Personal
Protective
Equipment
Department of University Safety
& Assurances
www.safety.uwm.edu
US&A (v. 2/07)
Why PPE is Important
• Personal protective
equipment (PPE) is
designed to prevent or
lessen the severity of
injuries to workers.
• The employer must
assess the workplace
and determine what
hazards may necessitate
the use of PPE before
assigning PPE to
workers.
US&A (v. 2/07)
Topics of Discussion
• What is Included?
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Head
Eye
Face
Hearing
Respiratory
Protection
– Hands
– Foot
– Clothing
US&A (v. 2/07)
Head Protection
• Hardhats
• Helmets
US&A (v. 2/07)
How Hard Hats Protect You
• A rigid shell that resists and
deflects blows to the head;
• Suspension system inside
acts as a shock absorber
• Some hats serve as an
insulator against electrical
shocks
• Shields your scalp, face,
neck, and shoulders against
splashes, spills, and drips
• Some can be modified so you
can add face shields,
goggles, hoods or hearing
protection
US&A (v. 2/07)
Hardhat Inspection
• Shells should be inspected for dents, cracks,
gouges & any damage from impact, penetration,
abrasions, rough treatment or wear.
• Degradation of thermoplastic material may be
apparent when the shell becomes stiff, brittle,
faded, dull in color or chalky in appearance.
• Replace at the first sign of any of these
conditions
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PPE for Impact Hazards
• Safety Glasses: Primary
protectors intended to shield
the eyes from a variety of
impact hazards
• Goggles: Primary protectors
intended to shield the eyes
against flying fragments,
objects, large chips, and
particles.
• Face Shields: Secondary
protectors intended to protect
the entire face against
exposure to impact hazards
US&A (v. 2/07)
Eyewear
• Some models have
molded-in side shields
and brow-guard for
extra protection above
and around eyes
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Eyes: Goggles and Glasses
• Goggles
– Chemical Splash
– Impact
• Safety glasses
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Ventilated Goggles
• Ventilated goggles allow air circulation while providing
protection against airborne particles, dust, liquids or light.
Available with either Direct or Indirect ventilation
•
Direct ventilation goggles:
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US&A (v. 2/07)
Where strenuous work is
done in hot conditions,
'direct ventilation' goggles
may be more suitable.
However these are
unsuitable for protection
against chemicals, gases
and dust
Indirect Ventilation
•
Indirect ventilation
Goggles:
'Indirect ventilation'
goggles are not
perforated, but are fitted
with baffled ventilators
to prevent liquids and
dust from entering.
Indirect ventilation
goggles will not protect
against gas or vapor.
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Non-Ventilated Goggles
• Non-Ventilated
Goggles:
– Do not allow the passage of
air into the goggle
– Prevent splash entry
– May fog and require
frequent lens cleaning
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Faceshields
• DO NOT use any faceshield unless you
also wear suitable primary eye
protection devices (spectacles or
goggles).
• Faceshields are heavier & bulkier than
other types of eye protector but are
comfortable if fitted with an adjustable
head harness.
• Faceshields protect the face but do not
fully enclose the eyes and therefore do
not protect against dusts, mist or gases
– Transparent face shields must be
replaced when warped, scratched or
brittle with age
US&A (v. 2/07)
An Eye Saved by Safety Glasses
• While applying siding with an air powered staple gun, a
staple hit a metal plate behind the siding, ricocheted
back and one leg of the staple penetrated the wearer’s
safety glasses' lens
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EPA and ANSI
• EPA is responsible for
determining adequacy of
hearing protector
attenuation (NRR).
• EPA adopts ANSI’s
protocol for making the
determination
• ANSI has issued a new
protocol for the labeling
regulation for hearing
protectors that has yet
to be adopted by EPA
• EPA is collecting
information on revising
their labeling regulation
US&A (v. 2/07)
Hearing Protection
• Ear plugs
• Ear muffs
• Audiometric testing
• More information provided in
training on hearing
conservation
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Respirators
• A hazardous task
assessment may be
done to determine if
you need to wear a
respirator
• If you are required to
wear a respirator you
will be included in our
respiratory protection
program
• You must be medically
cleared to wear a
respirator
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Respirator Selection
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Respirators
• In addition to the
initial fit-test,
wearers must check
the seal of their
respirators every
time they put them
on
• User seal checks are
necessary to ensure
that the respirator
has been put on
correctly
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Dust Masks
• Only suitable for
non-hazardous,
non-respirable nuisance
dusts.
• If your employer provides
respirators for your voluntary
use, or if you provide your
own respirator, you need to
take certain precautions to be
sure that the respirator itself
does not present a hazard.
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Respirator Ratings
Many different types available
• “N” if they
are not
resistant to
oil
• “R” if
somewhat
resistant to
oil, and
• “P” if
strongly
resistant (oil
proof).
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Hood Respirators
Helmet or hood
respirators can be
effective in
protecting workers
with facial hair, or in
other applications
where conventional
respirators do not
provide adequate fit,
comfort or
protection.
HEPA filtered powered air
purifying respirator (PAPR)
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Why It’s Important
• It has been estimated that almost
20% of all disabling accidents on the
job involve the hands
• Some examples of traumatic injuries
to your hands:
– Cuts: Tools and machines with a sharp
edges
– Punctures: Staples, screwdrivers, nails,
chisels and stiff wire
– Sprains, Crushing Injuries: Getting your
hands caught in machinery
US&A (v. 2/07)
Hand Protection
• Gloves
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Cotton
Leather
Latex
Viton
Butyl
Neoprene
PVC
Nitrile
Other
US&A (v. 2/07)
Disposable Vinyl
• Deliver comfort,
flexibility, sensitivity
• Translucent white, 5-mil
vinyl
• Non-allergenic
alternative to latex
• Lightly-powdered or
powder-free
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Coated Gloves
• Provide cut,
puncture and
abrasionresistance
• Latex coating
on palm,
fingertips and
thumb
• Crinkle finish
for superior grip
in wet and dry
applications
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Coated Gloves
• Tacky nitrile coating
for sure grip
• Light nylon shell for
dexterity
• Offers better fit and
grip than uncoated
cotton or string knit
gloves
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Reusable Latex
• Versatile, reusable Latex
• 18-mil, 100% natural
latex – excellent tensile
strength and sensitivity;
good grip
• Resists detergents, acids,
salts, caustics, fats and
alcohol
• Cotton lining for ease of
donning
• 12” length protects wrists
and forearm
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Disposable Latex
• Strong, comfortable
and economical
• Textured fingertips
for secure grip
• Available lightly
powdered or
powder-free
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Latex + Neoprene
• Comfort of latex plus the
chemical protection of
neoprene
• Provides excellent chemical
resistance against acids, oils,
grease, salts, animal fats
and battery acid
• Resist puncture, tears and
abrasion
• Ideal for auto and battery
manufacturing, chemical
plants, cleaning printing
presses and wiping down
machinery
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Butyl
• Offers greater
resistance to
gas and water
vapors than
Neoprene
• Provides
greater safety
when handling
toxic
substances like
ketones,
esters, etc
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PVC/Nitrile Gloves
• Gloves are PVC
with nitrilereinforced
coating
• Textured to
improve wet
grip
• Cotton interlock
liner for comfort
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Reusable Nitrile
• Excellent resistance
to a variety of
solvents and
petroleum products
• Resist most liquids
• Resist cuts, snags,
punctures, swelling
and degradation by
organic solvents
and hydrocarbons
US&A (v. 2/07)
Glove Selection
Be sure you
know which
glove is
appropriate
for the
chemical
you are
using
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Why It’s Important
• Compression Injuries Heavy
machinery, equipment, and other
objects can roll over your feet.
The result of these types of
accidents is often broken or
crushed bones.
• Injuries from Spills and
Splashes Liquids such as acids,
caustics, and molten metals can
spill into your shoes and boots.
These hazardous materials can
cause chemical and heat burns.
US&A (v. 2/07)
Foot Protection
What kind of shoe
should electricians
wear?
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Shoes with nonconductive soles
meeting the
requirements of
ANSI Z41 PT9l (M/F)
I-75 C-75 EH. "EH"
represents the
"electrical hazard"
designation.
US&A (v. 2/07)
Types of Foot
Protection
• Work shoes
• Boots
• Steel-toed shoes & boots
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Foot Protection
• Other options in
steel-toed shoes
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Protective Clothing and Vests
• Uniforms
• Disposable clothing
• Vests
– Cooling
– Visibility
• Cold weather
protection
US&A (v. 2/07)