Personal Protective Equipment

Definition

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes all clothing and other work accessories designed to create a barrier against workplace hazards. Examples include safety goggles, blast shields, hard hats, hearing protectors, gloves, respirators, aprons, and work boots.

PPE should not be used as a substitute for engineering, work practice, and/or administrative controls to prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals. For example, a respirator is not meant to be worn by an assembly line worker for 40 hours per day; other methods such as a ventilation system or replacement of hazardous substances/processes should be utilized. However, PPE can work in conjunction with such preventative measures or when such controls are not possible.

A walk through survey of work areas for the purpose of identifying sources of hazards to faculty, staff or students should be conducted routinely by departments. Basic categories that should be considered include but are not limited to: impact from flying objects, moving machinery or falling objects; penetration from sharp objects that can pierce the feet or cut hands, compression (roll over of loads or heavy materials), exposure to harmful dust or chemicals, exposure to high heat or temperature extremes, exposure to light (optical) radiation from welding operations or work with lasers and electrical hazards.

Some of the most important OSHA PPE regulations for those who work with chemicals include:

29 CFR 1910.132 PPE: General Requirements. Each employer must perform a written hazard assessment, select appropriate PPE to protect workers, and a maintain a written record indicating that all such employees have been properly trained in the following before performing any job task requiring PPE:

•When PPE is necessary.
•What PPE is necessary.
•How to properly put on, remove, adjust, and wear PPE.
•The limitations of the PPE.
•The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE.

The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. EYE and FACE PROTECTION

REQUIREMENTS
Eye and face protection (safety glasses, impact or chemical resistant goggles and faceshields) must meet ANSI Z87.1-1989. Safety glasses must have side shields. Prescription lenses are encouraged to be incorporated into ANSI certified safety glasses for those who are exposed to eye hazards for an extended part of the workday. Otherwise, ADDITIONAL eye protection must be worn over the person's prescription glasses. Eye and face hazards include but are not limited to the following examples:

Flying particles (e.g., fabrication work on stationary equipment, using power tools, sparks from welding, brazing and soldering operations)
Molten Metal (e.g., metal castings)
Liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids (e.g., lab experiments, housekeeping, battery servicing, boiler treatments, maintenance and repairs, spraypainting and pesticide applications)
Chemical gases or vapors (e.g., lab experiments or work processes)
Potentially injurious light radiation (e.g., welding, brazing or soldering operations)
Lasers

In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. Currently, there are no activities on the UIS campus that requires the use of a respirator. Click here for more info on respiratory protection.

Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.

REQUIREMENTS
Hands need to be protected with gloves if there is potential for exposure to the following types of hazards:

•Harmful Substances - Provide appropriate chemical resistant gloves to prevent chemical contact and skin absorption.
•Cuts and Lacerations - Provide cut resistant gloves.
•Abrasions - Provide leather or heavy cotton knit gloves.
•Temperature Extremes - Provide insulated gloves.
•Electrical Shock - Provide rubber insulated gloves and leather glove protectors. Ensure gloves are properly rated for the voltage. Rubber insulated sleeves, mats and tools may be necessary to prevent electrical shock from contact with energized conductors. NOTE: Only in limited circumstances and when personnel are authorized, would work be performed on or near energized conductors.

Other standards include item such as hearing protection, foot protection etc. Many of OSHA's other standards require the use of PPE. Departments must fund and provide personal protective equipment to their faculty, staff or student members if required based on the results of the Hazard Assessment Survey.

Departments must ensure personal protective equipment fits the person optimally to provide maximum protection. Departments must document and train personnel who are assigned personal protective equipment: when and how to use it, how to care for the equipment, equipment limitations and when to take it out of service. In addition, training must be provided for new personnel assigned to wear personal protective equipment or when personnel reassignments require personal protective equipment. Facility Services will assist departments with training requirements.

Departments must repeat Hazard Assessment Surveys for new equipment and processes or changes in existing equipment or processes. Ongoing Hazard Assessments of work areas and personnel is encouraged. This will promote safety by identifying potential hazards, ensuring good housekeeping and motivating personnel to wear and care for their personal protective equipment.

OSHA requires that MSDS's list information about appropriate PPE for each substance. Pay careful attention to these as not all PPE is appropriate at all times. For example, some gloves will do little to protect you from certain chemicals; see the glove selection guide links below for more information. Likewise, an organic vapor cartridge respirator will be useless at protecting you from an atmosphere deficient in oxygen.