Personal Protective Equipment Career Exploration opportunities

Mask Accommodations

Consider masks with clear coverings over the mouth to facilitate lip-reading for employees who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Rubber Boots

protect you from chemicals and provide extra traction on slippery floors.

Vinyl or neoprene gloves

protect your hands from hazardous chemicals.

Steel-toed Shoes

protect your toes from falling objects and from being crushed.

Metatarsal Shoes

protects your entire foot.

Foam earplugs

provide the most hearing protection. If the earplugs are not inserted into the ear canal correctly, you are not getting the full benefit of using them.

S-A-R

A Supplied-air respirator (S-A-R) provides clean air to the user of the respirator. An example is a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus or S-C-B-A.

decibel

A unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.

A-P-R

An air-purifying respirator (A-P-R) is a system of chemical filters which remove specific gases and vapors before they are inhaled by the user of the respirator. An example is filtering face piece or gas mask.

Goggles

Eye protection can give you more protection than safety glasses because they fit closer to your face which help to protect your eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area immediately surrounding the eyes from impact, dust, fumes, vapors, powders, sparks, mists, and splashes from harmful liquids.

Reinforced Soles

Footwear with reinforced soles has metal reinforcement to protect the bottom of your foot from penetration.

Fabric Masks

Guidelines for fabric masks include construction with at least two tightly woven breathable fabric layers without exhalation valves or vents. Cotton or cotton-blend masks with a nose wire are recommended. Fabric face coverings should be cleaned regularly using a washing machine or by hand with detergent, then dried thoroughly.

Level A

Level A full-body protective clothing is gas-tight, chemical-resistant coveralls used with a supplied-air respirator or SCBA. It provides the highest level of protection and is required when the greatest potential for exposure exists and the greatest level of skin, respiratory, and eye protection is required.

Level B

Level B full-body protective clothing is chemical-resistant coveralls used with a supplied-air respirator or SCBA. It provides the highest level of respiratory protection and a lesser level of skin protection.

Level C

Level C full-body protective clothing is normal work clothes or Tyvek ® coveralls used with an air-purifying respirator. This level is required when the concentration and type of airborne substances are known and the criteria for using an APR is met.

Level D

Level D refers to normal work clothes. Level D protection may be sufficient when no contaminants are present or work operations preclude splashes, immersion, or the potential for unexpected inhalation or contact with hazardous levels of chemicals.

N95 Respirators

The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health evaluates, tests, and approves N95 respirators, which filter at least 95% of airborne particulates but are not resistant to oils. They should be discarded and replaced often.

Bulldozer

The sound of a bulldozer has a decibel level of 105dB. Your hearing begins to be damaged after 5 minutes of exposure to this sound.

Hand Drill

The sound of a hand drill has a decibel level of 98 dB. Your hearing begins to be damaged after 30 minutes of exposure to this sound.

Jackhammer

The sound of a jackhammer has a decibel level of 110dB. Your hearing begins to be damaged after 1 minute of exposure to this sound.

Lawn Mower

The sound of a lawn mower has a decibel level of 90dB. Your hearing begins to be damaged after 4 hours of exposure to this sound.

Surgical Masks

are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the protection against large droplets or sprays of bodily fluids while also preventing the movement of the wearer's respiratory emissions. Surgical masks are disposable and should be replaced often

safety glasses

are intended to shield the wearer's eyes from impact hazards such as flying fragments, objects, large chips, and particles. Workers are required to use eye safety spectacles with side shields when there is a hazard from flying objects. Non-side shield spectacles are not acceptable eye protection for impact hazards.The frames of safety spectacles are constructed of metal and/or plastic and can be fitted with either corrective or plano impact-resistant lenses. Side shields may be incorporated into the frames of safety spectacles when needed. Consider each component of safety spectacles when selecting the appropriate device for your workplace.

Class C hard hats

are made to protect you from: Bumping your head against fixed objects, but do not protect against falling objects. Unlike class G and E, class C hard hats do not protect you from electrical shocks Class C hard hats are designed for comfort and offer limited protection.

Class G hard hats

are made to protect you from: Falling objects Electrical shocks up to 2,200 volts.

Class E hard hats

are made to protect you from: Falling objects Electrical shocks up to 20,000 volts.

PVC Earplugs

are more comfortable in hot environments.

Latex gloves

are used to protect your hands from germs and bacteria.

Heat resistant gloves

are used to protect your hands from heat and flames.

Leather palm gloves

are used to protect your hands from sharp edges, slivers, and dirt.

Anti-vibration gloves

are used to protect your hands from vibration.

Earmuffs

fit over the outside of the ears. can be worn in combination with earplugs for added hearing protection should be cleaned regularly and, like all PPE, they should be inspected before use and discarded if damaged or defective.

Face Shield

give your whole face protection and are often used for doing jobs that expose you to molten metal, chemical splashes, or flying particles. These transparent sheets of plastic extend from the eyebrows to below the chin and across the entire width of the employee's head. Some are polarized for glare protection. Face shields protect against nuisance dusts and potential splashes or sprays of hazardous liquids but will not provide adequate protection against impact hazards. Face shields alone are not enough protection for your eyes. You should always wear safety glasses or goggles for added protection, even when using a face shield, to properly protect you from impact hazards. Welding shields are constructed of vulcanized fiber or fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens. Welding shields protect eyes from burns caused by infrared or intense radiant light; they also protect both the eyes and face from flying sparks, metal spatter, and slag chips produced during welding, brazing, soldering and cutting operations. OSHA requires filter lenses to have a shade number appropriate to protect against the specific hazards of the work being performed in order to protect against harmful light radiation.