respirator is necessary, the worker should request the proper equipment, wear it and care for it. See the Respirator Program for complete details.

A. Air purifying respirators.

1. Disposable are the simplest and most common form of respiratory protection. They are airfiltering devices that cover your nose and mouth to trap particles, gases, and vapors in the air before inhalation. They should fit snugly and not become clogged from overuse to work properly. The filter should be disposed of after use or when the mask become clogged. There are various kinds which may provide the best fit considering facial hair, dentures, and skin condition. The common "paint mask" is not a suitable respirator.

2. Half-face masks seal on the face and cover the nose, mouth, and chin. Has a detachable cartridge that captures gases and vapors from the air.

3. Fullface masks seal on the face and are similar to half masks except with the condition of a face piece which protects the eyes and face from eye irritation hazards, splashes, and flying particles.

B. Atmosphere supplying respirators provide the greatest protection against respiratory hazards. It protects against oxygen deficiencies and temperature extremes. It can also protect from high concentrations of fumes, vapors, dusts, mists, and gases.

1. Airline respirators use a hose to connect the mask to a stationary air source.

2. Selfcontained respirators allow a transportable supply of clean air. Commonly called self-contained breathing apparatus or SCBA.

VI. Hand protection.

A. Very few operations do not require the use of the workers hands, whether it is constantly grasping and moving objects, sensing temperatures and textures, or performing highly skilled tasks. The best way to avoid accidents and injuries to the hands is to recognize the types of hand hazards. Be aware of:

1. sharp, pointed objects;

2. pinching, shearing, or squeezing tools;

3. "hand traps" such as wheels, rollers, and gears;

4. falling objects;

5. flammable objects and handling objects at severe (hot or cold) temperatures;

6. chemicals which can dry, burn, or be absorbed through the skin;

7. electricity;

8. repetitive motion; and

9. burns from the intense light of welding, sparks, and splashes of molten metal.

B. To protect from hand injuries:

1. keep safety shields, guards, or attachments in place; and

2. wear hand protectors when needed.

C. Types of hand protectors.

1. Gloves, i.e., rubber, vinyl, neoprene, leather, metal mesh, plasticfilm, cloth, aluminized, leadlined, and insulated.

2. Hand pads.

3. Barrier creams.

4. Forearm cuffs.

5. Finger cots or guards.

D. Keep work areas clean.

E. Plan movement patterns.

F. Wash hands frequently with soap and water.

G. Follow directions when using chemicals.

H. Remove personal items such as bracelets, bulky wrist watches, and rings which can interfere with the task.

I. Change types of grips and do hand stretching exercises when performing repetitive hand motions to avoid possible carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis, or white finger.

VII. Clothing related accidents occur more frequently than one realizes. Even though style and comfort may be an issue, dressing safely, and appropriately, should be the norm for performing work related tasks.

A. Depending on the task, various types of combinations of protective clothing may be necessary. Coveralls, gloves, aprons, leggings, hats, hoods are common for adequate protection.

B. Clothing which is insulated, reflective, water or chemical repellent, or fire resistant should be worn when required.

C. Various guards for different areas of the body and face shield are also a measure for protection.

D. The risk of sunburn and sun scald should be avoided by wearing sun screen lotions, hats or visors, long sleeve shirts and long trousers.

E. Clothing should be snug fitting to avoid hazards of being caught by a piece of equipment. Droopy or floppy clothing can also be a fire hazard near open flames.

F. All clothing should be kept clean. Oily clothes and clothes worn during pesticide applications should be given special attention regarding procedures for laundering.