hearing protection
eye and face protective equipment
whole-body coverings
gloves
foot protection
respiratory protection
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment (or PPE) refers to those items that can be worn to protect an individual from various hazards. PPE can refer to :
hearing protection
eye and face protective equipment
whole-body coverings
gloves
foot protection
respiratory protection
It should be kept in mind that personal protective equipment should only be used as a last resort; when engineering and administrative controls (i.e. work practices, protocols, and standard operating procedures) are insufficient to control the hazard.
PPE should not be relied upon to be your primary defense against chemical or other hazards.
PPE's can be used in conjunction with engineering controls and work practices to provide a higher level of protection.
While personal protective equipment can provide a barrier between personnel and a hazard, it can also be used to prevent contamination or the spread of hazardous materials to your home, office, and car.
The use of any personal protective equipment requires (29 CFR 1910.132) that a hazard analysis is performed before PPE's can be issued. The employer must verify that a written assessment was performed and documented along with a certifying evaluation. Any PPE selected must be appropriate and must comfortably fit the individual. The employer must provide employee training on :
when PPE is necessary
what PPE is appropriate
procedures for donning, doffing, adjusting, and wearing PPE
the limitations of the PPE
the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE.
Defective and damaged equipment must NOT be used. The employer must verify the employee's training and comprehension and the employee must demonstrate understanding and skill in using the personal protective equipment. The harmful effects that chemicals have on the body may require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The purpose of PPE is to shield and/or isolate the wearer from the chemicals that are present in the work area. An individual must understand the limits, proper use and care of PPE.
Workers entering a hazardous waste site must protect themselves against possible hazards. A careful selection and use of PPE should protect the respiratory system, skin, eyes, face, hands, feet, head, body and hearing.
PPE is not capable of protecting against all hazards. Therefore, PPE should be used with other protective methods. The use of PPE itself can create worker hazards, such as heat stress, physical and psychological stress and impaired vision, movement and communication. In general, the greater the level of PPE protection, the greater the associated risks. For any given situation, PPE should be an adequate level of protection. Overprotection can be hazardous and should be avoided.
The Environmental Protection Agency gives a complete list of protections.
Level A: Highest level of skin, eye and respirator protection
Level B: Highest level of self-contained respirator protection and second highest level of skin protection
Level C: Makes use of an air-purifying respirator and a recommended proper suit.
Level D: Provide no respiratory protection and minimal skin protection
Inspection of PPE:
An effective inspection program will feature five different inspections:
Inspection and operational testing of the equipment received from the factory
Inspection of the equipment as it is issued to the workers
Inspection after use or training and before maintenance
Periodic inspection of stored equipment
Periodic inspection when a question arises about the appropriateness of the selected equipment or when problems with similar equipment arise.
Each inspection will vary. Detailed inspection procedures are usually available from the manufacturer. Records must be kept of all inspection procedures. Individual ID numbers should be assigned to all reusable pieces of equipment and records should be maintained by that number. Each inspection should record at least the ID number, date, inspector and ant unusual conditions or findings. A review of these records may indicate an item with high maintenance costs or a high level of "downtime".
Storage:
Clothing and respirators must be stored properly. This will prevent damage or malfunction due to the exposure of dust, moisture, sunlight, damaging chemicals, extreme temperatures and impact. Procedures must be specified for pre-use storage and post-use storage. Many equipment failures can be directly linked to improper storage.
Maintenance:
The following are ways to maintain the life of the suit:
Possibly contaminated clothing should be stored in an area separate from street clothing
Possibly contaminated clothing should be stored in well ventilated areas with good air flow around each item
Different levels of protective clothing and gloves should be stored separately to prevent issuing the wrong material by mistake
Protective clothing should be folded in accordance with the manufacturer's suggestions.
Program Review and Evaluation:
The PPE Program should be reviewed at least annually. The following should be considered in the review:
A survey of each site to ensure compliance with regulations specific to that site,
The number of actual hours that workers wear various protective equipment,
Accident and illness experience,
Levels of exposure,
Adequacy of equipment selection,
Adequacy of operational guidelines,
Adequacy of decontamination, cleaning, inspection, maintenance and storage programs,
Adequacy and effectiveness of training and fitting programs,
Coordination with overall safety and health program elements,
The degree of fulfillment of program objectives,
The adequacy of program records,
Recommendations for program improvement and modification,
Program cost.
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Last Update: March 31, 2000 |
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Prepared by : Serdar Z. Elgun |