HE 221 ACTIVITY 15 Identify the Types of Personal Protective Equipment by category. Respiratory protection Surgical masks - Working with live animals; working with infectious material in BSL-2+ level labs but only protects your sample from you, not the other way around. Half-mask respirators - Working with live animals or infectious materials with known airborne transmissible disease; dusty environments; chemical vapors; particulates Full-face respirators - Working with live animals or infectious materials with known airborne transmissible disease; dusty environments; chemical vapors; particulates Respirator cartridges P-100: for dust only, Organic Vapor (OV): for fumes of organic solvents only and Acid Gas: vapors of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, etc N-95 respirators - Working with live animals or infectious materials in BSL-2 level labs with known airborne transmissible disease (e.g. tuberculosis, also required for influenza (flu)); dusty environments Dust masks – used for protection against nuisance dusts such as sawdust, chalk, plantrelated and sanding dusts. These are generally not suitable for toxic substances Gas filters - filter fitted into a half face mask, full face mask or hood, suitable for removing low concentrates of certain gases and vapours. Filters have limited use and storage lives and are specific to certain gases or vapours. They are not generic - a specific filter needs to be matched to a specific make of mask. Particulate filters - used to remove finely divided solid or liquid particles from inhaled air. Particulate filters have a prefix 'P' and a number indicating a class corresponding to filtration efficiency against a laboratory challenge aerosol of sodium chloride. P1, P2 and P3 filters roughly correspond to the former L, M and H cartridges. There are three types of particulate filter suitable for filtering finely divided solid or liquid particles, or both, from inhaled air. These are classified, in accordance with tests in AS 1716, as: CLASS (P1) Intended for use against mechanically generated particulates, (for example, silica, asbestos). CLASS (P2) Intended for use against both mechanically and thermally generated particulates, (for example, metal fumes). CLASS (P3) Intended for use against all particulates including highly toxic materials, (for example, beryllium). Class P3 requires a full face mask. Note: Cotton fibre or plastic foam pads are not permitted. Eye protection General safety glasses - Must have side shields, or a one-piece lens that wraps around the temple. Are the minimum levels of eye protection that must be worn in the laboratory. Are not effective in protecting the eyes from splashes, and are only recommended for use with solutions that are not likely to damage the eye, such as some buffers and salts. Laser safety glasses - Selection is based on the laser wavelength and power. Protective properties can be found printed on the eyewear. Are not as effective as laser safety goggles at filtering all light entering the eyes. EH&S does not provide laser safety glasses or goggles for use in the laboratory, but will assist in selecting the correct laser safety goggles or glasses for your application, which can be purchased by the PI as needed. Impact goggles - Offer protection from flying debris only. Often have ventilation holes on the sides that render the user susceptible to chemical splashes and dust or small debris. EH&S does not offer impact goggles, but chemical splash goggles can often be used in substitution. Goggles - An eye protector fitting the contour of the face and held in position by an adjustable headband. Wide-vision goggles - An eye protector in which the lens or lenses extend over the full width of the face affording a large field of vision Welding helmet - A rigid eye protector which is worn by the operator to shield the eyes, face, forehead and front of the neck Welding hand shield - A rigid eye protector which is held in the hand to shield the eyes, face, forehead and front of the neck Face shield - A device which includes a transparent visor, supported in front of the face to shield the eyes Safety spectacles - An eye protector with protective lenses mounted in spectacle-type frames, or integrally moulded into the frames with or without side shields, and held in position by the side arms Tinted safety spectacles/goggles - provided to employees who require eye protection and who are generally required to work outdoors. Hearing protection Disposable hearing protection device - a hearing protection device formed by packing a suitable material into or around the ear canal. Disposable hearing protection devices are discarded after a single wearing earplug - a hearing protection device, other than disposable hearing protection devices, that is inserted into the ear canal Ear canal cap - a hearing protection device that covers the ear canal entrance and is held in place by a headband Earmuff - a hearing protection device that covers the entire ear and is held in place by a suspension system Helmet - a hearing protection device that covers the ears and an appreciable part of the head Suspension system - a device that holds the hearing protection device in proper position on the wearer's head. A suspension system may be a headband, a neckband or a safety helmet. Reusable earplugs - Silicone, tapered fit, reusable (needs cleaning), corded or uncorded, light weight, more durable than disposable earplugs. Useful when working in areas where sound levels average over 85 dBa; EH&S can assist in assessments Hearing band - Earplugs connected to a flexible band that can be worn around the neck when not needed. Useful when working in areas where sound levels average over 85 dBa; EH&S can assist in assessment Head protection Safety helmets - Be struck on the head by a falling object, strike his/her head against a fixed object and inadvertently come into contact with electrical hazards. Sun hats - People who are required to work outdoors shall be provided with a hat which affords maximum protection from the sun. The hat chosen for this purpose will reflect the nature of the work, duration of exposure, and other personal protective equipment required, such as goggles or earmuffs. Sun hats shall provide a suitable brim, peak or neck flap as appropriate. Wet weather hats - People who are required to work outdoors during periods of rain shall be provided with a waterproof hat or hood which offers the maximum amount of protection practicable having regard to the nature of the work, duration of exposure and other personal protective equipment required, such as goggles or earmuffs. Hand Protection Disposable latex (powdered or unpowdered) - Working with biological hazards (human blood, body fluids, tissues, blood borne pathogens, specimens), BSL1, BSL2, BSL2+, BSL3 Disposable nitrile (puncture and abrasion resistant, protection from splash hazards) Working with biological hazards and chemical splash hazards Disposable vinyl (economical, durable, similar to latex) - Working with biological hazards, BSL1, BSL2, BSL2+, BSL3 Natural rubber latex (chemical resistant, liquid-proof) - Working with small volumes of corrosive liquids, organic solvents, flammable compounds Nitrile (chemical resistant, good puncture, cut and abrasion resistance) - Using apparatus under pressure, air or water reactive chemicals Butyl (high permeation resistance to most chemicals) - Working with large volumes of organic solvents; small to large volumes of dangerous solvents, acutely toxic or hazardous materials Viton® II (high permeation resistance to most chemicals) - Same as butyl gloves, plus hazardous material spills Silver shield (extra chemical and mechanical protection) - Same as butyl and Viton® II gloves, added mechanical protection, hazardous material spills Terrycloth autoclave (heat resistant) - Working with hot liquids and equipment, open flames, water bath, oil bath Cryogen (water resistant or water proof, protection against ultra-cold temperatures) Handling cryogenic liquids Wire mesh gloves - Working with live animals and exposed to potential cuts Body Protection Traditional (cotton/cotton-polyester blend - protects skin and clothing from dirt, inks, nonhazardous chemicals) - General use; chemical, biological, radiation and physical hazards Flame resistant (e.g. Nomex or other flame-resistant cotton — resists ignition) - Working with water or air reactive chemicals, large volumes of organic solvents, and potentially explosive chemicals Barrier (predominantly polyester — offers splash protection, not flame resistant) Working with infectious materials 2. Identify Good Occupational Health and Safety Practices by category. Return-to-work and wellness programs — Return-to-work, wellness and work hardening programs can have significant bottom-line value, particularly in high-risk industries where workers are susceptible to more injuries and illnesses. These programs also are gaining importance as the workforce ages. Increased absenteeism (or even “presenteeism,” i.e., working while in some way impaired) undermines productivity, quality, morale and ultimately profitability. Drug and alcohol testing — Transportation regulations mandate drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers, pilots and other transportation professionals. Drug/alcohol testing also may be performed post-incident, periodically as part of corporate policy or “with cause” related to safety, health, and productivity or human resources concerns. Clearly, drug and alcohol issues have a major impact on workplace safety — and safety professionals may be the first to spot a potential problem. But actual testing or administration of a formal program usually falls under the jurisdiction of health care personnel. Respiratory protection — Safety and industrial hygiene professionals work to control the potential for harmful exposures through ventilation and other means, but when they can't eliminate the risk, wearing respirators becomes the best way to protect employees. But before respirators can be worn, health care personnel must conduct pulmonary function tests and other physical exams. Recurrent health checks and training then must be provided to ensure each wearer's continued health and safety. Chemical and biological exposure control — Reducing or eliminating exposure to hazardous substances is very much a team effort between health and safety professionals. While health care personnel are responsible for monitoring and preventing the harmful effects of exposure (e.g., through immunizations, etc.), safety and industrial hygiene personnel typically are the best source of information about the specific substances involved and which employees and job categories are most likely to experience exposure risks. Safety professionals also are likely to be responsible for the training required to support employee knowledge of hazards and precautions. Hearing conservation — all good programs involve health professionals conducting audiograms to monitor the hearing of individuals working in noisy areas. Safety personnel typically provide training, hearing protection and other controls as part of the effort. What's a noisy area? That's best answered by safety and industrial hygiene personnel using noise sampling equipment. If it is determined that an employee has experienced a substantial loss in hearing, health and safety professionals work together to document the occurrence, investigate likely causes and, if appropriate, take corrective action.
