Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment Defined

      Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes all clothing and work accessories designed to
      protect employees from workplace hazards. Protective equipment should not replace
      engineering, administrative, or procedural controls for safety — it should be used in
      conjunction with these controls. Employees must wear protective equipment as required and
      when instructed by a supervisor.

                    IMPORTANT:
                    Always remove protective clothing before leaving the work area. Do not wear
                    PPE in public elevators, classrooms, restrooms, breakrooms, etc.

Arm and Hand Protection

      Arms and hands are vulnerable to cuts, burns, bruises, electrical shock, chemical spills, and
      amputation. The following forms of hand protection are available for employees:

• Disposable exam gloves
• Rubber gloves
• Nitrile gloves
• Neoprene gloves
• Leather gloves
• Nonasbestos heat-resistant gloves
• Metal-mesh gloves for meat cutters
• Cotton gloves

      Always wear the appropriate hand and arm protection. Double your hand protection by
      wearing multiple gloves when necessary (e.g., two pairs of disposable gloves for work
      involving biological hazards). For arm protection, wear a long-sleeved shirt, a laboratory
      coat, chemical-resistant sleeves, or gauntlet-length gloves.

      Follow these guidelines to ensure arm and hand safety:

• Inspect and test new gloves for defects.
• Always wash your hands before and after using gloves. Wash chemical-protective gloves with soap and water before removing them.
• Do not wear gloves near moving machinery; the gloves may become caught.
• Do not wear gloves with metal parts near electrical equipment.

        IMPORTANT:
        Gloves are easily contaminated. Avoid touching surfaces such as telephones,
        door knobs, etc. when wearing gloves.


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Body Protection

      Hazards that threaten the torso tend to threaten the entire body. A variety of protective
      clothing, including laboratory coats, long pants, rubber aprons, coveralls, and disposable
      body suits are available for specific work conditions.

• Rubber, neoprene, and plastic clothing protect employees from most acids and chemical splashes.
• Laboratory coats, coveralls, and disposable body suits protect employees and everyday clothing from contamination.
• Welding aprons provide protection from sparks.

      Launder reusable protective clothing separate from other clothing.

Ear and Hearing Protection

      If you work in a high noise area, wear hearing protection. Most hearing protection devices
      have an assigned rating that indicates the amount of protection provided. Depending on your
      level of exposure, you may choose from the following devices:

• Disposable earplugs
• Reusable earplugs
• Headband plugs
• Sealed earmuffs

      Earplugs may be better in hot, humid, or confined work areas. They may also be better for
      employees who wear other PPE, such as safety glasses or hats. Earmuffs, on the other hand,
      may be better for employees who move in and out of noisy areas, because the muffs are
      easier to remove. Before resorting to hearing protection, attempt to control noise levels
      through engineering or operational changes.

      To avoid contamination, follow these guidelines when using earplugs:

• Wash your hands before inserting earplugs.
• Replace disposable earplugs after each use.
• Clean reusable earplugs after each use.

      Refer to the Hearing Conservation Program in the General Safety chapter or contact the
      Environmental Health & Safety Department for more information.

Eye and Face Protection

      Employees must wear protection if hazards exist that could cause eye or face injury. Eye and
      face protection should be used in conjunction with equipment guards, engineering controls,
      and safe practices.

                NOTE:
        Safety glasses are required in laboratories.

      Always wear adequate eye and face protection when performing tasks such as grinding,
      buffing, welding, chipping, cutting, or pouring chemicals. Safety glasses with side shields
      provide protection against impact and splashes, but safety goggles provide protection against
      impact, splashes, and hazardous atmospheres.

                IMPORTANT:
                Do not wear contact lenses in the laboratory or other areas where hazardous
                atmospheres may be present. Contact lenses do not provide eye protection and
                may reduce the effectiveness of an emergency eyewash.

• If you wear prescription glasses, wear goggles or other safety protection over the glasses.
• Safety glasses with sideshields provide primary protection to eyes and are four times as resistant as prescription glasses to impact injuries.
• Goggles protect against impacts, sparks, chemical splashes, dust, and irritating mist. Wear full goggles, not just safety glasses, when working with chemicals.
• Eyecup welding goggles with filter lenses give protection from glare and sparks.
• A welding helmet protects from flashburn due to welding, soldering, or brazing, but does not provide primary eye protection; safety glasses or goggles should be worn with the helmet.
• A face shield is designed to protect the face from some splashes or projectiles, but does not eliminate exposure to vapors. A face shield should be worn with goggles or safety glasses.
• Sunglasses are useful to prevent eyestrain from glare and to minimize ultraviolet light exposure.

Eye Wash Stations

      Eye wash stations provide emergency eye treatment for people exposed to hazardous
      materials. There are three common types of eye wash stations:

• Eye Wash Bowls:

          These stations are ANSI approved and are usually attached to emergency showers. They
          provide a continuous water flow and are recommended for laboratories and other locations
          with hazardous materials.

• Drench Hoses at Sinks:

          These stations provide a continuous water flow, but they are easily contaminated with
          sediment, and they do not allow the free use of both hands; the use of both hands may be
          necessary. Drench hoses are not ANSI approved, and they are not preferred for
          laboratory usage. If you have a drench hose in your work area, flush the hose regularly to
          remove any sediment.

• Plastic Eye Wash Bottles:

          These stations do not provide a continuous water flow, and they do not allow free use of
          both hands. They are not approved in laboratories or other hazardous areas. Plastic eye
          wash bottles are ideal, however, for portable eye wash needs and short-term operations
          where continuous flowing water is not immediately available. If you have a plastic eye wash
          bottle in your work area, make sure it is filled with sterile water or changed weekly.

                IMPORTANT:
                If the eyes are exposed to hazardous materials or irritating elements,
                immediately flush the eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. Contact a
                physician, if necessary.

Foot Protection

      To protect feet and legs from falling objects, moving machinery, sharp objects, hot materials,
      chemicals, or slippery surfaces, employees should wear closed-toed shoes, boots,
      footguards, leggings, or safety shoes as appropriate. Safety shoes are designed to protect
      people from the most common causes of foot injuries — impact, compression, and puncture.
      Special foot protection is also available for protection against static electricity, sparks, live
      electricity, corrosive materials, and slipping.

                NOTE:

                Foot protection is particularly important in laboratory, agricultural, and
                construction work.

                IMPORTANT:
                Do not wear sandals or open-toed shoes in laboratories, shops, or other
                potentially hazardous areas.

Head Protection

      Accidents that cause head injuries are difficult to anticipate or control. If hazards exist that
      could cause head injury, employees should try to eliminate the hazards, but they should also
      wear head protection.

      Safety hats protect the head from impact, penetration, and electrical shock. Head protection
      is necessary if you work where there is a risk of injury from moving, falling, or flying objects
      or if you work near high-voltage equipment.

      Hard hats should be water resistant, flame resistant, and adjustable. Wear one of the
      following hard hats as appropriate for your work situation:

• Class A - General service, limited voltage protection
• Class B - Utility service, high-voltage protection
• Class C - Special service, no voltage protection

      Follow these guidelines for head safety:

• Check the shell and suspension of your headware for damage before each use. Look for cracks, dents, gouges, chalky appearance, and torn or broken suspension threads. Discard damaged hats or replace broken parts with replacements from the original manufacturer.
• Discard any hat that has been struck or dropped from a great height, even if there is no apparent damage.
• Do not wear a hard hat backwards, unless this is necessary to accommodate other protective equipment (e.g., welders face shield).
• Do not paint the plastic shell of a hard hat or alter it in any way.

Repsiratory Protection Program

      TAMU uses engineering, administrative, and procedural controls to protect people from
      dangerous atmospheres, including harmful mists, smoke, vapors, and oxygen-deficient
      atmospheres. When these controls cannot provide adequate protection against harmful
      atmospheres, respiratory protection is necessary.

      The Environmental Health & Safety Department can provide training and fit testing for
      personnel who need respiratory protection. A copy of the Respiratory Protective Program is
      available from the Environmental Health & Safety Department.

Usage Requirements

      People who use respiratory protection must be physically capable of using and wearing the
      equipment. In some cases, a physician must determine if an employee is healthy enough to use
      a respirator. In addition, all people required to wear respirators must be formally trained and
      instructed in proper equipment usage. This training should include instruction on common
      respiratory hazards and symptoms of exposure.

Types of Respirators

      It is important to select the right respirator for the job. There are many types of respirators
      and each type protects against different hazards. Respirators are classified according to these
      factors:

• Air source: supplied air or ambient air
• Pressure: positive or negative
• Mask configuration

      The following lists information on various respirators:

• Supply Air Respirators:

          *    Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) use supplied air from a cylinder carried
                by the user.

          *    Airline respirators require a compressor or cylinder(s) and an airline hose to the user.

          *    Supply air respirators are necessary in oxygen deficient atmospheres.

          *    When using a supply air respirator, have a back-up person with a SCBA standing
                 nearby.

• Air-Purifying Respirators:

          *    Air purifying respirators use ambient air and cannot be used in oxygen deficient
                atmospheres, IDLH atmospheres, or areas where the identity or concentration of a
                contaminant is unknown.

          *    Ambient air is purified by a chemical cartridge, canister, or particulate filter.

                -Users must select the proper cartridge/canister/filter.
                -Cartridges and canisters must be replaced if the user notices an odor, taste, or throat
                  irritation. Wet, damaged, and grossly contaminated cartridges/canisters must also be
                  replaced.

            *    Powered air- purifying respirators use filtered ambient air in a positive-pressure
                  continuous flow mode.

            *    Disposable or single-use respirators are made of cloth or paper and are primarily
                  used for nuisance dusts

            *    All filters (HEPA, dust pads, and disposable respirators) must be replaced if any of
                  the following conditions occur:
                  -Breathing becomes difficult.
                  -Filter or dust respirator becomes damaged, visibly dirty, wet, or contaminated on the
                    inside.

• Mask Types:

              *    Fullface mask covers the face from the hairline to below the chin. This type of mask]
                    provides eye protection.
               *   Half-face mask covers the face from above the nose to below the chin.

      The following table highlights various respirators and their ability to protect against different
      hazards:
 

            NOTE:
            Only use respirators that are approved by NIOSH/MSHA or the Department of
            Interior-Bureau of Mines.

Selecting a Respirator

      When selecting a respirator, consider the following factors:

• Type of hazards
• Identity and concentration of the contaminant
• Time constraints
• Activity of the person wearing the respirator
• Degree of protection provided by each type of respirator

      Follow these guidelines for selecting the correct respirator:

• Use a HEPA filtered respirator:

          *    If the contaminant is a biological hazard

• Use a supply air respirator:

          *    If the identity and/or concentration of the contaminant is not known
          *    If an oxygen deficient atmosphere is known or suspected
          *    If an IDLH condition exists

• Use a SCBA instead of an airline respirator:

          *    If an airline respirator could be damaged by work or conditions within the area

          IMPORTANT:

Respirators are available in different sizes. Always fit test a respirator to select the
correct size. 

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Using Respirators Safely

      Follow these guidelines to ensure safe respirator usage:

• Make sure you have the correct respirator for the job.
• Inspect respirators before each use.
• Shave facial hair and put in dentures (if applicable) to ensure a good seal with the facemask.
• If you are working in a dangerous area, have another person present.
• Remember that contaminants can harm the body as well as the respiratory tract; wear protective clothing as appropriate.
• Return to fresh air and remove the respirator in the following conditions:
• 
  *    You feel nauseous, dizzy, or ill.
  *    You have difficulty breathing.
  *    The canister, cartridge, or filter needs to be replaced.
• Properly clean and store all reusable respirators.

      In addition to the guidelines above, follow these instructions for respirator usage:

• Do not use a respirator unless you have been formally trained and have fit tested the respirator you plan on using.
• Do not mistakenly use a filter respirator for protection against gases or vapors.
• Never remove a respirator in a contaminated atmosphere.
• Do not talk unnecessarily or chew gum while wearing a respirator.
• Do not wear contact lenses while wearing a respirator.
• Do not allow your hair or eyeglass frames to interfere with the face mask seal.

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Showers

      Emergency safety showers provide emergency treatment for people exposed to harmful
      materials. If a person is contaminated with harmful chemicals, the emergency shower provides
      an instant deluge to protect the person from further exposure. TAMU uses ANSI standards
      for shower locations, travel distance, testing, and function.

• Emergency showers must be located to ensure accessibility within 10 seconds.
• Travel distance between a shower and potential hazards may not exceed 100 feet.

IMPORTANT:
Emergency showers are for emergencies only. If a chemical spill occurs involving personal exposure, pull the cord and remove affected clothing immediately. Stay in the shower for at least 15 minutes.

      The Environmental Health & Safety Department tests emergency showers annually.