PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

PPE PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE) IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU WORK TO INCREASE YOUR SAFETY WHILE PERFORMING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TASKS. PPE MAY INCLUDE SAFETY GLASSES OR GOGGLES, DUST MASKS, HARD HARTS, GLOVES, FOOT PROTECTION, AND WHOLE BODY PROTECTION. PPE IS NOT THE FIRST LINE AGAINST PROTECTING EMPLOYEES FROM HAZARDS ELIMINATION ENGINEERING CONTROLS ADMINISTRATIVE / WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS PPE

Type of Control Elimination/Substitution Examples Substitute with safer alternatives. [See Transitioning to Safer Chemicals: A Toolkit for Employers and Workers ] Change process to minimize contact Engineering Controls (implement physical change to the workplace, with hazardous chemicals. which eliminates/reduces the hazard Isolate or enclose the process. Use of wet methods to reduce on the job/task) generation of dusts or other particulates. General dilution ventilation. Use fume hoods. Rotate job assignments. Administrative and Work Practice Adjust work schedules so that Controls (establish efficient processes or procedures) workers are not overexposed to a hazardous chemical. Personal Protective Equipment (use Use chemical protective clothing. Wear respiratory protection. [See protection to reduce exposure to risk factors) the Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics page] Use gloves. Wear eye protection.

HAZARD ASSESSMENT AND EQUIPMENT SELECTION THE EMPLOYER SHALL ASSESS THE WORKPLACE TO DETERMINE IF HAZARDS ARE PRESENT, OR ARE LIKELY TO BE PRESENT, WHICH NECESSITATE THE USE OF PPE. IF SUCH HAZARDS ARE PRESENT, OR LIKELY TO BE PRESENT, THE EMPLOYER SHALL: SELECT THE TYPES OF PPE THAT WILL PROTECT THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEE; COMMUNICATE THE SELECTED ITEMS WITH EMPLOYEES; AND SELECT PPE THAT PROPERLY FITS EACH AFFECTED EMPLOYEE THE EMPLOYEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: MAKING THE EMPLOYER AWARE OF THEIR NEEDS/CONCERNS USING AND MAINTAINING PPE PROPERLY

PPE TRAINING IF EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO USE PPE, THEN THEY MUST BE TRAINED IN THE FOLLOWING: WHEN PPE IS NECESSARY; WHAT PPE IS NECESSARY; HOW TO PROPERLY DON, DOFF, ADJUST, AND WEAR PPE; THE LIMITATIONS OF THE PPE; AND THE PROPER CARE, MAINTENANCE, USEFUL LIFE AND DISPOSAL OF THE PPE

PPE: EYE AND FACE PROTECTION WHEN SHOULD THEY BE WORN? WHEN EXPOSED TO FLYING PARTICLES, MOLTEN METAL, LIQUID CHEMICALS, ACIDS OR CAUSTIC LIQUIDS, CHEMICAL GASES OR VAPORS, OR LIGHT RADIATION (I.E. WELDING) WHEN ARE SIDE SHIELDS NEEDED? WHEN THERE IS A HAZARD OR POTENTIAL HAZARD FROM FLYING OBJECTS WHAT ABOUT PRESCRIPTION SAFETY GLASSES? WHILE ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS THAT INVOLVE EYE HAZARDS HTTPS://WWW.OSHA.GOV/SLTC/ETOOLS/EYE ANDFACE/FAQS.HTML#FACE SHIELDS

PPE: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION RESPIRATORS PROTECT WORKERS AGAINST INSUFFICIENT OXYGEN ENVIRONMENTS, HARMFUL DUSTS, FOGS, SMOKES, MISTS, GASES, VAPORS, AND SPRAYS. RESPIRATORS PROTECT THE USER IN TWO BASIC WAYS: THE FIRST IS BY THE REMOVAL OF CONTAMINANTS FROM THE AIR. RESPIRATORS OF THIS TYPE INCLUDE PARTICULATE RESPIRATORS, WHICH FILTER OUT AIRBORNE PARTICLES, AND AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS WITH CARTRIDGES/CANISTERS WHICH FILTER OUT CHEMICALS AND GASES. OTHER RESPIRATORS PROTECT BY SUPPLYING CLEAN RESPIRABLE AIR FROM ANOTHER SOURCE. RESPIRATORS THAT FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY INCLUDE AIRLINE RESPIRATORS, WHICH USE COMPRESSED AIR FROM A REMOTE SOURCE, AND SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA), WHICH INCLUDE THEIR OWN AIR SUPPLY.

PPE: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION CONTINUED HOW DO RESPIRATORS WORK? RESPIRATORS WORK BY EITHER FILTERING PARTICLES FROM THE AIR, CHEMICALLY CLEANING (PURIFYING) THE AIR, OR SUPPLYING CLEAN AIR FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. PARTICULATE RESPIRATORS: PARTICULATE RESPIRATORS ARE THE SIMPLEST, LEAST EXPENSIVE, AND LEAST PROTECTIVE OF THE RESPIRATOR TYPES AVAILABLE. THESE RESPIRATORS ONLY PROTECT AGAINST PARTICLES (E.G., DUST). THEY DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST CHEMICALS, GASES, OR VAPORS, AND ARE INTENDED ONLY FOR LOW HAZARD LEVELS. THE COMMONLY KNOWN "N-95" FILTERING FACEPIECE RESPIRATOR OR "DUST MASK" IS ONE TYPE OF PARTICULATE RESPIRATOR, OFTEN USED IN HOSPITALS TO PROTECT AGAINST INFECTIOUS AGENTS. PARTICULATE RESPIRATORS ARE "AIRPURIFYING RESPIRATORS" BECAUSE THEY CLEAN PARTICLES OUT OF THE AIR AS YOU BREATHE. PARTICULATE RESPIRATORS: FILTER OUT DUSTS, FUMES AND MISTS. ARE USUALLY DISPOSABLE DUST MASKS OR RESPIRATORS WITH DISPOSABLE FILTERS. MUST BE REPLACED WHEN THEY BECOME DISCOLORED, DAMAGED, OR CLOGGED. EXAMPLES: FILTERING FACEPIECE OR ELASTOMERIC RESPIRATOR.

PPE: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION CONTINUED CHEMICAL CARTRIDGE/GAS MASK RESPIRATOR: GAS MASKS ARE ALSO KNOWN AS "AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS" BECAUSE THEY FILTER OR CLEAN CHEMICAL GASES OUT OF THE AIR AS YOU BREATHE. THIS RESPIRATOR INCLUDES A FACEPIECE OR MASK, AND A CARTRIDGE OR CANISTER. STRAPS SECURE THE FACEPIECE TO THE HEAD. THE CARTRIDGE MAY ALSO HAVE A FILTER TO REMOVE PARTICLES. GAS MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE ONLY IF USED WITH THE CORRECT CARTRIDGE OR FILTER (THESE TERMS ARE OFTEN USED INTERCHANGEABLY) FOR A PARTICULAR BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE. SELECTING THE PROPER FILTER CAN BE A COMPLICATED PROCESS. THERE ARE CARTRIDGES AVAILABLE THAT PROTECT AGAINST MORE THAN ONE HAZARD, BUT THERE IS NO "ALL-INONE" CARTRIDGE THAT PROTECTS AGAINST ALL SUBSTANCES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT HAZARDS YOU WILL FACE IN ORDER TO BE CERTAIN YOU ARE CHOOSING THE RIGHT FILTERS/CARTRIDGES. CHEMICAL CARTRIDGE/GAS MASK RESPIRATOR: USES REPLACEABLE CHEMICAL CARTRIDGES OR CANISTERS TO REMOVE THE CONTAMINANT. ARE COLOR-CODED TO HELP YOU SELECT THE RIGHT ONE. MAY REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE CARTRIDGE TO PROTECT AGAINST MULTIPLE HAZARDS.

PPE: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION CONTINUED POWERED AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATOR (PAPR): POWERED AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS USE A FAN TO DRAW AIR THROUGH THE FILTER TO THE USER. THEY ARE EASIER TO BREATHE THROUGH; HOWEVER, THEY NEED A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY TO WORK PROPERLY. THEY USE THE SAME TYPE OF FILTERS/CARTRIDGES AS OTHER AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HAZARD IS, AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS IN THE AIR, IN ORDER TO SELECT THE PROPER FILTERS/CARTRIDGES. SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA) IS THE RESPIRATOR COMMONLY USED BY FIREFIGHTERS. THESE USE THEIR OWN AIR TANK TO SUPPLY CLEAN AIR, SO YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT FILTERS. THEY ALSO PROTECT AGAINST HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE VERY HEAVY (30 POUNDS OR MORE), AND REQUIRE VERY SPECIAL TRAINING ON HOW TO USE AND TO MAINTAIN THEM. ALSO, THE AIR TANKS TYPICALLY LAST AN HOUR OR LESS DEPENDING UPON THEIR RATING AND YOUR BREATHING RATE (HOW HARD YOU ARE BREATHING). SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS: PROVIDE CLEAN AIR FROM A PORTABLE AIR TANK WHEN THE AIR AROUND YOU IS SIMPLY TOO DANGEROUS TO BREATHE. ALL OF THESE RESPIRATORS (EXCEPT FOR THE "DUST MASKS" OR FILTERING FACE PIECES) ARE AVAILABLE IN EITHER HALF-MASK OR FULL-FACE PIECES.

ANATOMY OF A RESPIRATOR

MANDATORY VS. VOLUNTARY MANDATORY (TRAINING, FIT TESTING, MEDICAL CLEARANCE) REQUIRED BY THE EMPLOYER (COMPANY POLICY) REQUIRED BY OSHA STANDARD (ASBESTOS/LEAD ABATEMENT) TO REDUCE AN EXPOSURE TO BELOW THE PEL VOLUNTARY NOT REQUIRED BY EMPLOYER WHEN PELS ARE NOT EXCEEDED CARTRIDGE STYLE RESPIRATORS – MEDICAL CLEARANCE STILL NEEDED APPENDIX D

APPENDIX D RESPIRATORS ARE EFFECTIVE ONLY WHEN PROPERLY SELECTED AND WORN. IMPROPERLY USED OR DIRTY RESPIRATORS MAY BE A HAZARD. READ AND HEED ALL INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER ON USE, MAINTENANCE, CLEANING AND CARE, AND WARNINGS REGARDING THE RESPIRATORS LIMITATIONS. CHOOSE RESPIRATORS CERTIFIED FOR USE TO PROTECT AGAINST THE CONTAMINANT OF CONCERN. NIOSH, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CERTIFIES RESPIRATORS. A LABEL OR STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION SHOULD APPEAR ON THE RESPIRATOR OR RESPIRATOR PACKAGING. IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE RESPIRATOR IS DESIGNED FOR AND HOW MUCH IT WILL PROTECT YOU. DO NOT WEAR YOUR RESPIRATOR INTO ATMOSPHERES CONTAINING CONTAMINANTS FOR WHICH YOUR RESPIRATOR IS NOT DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST. FOR EXAMPLE, A RESPIRATOR DESIGNED TO FILTER DUST PARTICLES WILL NOT PROTECT YOU AGAINST GASES, VAPORS, OR VERY SMALL SOLID PARTICLES OF FUMES OR SMOKE. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR RESPIRATOR SO THAT YOU DO NOT MISTAKENLY USE SOMEONE ELSE'S RESPIRATOR.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION THE FIRST PRIORITY IS ALWAYS TO REDUCE EXPOSURES BY CONTROLLING THE SOURCE, NOT WEARING A RESPIRATOR. IF YOU THINK THAT YOUR JOB EXPOSES YOU TO AN INHALATION HAZARD, THAT EXPOSURE CAN BE MEASURED BY EHS. REQUESTS FOR EXPOSURE MONITORING, OR QUESTIONS ABOUT RESPIRATORS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO KEN MIXON @ EHS.

PPE: HEAD AND FOOT PROTECTION HEAD PROTECTION SHALL BE WORN WHILE WORKING IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO THE HEAD FROM FALLING OBJECTS FOOT PROTECTION SHALL BE WORN WHILE WORKING IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS A DANGER OF FOOT INJURIES DUE TO FALLING OR ROLLING OBJECTS, OR OBJECTS PIERCING THE SOLE, OR WHEN THE USE OF PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR WILL PROTECT THE EMPLOYEE FROM AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD

PPE: HEARING PROTECTION HOW DOES THE EAR WORK? WHEN SOUND WAVES ENTER THE OUTER EAR, THE VIBRATIONS IMPACT THE EAR DRUM AND ARE TRANSMITTED TO THE MIDDLE AND INNER EAR. IN THE MIDDLE EAR THREE SMALL BONES CALLED THE MALLEUS (OR HAMMER), THE INCUS (OR ANVIL), AND THE STAPES (OR STIRRUP) AMPLIFY AND TRANSMIT THE VIBRATIONS GENERATED BY THE SOUND TO THE INNER EAR. THE INNER EAR CONTAINS A SNAIL-LIKE STRUCTURE CALLED THE COCHLEA WHICH IS FILLED WITH FLUID AND LINED WITH CELLS WITH VERY FINE HAIRS. THESE MICROSCOPIC HAIRS MOVE WITH THE VIBRATIONS AND CONVERT THE SOUND WAVES INTO NERVE IMPULSES–THE RESULT IS THE SOUND WE HEAR. EXPOSURE TO LOUD NOISE CAN DESTROY THESE HAIR CELLS AND CAUSE HEARING LOSS!

WHAT IS NOISE? NOISE AND VIBRATION ARE BOTH FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PRESSURE OF AIR (OR OTHER MEDIA) WHICH AFFECT THE HUMAN BODY. VIBRATIONS THAT ARE DETECTED BY THE HUMAN EAR ARE CLASSIFIED AS SOUND. WE USE THE TERM 'NOISE' TO INDICATE UNWANTED SOUND. NOISE AND VIBRATION CAN HARM WORKERS WHEN THEY OCCUR AT HIGH LEVELS, OR CONTINUE FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR JOB MAY BE TOO NOISY? NOISE MAY BE A PROBLEM IN YOUR WORKPLACE IF: YOU HEAR RINGING OR HUMMING IN YOUR EARS WHEN YOU LEAVE WORK. YOU HAVE TO SHOUT TO BE HEARD BY A COWORKER AN ARM'S LENGTH AWAY. YOU EXPERIENCE TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS WHEN LEAVING WORK.

HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD? OSHA SETS LEGAL LIMITS ON NOISE EXPOSURE IN THE WORKPLACE. THESE LIMITS ARE BASED ON A WORKER'S TIME WEIGHTED AVERAGE OVER AN 8 HOUR DAY. WITH NOISE, OSHA'S PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL) IS 90 DBA FOR ALL WORKERS FOR AN 8 HOUR DAY. THE EFFECT OF NOISE ON HUMAN HEARING IS DEPENDENT UPON: NOISE INTENSITY (HOW LOUD) FREQUENCY OF NOISE (PITCH) DURATION OF EXPOSURE (HOW LONG)

COMMON SOUNDS MAY BE LOUDER THAN YOU THINK:

TYPES OF HEARING LOSS TEMPORARY AFTER EXPOSURE TO HIGH NOISE LEVEL NORMAL HEARING RESTORED AFTER ABOUT 16 HOURS PERMANENT OCCURS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME OCCURS WHEN TEMPORARY LOSSES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECOVER BETWEEN EXPOSURES

SELECTION OF HEARING PROTECTION HEARING PROTECTION CAN: PROVIDES BARRIER BETWEEN NOISE SOURCE AND HEARING ORGANS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE RISK OF HEARING LOSS DUE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE EXPOSURE REQUIRED WHEN DAILY NOISE EXPOSURE EXCEEDS 90 DECIBELS, AVERAGED OVER 8 HOURS HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES ARE SELECTED ACCORDING TO: EMPLOYEE COMFORT LEVEL OF NOISE EXPOSURE NRR OF DEVICE TYPE OF WORK BEING PERFORMED ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

TYPES OF HEARING PROTECTION EAR MUFFS FOAM INSERT EARPLUGS SEMI-AURAL EARPLUGS HEAD PHONES ARE NOT HEARING PROTECTION

EAR MUFFS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES MORE PROTECTION AT HIGHER HIGHER COST FREQUENCIES THAN EYE GLASSES CAN INTERFERE EARPLUGS WITH EAR MUFF SEAL VARIOUS NRRS AVAILABLE MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN HOT ENVIRONMENTS DURABLE, LONG LASTING CAN BE FITTED ON HARD HAT MUST BE CLEANED BEFORE USE BY ANOTHER WORKER REUSABLE

FOAM INSERT EARPLUGS ADVANTAGES MORE PROTECTION AT LOWER FREQUENCIES THAN MUFFS VARIOUS NRRS AVAILABLE INEXPENSIVE; DISPOSABLE CAN BE CUSTOM MOLDED FOR INDIVIDUAL WORKER REUSABLE PLUGS ARE AVAILABLE DISADVANTAGES HANDS MUST BE CLEANED BEFORE INSERTING EARPLUGS IMPROPER INSERTION REDUCES NRR VALUE

SEMI-AURAL CAPS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES VARIOUS NRRS AVAILABLE IMPROPER INSERTION REDUCES EFFECTIVENESS EASY TO INSERT MAY BE USED SEVERAL TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN EAR PLUGS IDEAL FOR PEOPLE GOING IN TYPICALLY HAVE LOWER NRRS AND OUT OF NOISY AREAS THAN PLUGS OR MUFFS

AUDIOMETRIC TESTING MONITORS EMPLOYEE’S HEARING OVER TIME BASELINE AUDIOGRAM MUST BE PERFORMED WITHIN FIRST 6 MONTHS OF WORK EXPOSURE ( 8 HOUR TWA 85 DBA) ANNUAL AUDIOGRAMS ARE REQUIRED EACH YEAR AFTER BASELINE AUDIOGRAM EMPLOYER MUST PAY FOR THE COST OF EACH REQUIRED AUDIOGRAM

WHY DO AUDIOMETRIC TESTING? OBTAIN A BASELINE AUDIOGRAM FOR FUTURE COMPARISON IDENTIFY OCCUPATIONAL HEARING LOSS IDENTIFY STANDARD THRESHOLD SHIFTS (STS)

HEARING CONSERVATION TRAINING THE EFFECTS OF NOISE EXPOSURE ON HEARING THE PURPOSE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT’S HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM THE PROPER SELECTION AND USE OF HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES THE PURPOSE OF AUDIOMETRIC TESTING WHO IS SUBJECT TO AUDIOMETRIC TESTING NEW EMPLOYEES TEST WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF HIRE