Personal Protective Equipment
INSY 3020/ENH670
Spring 2007
Why do PPE Assessments?

Required by OSHA Standard 1910.132
– The employer shall assess the workplace to
determine if hazards are present or likely to be
present
– Employer shall verify that the required hazard
assessment has been performed through a
written certification.

Hazards are typically present!
Objectives of a PPE Assessment
Discover hazards in the workplace
 Determine who is at risk
 Provide appropriate PPE
recommendations

When to use PPE?
When engineering or administrative
controls can not control hazards.
 Types of hazards may include:

impact
penetration
compression
chemical
heat
dust
electrical
radiation
Sources of Hazards
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Sources of Motion (machinery, vehicles)
Sources of Temperature Extremes
Chemical Exposure (splashing)
Sources of Harmful Dust (sand blasting)
Sources of Light Radiation (welding)
Sources of Falling Objects (construction)
Sources of Sharps Objects (tools)
Sources of Rolling or Pinching Objects (tools)
Regulatory & Other Standards
OSHA Standard - 1910.132

The Employer shall provide PPE wherever needed
when hazards are present which may cause injury.
– Eye and Face Protection
» OSHA 1910.133
– Respiratory Protection
» OSHA 1910.134
– Head Protection
» OSHA 1910.135
– Foot Protection
» OSHA 1910.136
– Hand Protection
» OSHA 1910.138
Regulatory & Other Standards

ANSI Standards for PPE, equipment
must had ANSI rating
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Eye and Face Protection
Head Protection
Foot Protection
Gloves
(ANSI Z87.1-1989)
(ANSI Z89.1-1986)
(ANSI Z41.1-1991)
(None)
Types of PPE Covered by a PPE
Assessment
Arm and Hand Protection
 Body Protection
 Eye and Face Protection
 Foot Protection
 Head Protection

Hazards usually not addressed in
a general PPE assessment
 Noise
 Blood-borne
pathogens
 Respiratory Protection Needs
 Confined Spaces
 Hazard Waste/Emergency Response
Examples of Healthcare Related PPE
Findings

Hand Protection
Dental
Cleaning Sharp
Contaminated
Instruments
Using Hazardous Chemicals
Laboratory
Liquid Nitrogen
Maintenance
Arc and Gas Welding
Hand PPE

Appropriate protection shall be used to protect
from:
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–
–
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–
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Absorption of harmful substances
Severe cuts
Lacerations
Abrasions
Punctures
Chemical Burns
Thermal Burns
Harmful Temperature Extremes
Hand PPE Selection
Disposable
Light-weight plastic, can help guard
against mild irritants
Rubber
For insulating gloves and sleeves from
electrical hazards (must meet ANSI
standard)
Fabric
To improve the workers grip when handling
slippery objects. They also help insulate hands
from mild heat or cold
Leather
Guard
against injuries from sparks or
scraping against rough surfaces.
They are also used in combination with an
insulated liner when working with electricity
Hand PPE Selection (cont.)
Metal
Mesh
Protect hands from accidental cuts and
scratches. They are used most
commonly by persons working with
cutting tools or other sharp instruments
Aluminized
Designed to insulate hands from
intense heat. These gloves are most
commonly used by persons working
molten materials.
Chemical
These gloves may be made of rubber,
neoprene, polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl,
etc. The gloves protect hands from
corrosives, oils, solvents.
Resistant
Eye and Face Protection
Thousands of people are blinded each
year from work-related eye injuries.
According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), nearly three out of
five workers are injured while failing
to wear eye and face protection.
OSHA Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
OSHA Standards
Training and Qualifications
Criteria for PPE
Contacts and Prescription (Rx)
Lenses
Protecting Employees from
Workplace Hazards
Training and Qualification
1910.132(f), Employees shall be trained to know at least the following:

When PPE is necessary

What PPE is necessary

How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE

The limitations of the PPE

The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE
Training and Qualification
Retraining is required, but not limited to, the following
situations:
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Changes in the workplace
Changes in the types of PPE to be used
Inadequacies in an affected employee’s
knowledge or use of assigned PPE
indicate that the employee has not
retained the requisite understanding or
skill
PPE Requirements
Eye and face protection must comply with the American
National Standards Institute, ANSI Z87.1-1989 if
purchased after July 5, 1994, or ANSI Z87.1-1968 if
purchased before July 5, 1994.
• 1910.133(b)(1)
• 1915.153(b)
• 1926.102(a)
Contacts and Rx Lenses
Employers must ensure that
employees who wear prescription
(Rx) lenses or contacts use PPE
that incorporates the prescription or
use eye protection that can be worn
over prescription lenses.
•
1910.133(a)(3)
•
1915.153(a)(3)
•
1926.102(a)(3)
Protecting Employees from
Workplace Hazards
Employees must be provided
with eye and face protection
equipment when machines or
operations present potential
eye or face injury from
physical, chemical, or
radiation agents.
[1926.102(a)(1)]
Protecting Employees from
Workplace Hazards
PPE devices alone should not be
relied on to provide protection
against hazards, but should be
used in conjunction with guards,
engineering controls, and sound
manufacturing practices.
(1910 Subpart I Appendix B)
Hazard Assessment
Hazard Type
Hazard Type
Common related tasks
Impact
Flying objects such as large
chips, fragments, particles,
sand, and dirt.
Chipping, grinding, machining, masonry
work, wood working, sawing, drilling,
riveting, sanding, etc.
Heat
Anything emitting extreme
heat.
Furnace operations, pouring, casting, hot
dipping, welding, etc.
Chemicals
Splash, fumes, vapors, and
irritating mists.
Acid and chemical handling, degreasing,
plating, and working with blood.
Harmful dust.
Woodworking, buffing, and general dusty
conditions.
Radiant energy, glare, and
intense light
Welding, torch-cutting, -brazing,
-soldering, and laser work.
Dust
Optical
Radiation
Impact Hazards: Safety Spectacles
Safety spectacles are intended to shield
the wearer's eyes from impact hazards
such as flying fragments, objects, large
chips, and particles.
Workers are required to use eye safety
spectacles with side shields when there is
a hazard from flying objects.
1910.133(a)(2)
1915.153(a)(2)
Impact Hazards: Safety Goggles
Safety goggles are intended to shield
the wearer's eyes from impact hazards
such as flying fragments, objects,
large chips, and particles.
Goggles fit the face immediately
surrounding the eyes and form a
protective seal around the eyes. This
prevents objects from entering under
or around the goggles.
Impact Hazards: Face Shields
Face shields are intended to protect
the entire face, or portions thereof,
from impact hazards such as flying
fragments, objects, large chips, and
particles.
When worn alone, face shields do not
protect employees from impact
hazards. Use face shields in
combination with safety spectacles or
goggles for additional protection.
Heat Hazards: Safety Spectacles
Safety spectacles with side shields are
used as primary protection to shield
the eyes from heat hazards.
To adequately protect the eyes and
face from high temperature exposure,
use safety spectacles in combination
with a heat-reflective face shield.
Heat Hazards: Safety Goggles
Safety goggles are used as primary
protection to shield the eyes from heat
hazards. Goggles form a protective
seal around the eyes, preventing
objects or liquids from entering under
or around the goggles. This is
especially important when working
with or around molten metals that may
splash.
Heat Hazards: Face Shields
Heat-reflective and wire-screen face
shields are intended to shield the
entire face from a range of heat
hazards.
Face shields are considered secondary
protectors to be used in addition to
primary protection such as safety
spectacles or goggles.
Chemical Hazards: Safety Goggles
Safety goggles protect the eyes,
eye sockets, and the facial area
immediately surrounding the eyes
from a variety of chemical hazards.
Goggles form a protective seal
around the eyes, preventing objects
or liquids from entering under or
around the goggles.
Chemical Hazards: Face Shields
Face shields are intended to protect
the entire face from a variety of
chemical hazards.
All face shields are considered
secondary protection and must be
used in addition to safety goggles to
provide adequate protection.
Dust Hazards: Safety Goggles
Goggles form a protective seal
around the eyes, preventing
nuisance dust from entering under
or around the goggles. Ventilation
should be adequate, but well
protected from dust entry.
Optical Radiation: Filter Lenses
Wearing protection with the correct
filter shade number is required to
protect workers’ eyes from optical
radiation. When selecting PPE,
consider the type and degree of
radiant energy in the workplace.
•1910.133(a)(5) -General Industry
•1915.153 (a)(4) -Maritime
•1926.102(b)(1) -Construction
Optical Radiation: Welding
Welding helmets are secondary
protectors intended to shield the
eyes and face from optical
radiation, heat, and impact.
Use welding helmets in addition
to primary protection such as
safety spectacles or goggles to
provide adequate protection.
Optical Radiation: Lasers


Workers with exposure to laser
beams must be furnished suitable
laser safety goggles which will:
Protect for the specific wavelength
of the laser
Be of optical density adequate for
the energy involved
[1926.102(b)(2)]
Optical Radiation: Glare
Control Glare with:
 Special-Purpose Spectacles
that include filter or specialpurpose lenses to provide
protection against eye strain.
 Changes in your work area or
lighting
 Tinted eyeglass lenses or
visor-type shade
Eye and Face PPE

Protectors must meet the following minimum
requirements:
– Provide adequate protection against the particular
hazards for which they are designed;
– Be reasonably comfortable when worn under the
designated conditions;
– Fit snugly without interfering with the movements
or vision of the wearer;
– Be durable;
– Be capable of being disinfected;
– Be easily cleanable;
– Be kept clean and in good repair.
Use of Foot Protection

Steel-Reinforced Safety Shoes
– These shoes are designed to protect feet from common
machinery hazards such as falling or rolling objects,
cuts, and punctures
» The entire toe box and insole are reinforced with steel
» Instep is protected by steel, aluminum, or plastic materials.
» Safety shoes are also designed to insulate against temperature
extremes
» May be equipped with special soles to guard against slip,
chemicals, and/or electrical hazards.

Safety Boots
– Safety boots offer more protection when splash or spark
hazards (chemicals, molten materials) are present.
Examples of PPE
Adam

Body Protection
ER
Exposure to
patients
contaminated with
pesticides
Lab
Lab Coats
Shaman
Body Protection PPE
Scrubs, lab coats
 X-Ray Technicians, lead aprons (covered
under other guidelines)
 Extreme Temperatures
 Chemical Decontamination

Examples of PPE Findings

Head Protection
Maintenance
Settings
where things can fall on
someone (storage lofts) settings
with low piping, or other
protrusions (crawl spaces, tunnels,
HVAC areas)
Construction Zones
Head Protection PPE

Head Protection
– Type I: helmets with full brim, not less than 1 and
1/4 inches wide
– Type II: brimless helmets with a peak extending
forward from the crown
Head Protection
Type I Helmet
Type II Helmet
Electrical Protection Classes

Z89.1
• A - Low-voltage (2200 volts)
• B - High-voltage (20,000 volts)
• C - No electrical protection

Z89.1 – 1997
• General (2,200 Volts)
• Electrical (20,000 Volts)
• Conductive Not Tested
Hard Hat Selection
General
Mining, construction, shipbuilding, tunneling,
lumbering, and manufacturing
Electrical
Electrical workers
Conductive
Used
on occasions where there is a
possibility of bumping the head against a
fixed object
Certain construction and manufacturing
occupations, oil fields, refineries, and chemical
plants where there is no danger from electrical
hazards or corrosion
Assessment Process

Schedule PPE assessment

Opening and closing conference with
Department Leaders

Gather appropriate assessment team:
Safety Officer, EHS, Administration,
Department Leaders as needed.
Assessment Process (cont.)

Use an Assessment Form to collect data
Provide a Written Report, PPE
recommendations
 Assist in selection of PPE
 Follow-up surveys
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Follow-up Assessments
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JCAHO/OSHA Reviews

Hazard Surveillance Walk-through

As job processes or procedures are added
or modified, specific assessments should
be done
Care of PPE
Cleaning
 Storage
 Use

– The employee must know the limitations of
the clothing used.
Cleaning/Storage Issues
Cleaning/Storage Issues
Maintenance
Questions & Comments