Yearly Archives: 2008

Eye Protection, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

PPE: A Summary

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Last week, we covered different types of personal protective equipment and the applications for each.  With all of the technological advances and machinery used in today’s world, understanding and using proper PPE is more important than ever before.

In determining the proper PPE for industries, a walk-through survey should be done by employers to develop an organized safety program.  Both workplace physical and health hazards must be analyzed.  Employers then would determine what types of PPE would be needed.  It is suggested that a higher level of protection than the minimum be chosen to ensure employees are protected from hazards.  Written certification is required which includes the Hazard Assessment Date, Company Identification, and Name of the Document.

Personal Protective Equipment is available to protect you from such hazards as:
¨    Chemicals – Coveralls, Gloves, Face Shields, Goggles
¨    Heat/Cold- Gloves, Earmuffs,
¨    Biologic (blood, infected materials)-Lab Coats, Disposable Gloves, Coveralls
¨    Light Radiation-Safety Glasses, Goggles, Welding Hoods
¨    Harmful Dust-Respirators, Goggles, Side shields
¨    Sharp Objects-Cut Resistant Gloves
¨    Falling Objects-Hard Hats

Take the time to determine what hazards are present in your particular situation.  Once determined, take the steps to supply yourself and your employees with the needed equipment.

Source:
OSHA

Protective Clothing

PPE: Foot And Leg Protection

Workers who should wear protective footwear are those who are exposed to hot substances, corrosive or poisonous materials, molten metal, splashes, falling or rolling objects such as barrels, tools, penetrating materials, (nails, spikes), hot, wet slippery surfaces, or electric hazards.  Non-conductive footwear should be worn in electric hazard situations; conductive footwear is required for those who work where there are static electric conditions.

Types of protection for legs and feet are:

  • Leggings – Protection for lower legs and feet against heat hazards; safety snaps allow leggings to be quickly removed.
  • Metatarsal Guards – May be strapped to outside of shoes to protect instep area from compression and impact.  Usually made of aluminum, steel fiber or plastic.
  • Toe Guards – Fit over toes of regular shoes, also made of aluminum, steel or plastic.
  • Safety Shoes – Have heat resistant soles and impact resistant toes.  Some have metal insoles for protection from puncture wounds.
  • Foot and Shin Guards – May be used in addition to toe guards when more protection is needed.

Special Purpose Shoes are Electrically Conductive Shoes, which as previously stated, protect against buildup of static electricity in the body, which could produce a spark.  This type of shoe is required for those who work in occupations such as explosives manufacturers or grain elevators.   Non-Conductive Electric Hazard safety-toe shoes prevent wearers’ feet from completing electric circuit to the ground, while working in jobs that may present electric hazards.  Foundry Shoes are made of snug- fitting leather, leather-substitute, and have leather or rubber soles, rubber heels.  All foundry shoes must have built in safety toes.

Source: OSHA

Protective Clothing

PPE: Body Protection

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Workers who face bodily injury during performance of their jobs need the appropriate type of body protection.  Some hazards that contribute to the need for this protection are: weather extremes, impacts from tools or machinery, chemicals, hot splashes from liquids or molten metals, infectious materials; there are other hazards too numerous to name.
A variety of protection ranges from lab coats, vests, jackets, aprons, surgical gowns, coveralls to full body suits.  If full body suits are needed, the suit must fit correctly for total functionality.
Body protection materials include:

  • Treated Wool or Cotton – Comfortable, fire-resistant, protects against dust, abrasions, rough and irritating surfaces; adapts well to changing temperatures.
  • Paper-like Fiber – Disposable suits for splashes, dust.
  • Leather – Helps withstand dry heat and flames.
  • Duck – Tightly woven cotton fabric; prevents cuts and bruises when handling rough, heavy or sharp materials.
  • Rubber, Rubberized Fabrics, Neoprene and Plastics – Works against chemical and physical hazards.  When working with chemicals, the manufacturers label must be checked to ensure protection from the specific chemical.

Employers and employees should both take interest in protection.  Do a survey of what types of hazards exist in your particular line of work.  Then determine what type or types of clothing is needed to help protect you against those hazards.

Source: OSHA

Hand Protection

PPE: More About Gloves

We want to help you make the right decision when it comes to protecting your hands.  There are so many types of gloves to choose from, we want to share the following background information:

  • Leather Gloves – Provide protection from cuts and burns.  They also help sustain heat from sparks, blows, and rough objects.  Leather gloves make excellent driving gloves.
  • Aluminized – Furnish insulating and reflective protection from heat; require an insert of synthetic materials for protection against heat and cold.
  • Aramid Fiber – Cut and abrasion-resistant, these gloves wear well and protect against heat and cold.
  • Synthetic – Cut and abrasion resistant, heat and cold protective, they may withstand some diluted acids.  They do not stand up against alkalis and solvents.
  • Fabric Gloves – Constructed from cotton or other fabrics, insufficient for protection against rough, sharp or heavy materials.  They work well to keep out dirt, slivers, and prevent chafing and abrasions.
  • Coated Fabric Gloves – Cotton flannel with napping on one side.  The plastic coating is good for general-purpose gloves, adds slip-resistance from handling materials, bricks and wire to handling chemical lab containers.
  • Chemical and Liquid Resistant Gloves– Made from different types of rubber (natural) – butyl, neoprene, or various plastics: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl alcohol, or polyethylene.

Types of Chemical and Liquid Resistant Gloves:

  • Butyl – Synthetic rubber, stands up well to a wide variety of chemicals.
  • Natural (latex) Rubber – Very popular and comfortable, these gloves perform with most water solutions of acids, alkalis, etc.  For those workers who are allergic to latex, glove liners, hypoallergenic, or powderless gloves are good alternatives.
  • Neoprene– Synthetic rubber – Offer good dexterity.  They have superior chemical and wear resistance, compared to natural rubber gloves.
  • Nitrile – Copolymer, provides high sensitivity and dexterity, and stand up to heavy use.

Source: OSHA

Hand Protection

PPE: Hand and Arm Protection

Employers must take care by conducting extensive hazard assessments to ensure that potential injury to arm and hands of workers is avoided.  The employer should determine which type of protection is needed for the utmost security, by selecting the proper glove, finger guards, arm coverings, or elbow-length glove that is appropriate for the task at hand.
There are numerous selections of gloves and hand protection available.  We encourage you to consider what hazards exist in your work surroundings and then make your choice.  Whether you are an employer, employee, or performing jobs at home, it’s important to make the right choices.

Factors that should influence your decision in choosing gloves:

  • Types of chemicals you are exposed to.  Also the nature of contact (splash, total immersion.)
  • Duration of contact.  Area of body that requires protection.
  • Grip.  (Dry, Wet, or Oily).
  • Thermal Protection.
  • Size and Comfort.
  • Abrasion/Resistance Required.

Gloves generally fall into four groups:

  • Fabric and Coated Fabric
  • Chemical and Liquid-resistant
  • Insulated Rubber Gloves

Check back tomorrow and we’ll hand you a little more specifics on gloves!

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

PPE: Head Protection

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The key to a successful safety program is to protect employees from head injuries.  The easiest and most important way is by wearing safety helmets/hard hats.  These protect workers from the shock of a blow to the head, and penetration.  The shell should be 1 to 1 ¼” away from the head to cushion impact, and the hardhat should have instructions for proper adjustment and replacement of suspension and headband.  Proper fit is of the utmost importance.
Most hard hats have slots to accommodate safety glasses, face shields, mounted lights, and/or earmuffs.

Three industrial classes of hardhats are:

  • Class A – Impact and penetration resistant and limited voltage protection – up to 2,200 volts.
  • Class B – Highest level of high-voltage shock and burn protection – up to 20,000 volts.  These protect from impact and penetration hazards such as falling/flying objects.
  • Class C – Lightweight comfort and important protection but not electrical hazard protected.

Bump Caps are for low head clearance areas where hard hats are not required.  Made to protect from bumps and bruises, bump caps are constructed from polyethylene.

Baseball Cap/Bump Caps have a PE lining inside the cap to protect from bumps and lacerations, as well, and are intended for workers who are not mandated to wear hard hats.

Safety is important, but just because you need to be safe, doesn’t mean you can’t have some style.  There are many different hard hat styles that are all ANSII approved.  Full brim and cap style hats are available in a variety of solid colors.  You can also find hats with different patterns on them, including flames, camouflage and flags for various countries.  You can even purchase hard hats displaying your favorite team. NFL, NCAA, NHL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR styles are all available.

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

PPE: Hearing Protection

According to NIOSH, (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), prevention measures must be taken by employers and workers to ensure the protection of workers’ hearing.  Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 per cent preventable but once acquired, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.
The most effective way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is through engineering controls, such as acoustic barriers or mufflers.  Hearing loss prevention programs for all workplaces with hazardous levels of noise should be customary.
Factors to be determined are duration of exposure to noise, decibels (dB) involved, and if workers are between locations, the decibel difference.  Occupational noise at or above 85dB per eight-hour work-days requires employers to establish a hearing conservation program, which includes regular testing of employees’ hearing by qualified professionals.

Different types of hearing protection:

  • Single Use Earplugs – Self-forming, made of foam, fiberglass wool, silicon rubber, or wax.
  • Pre-formed or molded – Must be individually designed by hearing professional.
  • Earmuffs – Seal the ear.

There are many different types and styles of ear protection, suitablefor continuously noisy workplaces or intermittent racket. There are earplugs, earmuffs, earplugs that can be worn around your neck, under the chin, handy for use when needed. (Also, you just might want some earplugs to take along to a concert, or NASCAR race!)
Source: OSHA
NIOSH

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues

PPE:ANSI Standards and Eye Protection

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The American National Standards Institute has been developing safety standards since the 1920’s, when they approved the first safety standards to protect the eyes and heads of industrial workers.

FYI:  The proper standards are listed below:

  • Eye and Face        ANSI 787.1 – 1989
  • Head            ANSI 789.1 – 1986
  • Foot            ANSI 741.1 – 1991

EYE AND FACE PROTECTION

Work-related eye injuries alone cost over $300 million dollars per year, in lost production time, worker compensation, and medical expenses.  Workers who are exposed to hazards such as molten metal, dust, dirt, wood chips, liquid chemical splashes, flying particles, gases or vapors, caustic liquids, infection-related materials, and light radiation must wear the appropriate eye and face protection.  Improper or poor-fitting eyewear will not ensure safety from eye injury.  If workers wear prescription lens, there are safety glasses that comfortably fit over the prescription glasses, or some safety eyewear can be made with the prescription in them.  Contact lens wearers must wear eye/face protection when working in hazardous settings.
Types of Eye/Face Protection:

  • Safety Spectacles – Impact resistant lenses; safety frames are usually made from metal             or plastic. Side shields may be added for further protection.
  • Welding Shields – Vulcanized fiber/fiberglass with filtered lens, protect from infrared burns, radiant light sparks, slag chips, and metal.  Shades on the shields are numbered, and the welder must use the correct shade number according to tasks being done to secure eyes from harmful light radiation.
  • Laser Safety Goggles –Protect from intense concentrations of laser light. These are special goggles.
  • Face Shields – Sheets of transparent plastic, (sometimes polarized), which goes from eyebrows to below chin and across width of head.  They do not absorb impacts; however, they work well with goggles or safety spectacles against impact hazards.  Protect face from splashes, dust, sprays, etc.

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

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Work hazards exist in most professions.  Employers must provide as much administrative assistance and planning to eliminate these hazards as they can, by either work practice control (changing the way employees do their jobs) or engineering control (building barriers between hazards and workers, when possible).  When these measures aren’t enough, OSHA requires that employers provide their employees with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).  (Note:  Certain Standards of OSHA state that the employer must provide PPE at no cost to the employee, while others state only that the employer must provide PPE.) Examples of PPE are hardhats, respirators, full body suits, hearing protection devices, foot, hand, face and eye protection.

In several installments, we will share information with you to help you understand the basics of determining the proper types of PPE that will keep employees safe!  It is important that employers and employees:

  • Do a hazard assessment of their workplace
  • Be familiar with the different types of PPE
  • Train in proper wear and care of PPE
  • Select appropriate PPE for various circumstances
  • Report to supervisor when PPE needs to be replaced
  • Replace worn or damaged PPE

We hope to help you decide what products to furnish to ensure your safety!

Source:  OSHA, PPE 3151-12R

General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

Lightning – Not-So-Fun With Electricity.

One of the most fascinating things to do during a thunderstorm is watching lightning.  One never knows when it is going to happen; this brilliant illumination that dances among the clouds.  Those bolts of lightning cause an average 80 deaths and 300 injuries in the United States every year.  Persons should listen to weather warning devices such as NOAA weather radio in order to prepare for approaching thunderstorms.  If you can hear thunder, it is time to take precautions.

Places you don’t want to be if this threat occurs:

  • Open spaces, such as ball parks, golf courses
  • On the water: wading, in a boat, swimming, etc.
  • Outside, period
  • In the shower or running water
  • Talking on a corded telephone
  • In a group of people

    Lightning Strike

Do you know:

  • Lightning can travel sideways, up to ten miles?
  • Lightning can strike someone swimming or scuba diving in water and travel a great distance away from the point of contact?
  • That you are safe in a car, as long as you have the windows up and do not touch any metal?  Contrary to theory, rubber tires do not offer protection from lightning.  The car’s metal conducts the charge to the ground.
  • Lightning hits the tallest point?  Therefore, if you are outside, crouch as low as possible, and touch as little of the ground as necessary.
  • Ten per cent of lightning occurs without visible clouds?  Even if the sky is blue, you need to take cover when you hear thunder.
  • If the time delay is 30 seconds or less between lightning and thunder, you need to seek shelter immediately?

If someone is struck by lightning:

  • Call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance
  • Give First Aid
  • Check for burns.

Lightning can cause broken bones, damage to the nervous system, loss of hearing or eyesight.  You are not at risk to touch someone who has been hit by lightning; people who have been struck do not carry electric charge that can shock you.

The next time clouds gather, and thunder starts to rumble, play it safe, and stay inside!