Personal Protective Equipment

Nera Mae A. Puyo 2010-79080

Hazards in the workplace

Workers involved in a wide range of occupations are exposed to a significant risk of death or injury from being struck by various objects in the workplace. Two major factors causing these injuries have been identified: Personal protective equipment was not being worn the vast majority of the time; and, When some type of protective equipment was worn, it did not fully protect the worker. For example One study indicated that 70% of the workers experiencing hand injuries were not wearing gloves. Hand injuries to the remaining 30% of the workers who were wearing gloves were caused by the gloves being either inadequate, damaged, or the wrong type for the type of hazard present.

In the Philippines

The highest recorded cause of the 20,386 work-related injuries in 2007 was stepping on, striking against or struck by object, excluding falling objects which accounted for 6,167 cases (30.3%). Caught in or between objects and struck by falling objects were second and third with 19.3% (3,943) and 10.2% (2,088) shares, respectively.

Personal Protective Equipment Standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) regulation, 29 CFR 1910.132-138, which requires that employers must establish and administer an effective personal protective equipment (PPE) program for employees.

Personal Protective Equipment

is a general term encompassing a wide variety of clothing and equipment designed to protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards (OSHA) The need for PPE and the type of PPE used is based on hazard present; each situation must be evaluated independently PPE is used as a last resort .

Hierarchy of Hazard Controls

Engineering Controls Administrative Controls Personal Protective Equipment

Workplace Hazard Control

If
The machine or work environment can be physically changed to prevent employee exposure to the potential hazard, Then.. The hazard can be eliminated with engineering controls

Such as design (remove hazard from the process) substitution (of less hazardous materials) process modification (how and where) isolate the source of the hazard wet methods for dust reduction local exhaust ventilation (at source) dilution ventilation (area) install physical barrier to the source use sound-absorbing or vibration-damping materials attach guards to machines perform machine maintenance

Workplace Hazard Control

If
Employees can be removed from exposure to the potential hazard by changing the way they do their jobs, Then.. The hazard can be eliminated with administrative control Such as training programs screening of potential employees work schedule of planned rotation of workers monitoring the environment and monitoring the workers operating in it

Workplace Hazard Control

If
The hazard cannot be eliminated by engineering and administrative controls, Then Make use of personal protective equipment or PPE Such as safety glasses, goggles face shields hard hats safety shoes gloves vests earplugs, earmuffs

Uses of PPE

Eye and Face Protection

From 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 Toxic gases and vapors Blood and other potentially infectious body fluids that might splash, spray, or splatter Intense light such as that created by welding and lasers

Face shield

goggles

Safety glasses

Welding helmet

Uses of PPE

Respiratory Protection
From Harmful materials or airborne contaminants that may enter the body through inhalation Toxic fumes Irritating dust

Air Purifying Respirators (APR)

Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR)

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Employees should not wear a respirator unless they have been medically cleared to do so!

This clearance may take the form of a questionnaire, physical examination, pulmonary function testing, chest X-Ray, or a combination of the above

Why?

Respirators put additional resistance against the respiratory system of the wearer. Persons with undiagnosed respiratory system or cardiovascular problems could trigger a serious medical problem (respiratory distress, asthma, heart attack, etc.) by using a respirator.

Uses of PPE

Hearing Protection
From Exposure to high noise levels

Ear muffs

Canal caps

Ear plugs

Uses of PPE

Head Protection
From Falling objects Bumping head against fixed objects, such as exposed pipes or beams Contact with exposed electrical conductors Splashes, spills, and drips of toxic liquids

Class A - protect you from falling objects - protect you from electrical shocks up to 2,200 volts Class B - protect you from falling objects - protect you from electrical shocks up to 20,000 volts Class C - protect you from falling objects - DO NOT protect you from electrical shocks - DO NOT protect you from corrosive substances Bump caps - protect you from bumping your head from protruding objects

Uses of PPE

Arm and Hand Protection

From Burns Bruises Abrasions Cuts Punctures Friction Fractures Amputations Chemical Exposures Extreme temperatures

Norfoil

Stainless steel mesh Kevlar

Viton Nitrile Butyl

Uses of PPE

Foot and Leg Protection

From Heavy objects such as barrels or tools that might roll onto or fall on 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 Extremes in cold, heat, and moisture Slippery surfaces Electrical shocks

Steel toe

Metatarsal Reinforced sole Latex/rubber

Uses of PPE

Body Protection
From Intense heat Splashes of hot metals and other hot liquids Impacts from tools, machinery, and materials Cuts Hazardous chemicals Contact with potentially infectious materials, like blood Radiation

Apron and sleeves

Coveralls Full body suits

Establishing a PPE Program

Assess the workplace for hazards Use engineering or administrative controls to eliminate or reduce hazards before using PPE Select appropriate PPE to protect employees from hazards that cannot be eliminated Inform employees why 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

A True Story
Thirteen years ago, Barry Weatherall was working at a plumbing and heating company in Red Deer, Alta. He was healthy and had full use of his vision until a chemical explosion at work left him in the dark, literally. Today, Weatherall tells his story to thousands of workers across Canada in the hope of preventing them from suffering the same fate. He is working with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) as the lead facilitator for its Industrial Safety Program, a 90-minuteinteractive workshop on eye safety in the workplace. Our safety committee, has just finished rolling out a plant-wide change to our safety glasses policy. Not all of our areas in the plant required the use of safety glasses, but after a review and the workshop, the joint health and safety committee made a recommendation to management to change our policy. - Tanya Ducharme, Environmental Health and Safety Manager Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.