PPEPersonal Protective Equipment

Establishing a PPE Programo Sets out procedures for selecting, providing, and

using PPE as part of an employer’s routine operation

o First: Assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of PPE (Hazard Assessment)

o Once the proper PPE has been selected, the employer must provide training to each employee who is required to use PPE

Training

When PPE is necessary What type of PPE is necessary How to properly put on, take off, adjust, and wear

assigned PPE Limitations of the PPE Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal

Employees required to use PPE must be trained to know at least the following:

Examples of PPE Eye - Safety Glasses, Goggles Face - Face Shields Head - Hard Hats Feet - Safety Shoes Hands and Arms - Gloves Bodies - Vests, Aprons Hearing - Earplugs, Earmuffs

Eye Protection

What are some of the causes of eye injuries? Dust and other flying particles, such as metal shavings

or sawdust Molten metal that might splash Acids and other caustic liquid chemicals that might

splash Blood and other potentially infectious body fluids that

might splash, spray, or splatter Intense light such as that created by welding and lasers

Safety Spectacles• Made with metal/plastic safety frames

• Nearly all operations require side shields

• Used to protect against moderate impacts from particles produced by such jobs as carpentry, woodworking, grinding, and scaling

Eyeglass lens punctured by flying object

Goggles Protect eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area

immediately surrounding the eyes from impact, dust, and splashes.

Some goggles fit over corrective lenses.

Welding Shields

Laser Safety Goggles• Protect against intense

electromagnetic radiation

Face Shields• Protect the face from nuisance dusts and potential

splashes, or sprays of hazardous liquids.• They are not designed to be the sole protection from

impact hazards.• Face shields must be used in conjunction with safety

glasses or goggles to adequately protect the eyes.

Wearing Eye Protection

Always choose the eye protection that provides adequate protection from the hazards in an area, and is comfortable and easy to maintain.

Safety glasses ARE NOT designed to protect the eyes from liquid splashes or dusts.

Chemical splash goggles ARE designed to protect the eyes from liquid splashes or dusts.

Always clean protective eyewear after each use, or whenever vision is obscured.

Only eye protection meeting the ANSI Z87.1-1989 standard (and so marked) are approved for use where flying particles or objects is concern.

Safety glasses (either prescription or non-prescription) must have affixed side shields.

Head Protection

What are some of thecauses of head injuries?• Falling objects.

• Bumping head against fixed objects, such as exposed pipes or beams.

• Contact with exposed electrical conductors.

Classes of Hard HatsClass A General service (e.g., mining, building construction,

shipbuilding, lumbering, and manufacturing) Good impact protection but limited voltage protectionClass B Electrical work Protect against falling objects and high-voltage

shock and burnsClass C Designed for comfort, offer limited protection Protects heads that may bump against fixed objects,

but do not protect against falling objects or electrical shock

Wearing a Hard Hat

Adjust internal web support so that it fits snugly about the head without causing discomfort.

The hard hat should not fall off the head when the head is tilted forward or back.

Foot Protection

What are some of thecauses of foot injuries?

• Heavy objects, such as barrels or tools, that might roll or fall onto employees’ feet

• Sharp objects such as nails or spikes that might pierce the soles or uppers of ordinary shoes

• Molten metal that might splash on feet• Hot or wet surfaces• Slippery surfaces

Safety Shoes

Some have metal insoles to protect against puncture wounds

May be designed to be electrically conductive for use in explosive atmospheres, or nonconductive to protect from workplace electrical hazards

Have impact-resistant toes and heat-resistant soles that protect against hot surfaces common in roofing, paving, and hot metal industries

Metatarsal Guards

Wearing Foot Protection

Choose safety shoes or work boots that properly fit your feet.

Make sure that laces are not too long and that they are kept tied at all times to prevent them becoming entangled in machinery, snagging on objects, or creating a trip hazard.

If overboots are worn, make sure that they are the proper size and that they are put on before entering the work area.

Hand Protection

What are some of the hand injuries you need to guard against?

• Burns• Bruises• Abrasions• Cuts• Punctures• Fractures• Amputations• Chemical Exposures

Norfoil laminate resists permeation and breakthrough by an array of toxic/hazardous chemicals.

Butyl Rubber provides the highest permeation resistance to gasoline vapors; frequently used for ketones (M.E.K., Acetone) and esters (Amyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate).

Types of Gloves

Viton is highly resistant to permeation by chlorinated and aromatic solvents.

Nitrile provides protection against a wide variety of solvents, harsh chemicals, fats, and petroleum products, and also provides excellent resistance to cuts, snags, punctures, and abrasions.

Types of Gloves (cont’d)

Kevlar protects against cuts, slashes, and abrasion.

Stainless Steel Mesh protects against cuts and lacerations.

Types of Gloves (cont’d)

How to Remove Gloves

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How to Remove Gloves3

4

Wearing Hand Protection Always check to make sure that the hand protection

is free of damage or degradation before placing on hands.

Choose hand protection that is the proper size, and designed to protect against the hazards in the work area.

Avoid touching the outside of contaminated gloves when removing.

Do not reuse disposable gloves. Refer to the OCC Personal Protective Equipment

Program for additional guidance and resources on choosing the proper hand protection for the job.

PROPER CLOTHING & DRESS IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES

Coming from and going into your work location, ensure you have the proper and adequate clothing and PPE.

Body Protection

What are some of thecauses of body injuries?• Intense heat• Splashes of hot metals and other hot liquids• Impacts from tools, machinery, and materials• Cuts• Hazardous chemicals• Contact with potentially infectious materials, such as

blood• Radiation

Special Clothing

Aprons Coveralls (Chemical Resistant, etc.) High Visibility Vests Welding

Welder’s apron/smock

Body Protection

Coveralls Full Body Suit

Cooling Vest

Sleeves and Apron

Body Protection

Hearing Protection

Earmuffs Earplugs Canal Caps

Examples of Hearing Protection

Wearing Hearing Protection

Choose hearing protection that offers the greatest degree of noise reduction, but is still comfortable and will not interfere with work.

Keep hearing protection clean. Clean all hearing protection after each use.

Inspect hearing protection for damage or degradation prior to use.

Wearing Hearing Protection (cont’d) Earmuffs

Grasp each cup and place them over each ear. Adjust the supporting band and cup position until a good

seal is achieved. Glasses will interfere with the seal and reduce the effectiveness of the hearing protection.

The supporting band on some models may be worn above, below, or behind the head. Best noise reduction is usually with the band above the head.

Remove by grasping each cup and pulling away from the head.

Wearing Hearing Protection (cont’d) Earplugs

Earplugs typically provide the greatest noise reduction and comfort.

Non-foam earplugs should be inserted by grasping the top of the ear using the opposite hand and gently pulling back and up to widen the ear canal prior to inserting the earplugs.

Foam earplugs are rolled between the thumb and fingers to compress them prior to insertion using the same procedure as non-foam earplugs.

Remove earplugs slowly to prevent discomfort or irritation. Do not use earplugs if you have an ear infection (use earmuffs

instead). Discard disposable earplugs when no longer needed. Clean and

disinfect reusable earplugs prior to reuse.

Wearing Hearing Protection (cont’d) Canal Caps

Less effective at reducing noise levels than earmuffs or earplugs, but are typically more comfortable than either, especially if individual preferences, health issues, or work conditions restrict usage of earmuffs or earplugs.

Place each canal cap plug over the opening to the ear canal and adjust the supporting strap until a good seal is achieved.

Many canal caps can be worn with the supporting strap above, below, or behind the head. The best noise reduction is typically achieved with the supporting strap above the head.

To remove, simply grasp each plug and pull them away from the ears.

Clean and disinfect canal caps after each use.

Respirators Covered by the OCC

Respiratory Protection Program training.

Examples include: Escape Air Purifying Respirators Supplied Air Respirators

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Fall Protection Covered in greater detail in

the OCC Fall Protection Program training

Includes personal fall arrest harnesses, restraints, and tethers.

• Assess the workplace for hazards• Use engineering and work practice controls to

eliminate or reduce hazards before using PPE• Select appropriate PPE to protect employees from

hazards that cannot be eliminated • Inform employees why the PPE is necessary and

when it must be worn• Train employees how to use and care for their PPE

and how to recognize deterioration and failure• Require employees to wear selected PPE in the

workplace

Employers must implement a PPE program where they:

Remember,Remember, PPE is the PPE is the lastlast line of defense! line of defense!

EmployersEmployers Must protect Must protect employees from workplace hazardsemployees from workplace hazards

EmployeesEmployees Must protect Must protect themselves by WEARING PPEthemselves by WEARING PPE