Head-to-toe personal protection equipment

Personal protection equipment (PPE) is more comfortable, reliable and stylish than ever before. But it can’t do its job if it is relegated to the back of the toolbox or truck cab.

An effective safety and health program starts with a review of injury and illness records, then identifies ways to reduce hazards by changing how jobs are completed. If this isn’t feasible, training workers in the use of PPE becomes the last line of defense for hazard protection.

The program must outline how PPE is selected, used, and maintained. It must include worker training and be continually evaluated for its effectiveness in preventing employee injury or illness.

Excellent PPE training materials are available through PPE suppliers, distributors and on the World Wide Web. The information in this article is based on training materials presented at www.free-training.com, which offers great information on proper PPE selection, use and upkeep.

Save your eyesight
The National Society to Prevent Blindness reports that more than 1,000 eye injuries occur every day in the U.S. and 100,000 of these injuries result in vision loss every year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that three out of five workers who suffered an eye injury did not wear eye protection and, of those who did, 40 percent wore the wrong kind.

To help protect your eyes (and other body parts, for that matter), use the guards on tools and equipment. But even with guards, you still need to wear eye protection.

Safety glasses are the most common form of eye protection. They are more resistant to impact and heat than regular glasses, and are often equipped with side shields. A wide variety of lens coatings and styles are available; they must ANSI Z-87 standards.

Use goggles for protection from splashing liquids, fumes, vapors, powders, dusts and mists. Many types and styles are available; choose one that fits tightly to the face.

Use a face shield for full-face protection from molten metal, chemical splashes or flying particles. Use safety glasses or goggles when using a face shield because a face shield alone can’t fully protect eyes.

Clean eye protection equipment regularly. Use mild soap and water or special wipes designed to clean protective eyewear. Never use abrasive soaps, rough paper or cloth towels that can scratch lenses.

Respiratory protection can save your breath
Inhalation is the most common route of exposure to hazardous materials. Once lungs are damaged, they are more susceptible to respiratory disease. To select the correct respirator, you must answer these questions:
1. What is the contaminant?
2. In what form is it?
3. How toxic is it?
4. What is its concentration?
5. How long is the exposure?
6. Is the worker sensitive to it?
7. Does the worker  . . .
   wear glasses?
   have facial hair?
   wear dentures?
   need to wear other PPE?

Respirators must be inspected before each use. Look for cracks, chips or holes, worn or damaged straps or fittings, bent or corroded buckles and dirty or improperly seated valves. If anything is wrong with the respirator, repair or replace it.

Workers must complete a positive- and/or negative-pressure fit test to assure a proper fit every time they don their respirators.

For a positive-pressure test, the worker dons the unit and covers the valve with his or her hand, then breathes out slowly and holds it for 10 seconds. If it fits correctly, the face piece will bulge slightly. If no air leaks from the face piece, it is a good fit. If it leaks, adjust the head harness straps and repeat the test.

The negative-pressure test is completed in the same manner, but the worker inhales so the face piece collapses slightly. Hold for about 10 seconds; no air should leak in around the face piece. If it leaks, adjust the straps and repeat the test.

While working, monitor fit to assure it remains sealed. If the worker ever smells or tastes the contaminant, has difficulty breathing or becomes dizzy or sick, he or she must get out of the area immediately. It’s important to find out why the contaminant was able to penetrate the unit.

Replace the filter following manufacturer’s recommended service requirements; replace the respirator if it is damaged.

After respirator use, clean and inspect it. Look for cracks or chips and worn, frayed or damaged straps fittings or buckles. Check for improperly seated valves. If you find anything wrong with your respirator, repair or replace it immediately.

If the respirator won’t be used immediately, store it properly. Put it in a sealable plastic bag and keep it out of dust, sunlight, heat, extreme cold, moisture and damaging chemicals.

Head protection
Falling or flying objects can cause traumatic head injuries; so can falling or walking into hard objects. That’s why wearing a hard hat is so important.

Hard hats come in three classes. Select the class that matches your needs:

Class A: Offers protection from falling objects and electrical shocks up to 2,200 volts.

Class B: Offers protection from falling objects and electrical shocks up to 20,000 volts.

Class C: Offers protection from falling objects, but not from electrical shocks or caustic substances.

Bump caps aren’t classified. They offer protection from head bumps on protruding objects but have no suspension system and don’t provide falling object or electrical shock protection.

Never paint, scratch or drill air holes in a hard hat. Reflective plastic tape can be applied to the hard hat for better night visibility, but never use metal tape, which can conduct electricity.

Before putting on the hard hat, inspect it for cracks, gouges or dents and check the suspension system for frayed or broken straps. Have it repaired or replaced immediately if there are any signs of wear or damage.

Never carry personal belongings such as cigarettes, lighters or pens inside your hard hat.

Hard hats should be cleaned at least once a month. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions or soak it in mild soap and hot water for 10 minutes. Then rinse, wipe it down and let it air-dry.

Sunlight and heat can damage the hard hat’s suspension system, so store it in a clean, dry and cool location.

Jobsite noise: Say what?
Hearing protection devices (HPDs) should be worn whenever noise is 85 decibels or greater for an 8-hour period of time. (see related story on page 10.)

Many types of HPDs are available and each has advantages and disadvantages:

Foam and PVC earplugs are small and lightweight, comfortable in hot work areas and easily used with most safety equipment. Foam earplugs offer the most protection, but users must know how to insert them correctly. Replace them if they get soiled.

Earmuffs make it easy to see if workers are wearing hearing protection. Properly fitted earmuffs offer a comfortable fit if protection is needed for long periods. However, they can be uncomfortable in hot weather and sometimes can’t be used with other PPE.

Hearing protection should be stored in a clean, cool, dry place. PVC earplugs can be cleaned with a mild solution of soap and water, then rinsed and dried with a soft towel. If the earplugs are soiled, torn or stiff, replace them.

Before donning earmuffs, inspect them for cracks around the foam cups. If your earmuffs are damaged, have them repaired or replaced immediately.

Hand protection: Because 
you only have two of them
Almost 20 percent of all disabling accidents on the job involve hands hurt by traumatic injuries, dermal dangers or repetitive motions. Engineering controls such as machine guards and safety mechanisms are designed to protect your hands and fingers. Never remove these guards or bypass their safety mechanisms. Practice lockout/ tag-out procedures before putting your hands into machinery.

Good hygiene includes handwashing. Clean hands are less susceptible to infection and other skin problems.

Gloves can help protect your hands. Metal mesh gloves help prevent cuts and leather gloves shield your hands from rough surfaces. Use vinyl or neoprene gloves to protect your hands from toxic chemicals; use gloves rated for electrical work when working around electricity.

Padded cloth gloves can protect hands from sharp edges, slivers, dirt, and vibration; heat-resistant gloves can protect hands from heat and flames.

Make sure gloves fit properly. Replace when worn or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Because gloves are PPE, don’t lend or borrow them. Store gloves right-side-out in a clean, cool, dry and ventilated area.

Other hand and finger protection items to consider are forearm cuffs, thumb guards and finger cots, mittens or hand pads.

Foot protection
The human foot is rigid enough to support the weight of the entire body, yet flexible enough to take you anywhere you want to go. Feet face many dangers, so you should take steps to protect them.

There are many types of protective footwear. Steel-toed shoes and boots can protect toes from falling objects. Metatarsal footwear can protect the entire foot with special guards that run from the ankle to the toes. Look to footwear with metal-reinforced soles to protect the bottom of the foot from punctures. Use latex or rubber footwear for chemical resistance or traction on slippery surfaces.

Select the right kind of footwear for the job. Footwear should meet or exceed the ANSI Z41-1991 standard.

Avoid leather or cloth footwear if you work around caustic chemicals that can quickly penetrate the leather or cloth and injure your feet.

Select footwear that fits and always inspect it before use. Look for holes and cracks that might leak and replace footwear that is worn or torn.

After working with chemicals, rinse footwear completely before taking them off.

Like gloves, footwear is personal protective equipment, so avoid borrowing or lending it. Store footwear in a clean, cool, dry and ventilated area when not in use.

This article was published in the May/June 2002 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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