Recognizing the physical and atmospheric hazards associated with working in various industries and manufacturing plants is important. Simply acknowledging the hazards, however, does not guarantee safe working conditions. An employer is obligated by OSHA to provide safety equipment and establish a training program for employees. The important thing to remember is that the responsibility for using the equipment and following safety procedures rests with the individual employee. The following discussion will acquaint the employees and plant workers with proper safety techniques.
Personal Protective Equipment
If engineering controls cannot eliminate an exposure, the first step in selecting PPE is to minimize the portions of the body requiring protection (eyes, face, ears, toes, full body, etc.). Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection depends on the area of coverage and the exposure severity and type. Higher‐risk exposures require more careful selection of PPE and rigorous training and certification (Ibrahim et al. 2018).
Companies should select PPE certified to comply with widely accepted standards to ensure that the PPE is sufficient for the intended use. Table 5.11 lists standards and best practices for various hazards and their applicability. It is important to understand the limits of each PPE as well as the employee’s potential exposure. Exposure route(s) need to consider both the source of the hazard and the target receptor. Common hazards as well as environmental hazards include cold air and surfaces, heat stress, and smoke. Target receptors can include skin and eyes (dermal route) and lungs (inhalation route) (Ibrahim et al. 2018; ISO 2015; NFPA 2006, 2015, 2017, 2018a, b, c, d).
Heat Exposures
Most industry‐specific guidance focuses on PPE guarding against flame and heat. NFPA 2113 (NFPA 2015) recommends a workplace hazard analysis to determine where and when flame‐resistant garments, gloves are required. Section A.5.2 of the standard lists specific materials and tasks for which flame‐resistant garments are recommended (NFPA 2015).
Electric Exposures
PPE requirements for electrical hazards are well‐specified in NFPA 70E, electrical safety in workplace, which covers a broad spectrum of electrical activities (NFPA 2018a). The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E has added a comprehensive list of PPE for electrical hazards and nonelectric hazards, such as fall protection, head protection, foot protection, and more (Ibrahim et al. 2018).
Table 5.11 Safety standards can help in selecting appropriate PPE.
| Regulation | Target area | Hazard | Intended users |
| NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace | Full body | Electrical | All |
| NFPA 1852 – Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open‐Circuit Self‐Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) | Inhalation | Biological, chemical, radiological, and/or nuclear (CBRN) | All |
| NFPA 1891 – Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Hazardous Materials Clothing and Equipment | Dermal | Physical and health | All |
| NFPA 1986 – Standard on Respiratory Protection Equipment for Technical and Tactical Operations | Inhalation | Health | First responders |
| NFPA 1992 – Standard on Liquid Splash‐Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies | Dermal | Liquid chemicals | First responders and trained personnel |
| NFPA 2112 – Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Flame‐Resistant Clothing for Protection of Industrial Personnel against Short‐Duration Thermal Exposures from Fire | Dermal | Fire | Industrial personnel |
| NFPA 2113 – Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Flame‐Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel against Short‐Duration Thermal Exposures from Fire | Dermal | Fire | Industrial personnel |
| ISO 11612 – Protective Clothing – Clothing to Protect against Heat and Flame – Minimum Performance Requirements | Dermal | Fire | All |
Chemical Exposures
Safety data sheets (or formerly material safety data sheets) (SDS/MSDS) generally recommend PPE for use with chemical under standard temperature and pressure (STP) and typically do not consider the chemical’s full potential. The hazard potential of a chemical process would depend on the severity of the process operating conditions. Certain process operating parameters (e.g. high pressures) may elevate the hazard of the chemical, while others (low temperatures) may reduce it. Certain protective measures, such as hermetic sealing of containers, can also reduce the hazard potential of a chemical.
The PPE assessment should also consider any potential by‐products. It is possible for the reaction of two relatively benign chemicals to form a particularly hazardous chemical. For instance, a dilute nitric acid solution containing elemental copper will form nitric oxide, a highly toxic gas.
Inhalation Risks
Protection against inhalation hazards can be one of the more arduous tasks of PPE selection. The NIOSH offers an online tool, the certified equipment list that provides information on how respirators and breathing apparatus protect against chemical, biological, radiological, and/or nuclear (CBRN) hazards (NIOSH 2016). The reference and attached URL allows users to search for NIOSH‐certified equipment to meet their needs. When identifying PPE for toxic inhalants, it is important to understand the type of toxicity, the effect of chronic vs. acute exposure, and other characteristics of toxicity.
Eye Risks
Eye protection is extremely important and should be worn to protect workers’ eyes. Safety glasses provide protection from external debris, dusts, and should provide side protection via a wrap‐around design or side shields. Also, googles provide better protection and are effective in preventing eye injury from chemical splashes, impact, and dusty environments. Welding requires special goggles or shielding (ANSI 2015). The ANSI Z87.1 standard for safety glasses at work outlines eye protection requirements for a variety of hazards such as impact, splash, dust, and fine dust (including flammable dust and/or outside factory building “wind‐blown dusts,” from piles of coal and saw dust, for example). When selecting eye protection, consider the comfort level of personnel as well as some employees’ need for prescription eyewear. Also account for interactions between certain chemicals and contact lenses.
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