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Landscaping PPE

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Related Work Activities

• Creating sharp flying debris

• Using a chainsaw

• Cutting or chipping concrete

• Using loud machinery

• Handling harmful chemicals

• Applying pesticides and other harmful chemicals

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Hazardous Conditions & Unsafe Acts

• Using a chainsaw without PPE;

• Cutting or chipping concrete without eye protection;

• Weed eating or mowing without hearing protection;

• Handling chemicals without skin protection;

• Spraying chemicals without respiratory protection.

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Potential Outcomes

• Hearing damage

• Eye puncture and damage

• Skin irritation

• Nose and throat irritation

• Lung disease

• Amputations

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Examples of PPE:– Eye (safety goggles, glasses)– Face (safety shields)– Head (hard hat)– Feet (safety shoes)– Hands and arms (gloves)– Hearing (earplugs, muffs)– Respiratory (respirators)

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Eye Protection

• Wear goggles or face shield around:– Flying chips or particles;– Electrical sparks;– Chemical gases or vapors;– Harmful light;– Fertilizer solutions, acids, pesticides, etc;– Dust– Swinging objects like ropes or chains

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Safety Glasses

• Made with metal/plastic frames

• Side shields may be needed

• Used for moderate impact particles

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Safety Goggles

• Protect the eyes from impacts, dust, and splashes.

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Eye Protection

• Goggles only provide eye protection, however face shields protect the whole face.

• Be certain the protective eyewear is approved against the hazard for which it is being used.

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Keeping Eyewear Clean

• Eyewear should be clean and defogged

• Clean lenses thoroughly with soap and water

• Disinfect eyewear that has been exposed to a hazardous substance or worn by someone else

• Store and clean eye wear in a closed, dustproof case (plastic bags).

• Discard pitted or scratched eyewear

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Additional Information

• Eye and Face Protection eTool

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Head Protection

• Hard hats protect the head on overhead objects and from falling or flying objects:– Working below other workers or machinery ,

such as a bucket lift.– Working in or under trees with work overhead– Working around or under conveyor belts– Working around exposed energized

conductors

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Hard Hats

• Wear hard hats made of slow burning, water-resistant molded plastic.– The hard outer shells resist blows and

penetration from above– Shock absorbing suspensions (headband

and straps) act as an impact barrier between hat and head

– Slow-burning materials protect against fires and electrical burns

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Levels of Hard Hat Protection

Class Level of Protection

A Resists impact and penetration

Provides limited resistance to electricity

B Resists impact and penetration

Provides high resistance to electricity

C Resists impact and penetration only

No resistance to electricity

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Hard Hat Inspection

• Inspect the hard hat before use– Look for:

• Headband stretched or worn• Headband fits comfortably• Shell is dented, cracked, or visibly damaged

– Check hard hat after use, if damaged, discard it– Wash the shell frequently with hot soapy water– Store hats in a cool, dry place

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Protecting Legs and Feet

• Legs and feet injuries:– Cuts from cutting equipment– Heavy objects that might fall on feet– Sharp objects such as nails or spikes– Hot or wet surfaces– Slippery surfaces

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Leg Protection

• Chainsaw chaps– Protect legs from injury when using tools such

as chainsaws.

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Foot Protection

• Safety shoes should be impact resistance with steel toes.

• Safety-toe shoes are nonconductive and prevent your feet from completing a circuit

• Shoes with good tread provide traction on slippery surfaces

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Hand Protection

• Gloves can protect hands and forearms from cuts, abrasions, burns, punctures, contact with hazardous chemicals, and electric shock

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Using Gloves

• Choosing the right glove for the job is important– Example: Choosing a cotton glove to work

with chemicals is a bad choice.

• Some situations are not appropriate for gloves such as working with moving machinery

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Levels of Glove ProtectionType of Glove

Level of Protection

Metal mesh/ Kevlar

Prevents cuts from sharp objects like blades, cutter bars.

Leather Handling stones or wood chips, sparks, moderate heat

Cotton fabric Dirt, splinters and abrasion; not for working with sharp materials

Rubber, vinyl neoprene

Protects from chemical being used or handled.

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Noise

• Noise in the workplace interferes with communication and disrupts concentration

• Sound is measured in decibels

• Noises of 85 decibels or greater affects your hearing if you work around it for eight hours a day.

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Noisy Workplaces

Noise Decibels

Conversational voices 60

Idling tractor 80

Conveyor 80

Diesel truck 90-95

Power lawn mower 90-95

One leaf blower 90-100

Power tools 100

Chain saws 110

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Hearing Protection

• When noise exposure cannot be controlled by either engineering controls, use hearing protection.

• Earmuffs and earplugs can reduce noise levels if used properly.

• It is a good idea to use hearing protection when average noise levels exceed 80 dB.

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Hearing Protection Devices

• Formable earplugs:– Spongy, soft compressed, or

shaped prior to insertion– Disposable-not for reuse

• Pre-molded ear plugs– Molded to fit ear

• Earmuffs– Adjustable headband with soft

cups that seal around the ear

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Protecting Yourself

• This worker is taking no chances when it comes to protecting himself from the hazards of hedge trimming.

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Protection for Pesticide Application

• Dermal exposure is the most common• PPE should be worn to reduce skin exposure

• Types of exposure when using pesticides:– Dermal – Getting pesticide on your skin– Oral – Swallowing pesticide– Inhalation – Breathing in pesticide– Ocular – Getting pesticide in the eyes

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What A Chemical Label Tells You

• The label on the pesticide includes:– The chemical formulation– Signal words: Warning, Caution– Precautions– PPE recommendations– Application method– Projected length of exposure

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Read the Label!

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Respiratory Protection

• Activities that may require respiratory PPE:– Handling and applying pesticides– Working around heavy dust in greenhouses– Working around mold– Spraying paint– Using solvents or other chemical irritants– Working around allergens

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Types of Respirators

• Three types of respirators for normal work activity:– Particulate respirator

• Use a filter to trap solid particles like dust or mold

– Gas/vapor respirators• Use a cartridge to absorb gases and vapors

– Combination respirators• Have a filter for particles and a cartridge for gas

and vapor

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Selecting a Respirator

• Particulate respirators– Type 95 = 95 %

efficient; appropriate for most dust, mold, or mist

– Type 97 = 97% efficient; higher level of protection

– Type 100 or HEPA = 99.7% efficient; used with highly toxic substances

• Gas/Vapor respirators– White = Acid gas – Black = Organic

vapors – Green = Ammonia gas – Yellow = Acid gas and

organic vapor – Olive Green = Multi-

gas combinations

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Dust Masks

NIOSH approval infoThis “dust mask” is not approved for respiratory protection.

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Fit Testing• Positive pressure test

– Block off the exhalation valve with the palm of your hand,

– Gently exhale, then hold it for 10 seconds, – Smile, then open your mouth.– A slight bulge and no air leaks is a proper fit.

• Negative pressure test– Place the palms of your hands over the

cartridge openings, and gently inhale, holding your breath for 10 seconds.

– Smile, then open your mouth. If the face-piece is collapsing slightly and you don't detect any air leaks, you have a proper fit.

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Cleaning and Storing Respirators• Respirators should be cleaned after each

use except disposable respirators or dust filter masks.

• Wash reusable face pieces and the inhalation and exhalation valves with a mild disinfecting soap. They should be rinsed and air dried before storing.

• Store clean, dry respirators in a zip-sealed plastic bag in a cool, dry cabinet specifically designated for storage.

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Respiratory Protection Program

• Your employer should have a written Respiratory Protection Program

• It includes:– When a respirator is required– Medical evaluations needed– How to select a respirator– How to use respirators

• Review your employers RPP

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Training

• Employees required to use PPE must be trained to know at least the following:• When PPE is necessary;• What type of PPE is necessary;• How to properly put on, take off, adjust, and

wear;• Limitations of the PPE;• Proper care, maintenance, useful life and

disposal.

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Additional Information

• Respiratory Protection eTool

• http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/respirators.pdf

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Summary• Using eye and face protection when debris is

flying around is recommended• Use head, leg, hand, and foot protection when

using a chainsaw• Use hearing protection when using noisy tools• Respiratory protection may be recommended

during certain job activities, check with chemical labels or your employer for details