Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The primary purpose of insulating rubber gloves is to _____.

protect the wearer from electrical hazards

If your hard hat sustains an impact, you should _____.

replace it immediately

Employers must provide PPE training for employees that emphasizes _____.

the limitations of PPE for assuring worker safety

Assessment

1) Which of the following classes of hard hats provide the greatest resistance to impact and penetration hazards? Class A 2) Which of the following types of respirators is reusable and covers the wearer's nose, mouth, and eyes? Elastomeric full facepiece respirators (EFFRs) 3) _____ are tight-fitting eye protection that completely cover the eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area immediately surrounding the eyes. Safety goggles 4) _____ include any type of footwear that insulates against hot working surfaces common in industries like roofing, paving, and metalwork. Safety shoes 5) Which type of hazard control changes the way work is done, or gives employees more information by providing them with relevant procedures, training, or warnings? Administrative controls 6) If your hard hat sustains an impact, you should _____. replace it immediately 7) Which of the following types of respirators is reusable and covers the wearer's nose and mouth? Elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) 8) _____ are lighter, more comfortable, and easier to wear than hard hats, and feature an improved design that protects a worker's entire head. safety helmets 9) Which of the following is an example of PPE that provides body protection? A high-visibility safety vest 10) All safety footwear must meet _____ minimum standards for compression and impact performance. ANSI's

Supplying Workers with PPE

Employers must provide their workers with PPE to protect against: - head injuries - eye and face injuries - hearing loss - body injuries - arm and hand injuries - leg and foot injuries - respiratory hazards - fall hazards Employees must receive proper training before wearing NIOSH-certified respirators and must update their training annually.

Providing Workers with Adequate Training

Employers must provide workers with PPE training that addresses: - which type of PPE to use - when and how to use it - the importance of using equipment that fits properly - how to maintain their PPE - PPE's limited ability to keep workers safe

Employer Responsibilities

Employers must: - perform routine assessments of the workplace to identify and control safety hazards - provide employees with PPE appropriate for their work - inspect and maintain worker PPE regularly, replacing any worn or damaged equipment immediately - establish a workplace PPE program and review, evaluate, and update the plan as needed - train employees in the proper use and maintenance of PPE, as well as its limitations

Which type of hazard control prevents a worker from encountering a hazard in the first place?

Engineering controls

Which class of hard hats protects the wearer against electrical hazards?

Class B

Using Eye and Face Protection

- All protective eyewear and face protection must meet ANSI performance standards. - Goggles and safety glasses should be fitted by someone skilled in the procedure. - Equipment with adjustable features should be fitted to each individual wearer. - If you wear prescription lenses, consider using safety eyewear that incorporates your prescription or wear PPE that fits over your corrective lenses. - Wear eye protection over contact lenses. - Replace any scratched lenses and worn or ineffective headbands. - Clean and disinfect your eye and face protection regularly by washing it thoroughly with soap and water or as otherwise directed.

Using Head Protection

- All protective headgear, including hard hats and safety helmets, must meet ANSI performance standards. - Use the appropriate hard hat class for your job. You can verify your hard hat class by checking the label inside the shell - Bump hats only protect against head bumps and lacerations. - They are not ANSI-approved. - Protective headgear must fit appropriately. The hat should not bind, slip, fall off, or irritate the skin. - Always wear your hard hat with the bill facing forward. - Keep your headgear clean and inspect it regularly for holes, cracks, and tears that could compromise its protective value. - Some paints, paint thinners, and cleaning agents may weaken a hard hat's shell. Consult the manufacturer of these items for more information on how they might interact with your headgear. - Never drill holes, paint, or apply labels to your headgear. - Do not store protective gear in direct sunlight. - Remove and replace any hard hats with perforated, cracked, or deformed brims or shells. - Always replace a hard hat that sustains an impact, even if it appears undamaged.

Using Hearing Protection

- Make sure that your earplugs or earmuffs fit properly and can safely accommodate corrective lenses, long hair, or facial hair. - Check the noise reduction rating on your PPE's packaging to confirm that it will provide adequate hearing protection for the type and duration of your work. - If you already suffer from hearing loss, protection is mandatory. - Inspect your equipment prior to each use and follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper cleaning, disinfecting, and storage.

Using Leg and Foot Protection

- Safety footwear must meet ANSI minimum compression and impact performance standards. - Make sure your footwear protects against hazards specific to your work. - Inspect footwear prior to each use. (no metal scraps, holes, rips, etc.) - Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for PPE cleaning and maintenance.

Using Respiratory Protection

- Select respirators based on hazards specific to your job. - Never wear a respirator in an environment in which it was not designed to operate. - Keep track of your respirator. Do not mistakenly use someone else's. - Clean your respirator regularly. - Read and follow all manufacturer's instructions.

Using Arm and Hand Protection

- Select your PPE based on the work you will be doing. - Inspect your PPE prior to each use. - Make sure that your PPE fits properly. - Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning, maintenance, and proper storage. - Protect from chemical/thermal burns, bruises, cuts, punctures, etc.

Using Body Protection

- protect from cuts, radiation, temperatures, splashes, and chemicals - comes in fiber, wool, cotton, canvas, leather, rubber, and rubberized fabric - Select PPE based on your employer's hazard assessment. - Use PPE made from material that is appropriate for your work. - Inspect your PPE prior to each use. - Your equipment should fit properly and sufficiently cover your body. - Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance.

Most common PPE in Construction

-Head and face protection -body protection -arm and hand protection -leg and foot protection -respiratory protection

Which of the following is an example of PPE that provides body protection?

A high-visibility safety vest

Respiratory Protection

According to the CDC, an estimated 3 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces across the United States every day. Respirators keep workers breathing safely in environments with insufficient oxygen, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, diseases, or even death. Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) - APRs use "filters, cartridges, or canisters to remove gases, vapors, aerosols, or a combination of contaminants from the air." Examples: - filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) - elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) - elastomeric full facepiece respirators (EFFRs) - powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators (ASRs) - ASRs provide clean, breathable air from a separate source. Examples: - supplied-air respirators (SARs) - self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs)

Arm and Hand Protection

Arm and hand PPE includes items like gloves, finger guards, arm coverings, or elbow-length gloves. These items protect workers' arms from chemical or thermal burns, electrical hazards, and absorbing harmful substances through the skin, as well as bruises, abrasions, cuts, punctures, fractures, and amputations. Types of gloves: - leather, canvas, or metal mesh - fabric and coated-fabric - chemical- and liquid-resistant - insulating rubber Selecting Arm and Hand PPE When selecting hand and arm protection, consider: - whether your work involves handling hazardous chemicals - the nature and duration of contact (total immersion, splash, spray, etc.) - the total area of possible contact (hands only, forearms, upper arms) - abrasion resistance and gripping requirements - exposure to extreme temperatures

Selecting the Most Effective PPE for Your Role

Before your employer can determine which type of PPE is best for your role, first they must conduct a hazard assessment, identifying potential hazards on your job site. Physical Hazards: moving objects, changing temps, high intensity lighting, rolling/pinching objects, sharp edges, and electrical hazards Health related hazards: exposure to dusts, chemicals, or radiation After completing their assessment, your employer must then review the information they gathered to determine whether your job requires the use of PPE. If they determine that PPE is necessary, next they must identify which types of PPE are most appropriate for you to use.

Eye Protection

Examples of potential eye injuries include: - flying particles entering the eye - splashes from corrosive chemical substances, hot liquids - solvents, or other hazardous solutions - objects swinging into the eye or face - mishandling dangerous tools OSHA recommends the use of eye protection for: - carpenters - electricians - machinists and mechanics - millwrights - plumbers and pipefitters - sheet-metal workers and tinsmiths - assemblers - sanders - grinding machine operators - sawyers - welders - chemical process operators and handlers. Safety Glasses - Protective eyewear with plastic or metal safety frames - Impact-resistant lenses - May also feature side shields Safety Goggles - Completely cover the eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area immediately surrounding the eyes - Provide protection from impact, dust, and splashes - May fit over corrective lenses Laser Safety Goggles - Protect against intense concentrations of laser light Face Shields - Transparent sheets of plastic that cover the entire face - Protect against nuisance dusts and potential splashes or sprays of hazardous liquids - May be polarized - Should be used with safety goggles to protect against impact hazards Welding Shields - Made of vulcanized fiber or fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens - Protect eyes from infrared burns - Protect face from flying sparks, metal spatter, and slag chips

Air Purifying Respirators

Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs): disposable respirators that cover the wearer's nose and mouth Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators (EHMRs): reusable respirators that cover the wearer's nose and mouth Elastomeric Full Facepiece Respirators (EFFRs): reusable respirators that cover the wearer's nose, mouth, and eyes Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs): reusable respirators equipped with a hood or helmet that covers the wearer's nose, mouth, and eyes. PAPRs use battery-powered blowers to draw air through a system of filters or cartridges.

Head and Face Protection

Hard hats and safety helmets are designed to shield workers from potentially traumatic or even fatal head injuries. On construction sites, these injuries can include being struck on the head by a falling object, bumping your head against a fixed object like a pipe or a beam, or accidentally touching an energized electrical source. Employees must wear head protection whenever there is a danger of objects falling from higher to lower levels on the work site. Workers that may require head protection: - construction workers - carpenters - electricians - line workers - plumbers and pipefitters - timber and log cutters - welders Hard Hats Three classes: - Class A (resistance to impact and penetration hazards) - Class B (insulation against electrical hazards) - Class C (protection from impact hazards) Must meet ANSI standards Must feature an outer shell (Shell must be suspended between 1 - 1 1/4 inches away from the head) Safety Helmets - May be used as an alternative to hard hats - Lighter design that protects a worker's entire head Note: Only your employer can determine whether a safety helmet would be a better fit for your specific work.

What Is PPE?

Hazards exist at every job site, threatening workers with falls from heights, exposure to harmful chemicals, electrocution, and struck-by hazards, among other dangerous conditions. Controlling a hazard at its source or removing it altogether offers employees the best protection against workplace injuries and illnesses. Sometimes a hazard cannot be eliminated from a job site. In these situations, OSHA recommends engineering or administrative controls to help manage the hazard effectively. Engineering controls "reduce exposure by preventing hazards from coming into contact with workers." Examples: - Erecting fences or guardrails - Equipping machines with proper guarding - Installing a ventilation exhaust system Administrative or work-practice controls "change the way work is done or give employees more information by providing them with relevant procedures, training, or warnings." Examples: - Establishing standard workplace safety procedures - Creating a schedule to limit employees' exposure to hazardous substances - Providing workers with safety training When engineering controls and administrative or work-practice controls are insufficient to protect employees against occupational hazards, personal protective equipment (or PPE) serves as the worker's last line of defense.

Which of the following types of PPE is designed to protect the instep of your foot against impact and compression hazards?

Metatarsal guards

Intro

Only 16% of workers who sustain head injuries were wearing hard hats at the time of their accident, even though two out of every five construction workers are required to wear head protection for their jobs. Only 23% of workers with foot injuries were wearing safety shoes or boots at the time of their accident. Only 40% of employees with eye injuries were wearing protective gear like safety glasses.

PPE

PPE is "equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses." In the construction industry, PPE is generally designed to protect a worker's head, face, body, arms, legs, hands, and lungs. Examples: - hard hats - safety glasses - earplugs - puncture-resistant leather gloves - toeguards - full-body hazmat suits

Which of the following respirators is designed to cover the wearer's nose, mouth, and eyes and requires an external battery?

Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)

Leg and Foot Protection

Protective footwear helps guard employees against foot or leg injuries caused by falling or rolling objects, crushing or penetrating materials, exposure to extreme heat, and corrosive or poisonous substances. Examples of typical foot or leg injuries on construction sites include: - heavy, rolling objects like barrels or tools that could crush a worker's feet - sharp objects like nails or spikes piercing the soles or uppers of a worker's street shoes - molten metal splashing on a worker's feet or legs - hazards associated with hot, wet, or slippery surfaces - injuries sustained from electrical hazards Workers should wear non-conductive safety shoes if their feet may be exposed to electrical hazards and conductive footwear if their feet may be exposed to static electricity. Safety footwear must meet ANSI's minimum standards for compression and impact performance. Leggings Full coverings for lower legs and feet to protect against heat hazards like molten metal or welding sparks Shin and Foot Guards Partial coverings for lower legs and feet (may be used with toeguards) Safety Shoes Footwear that insulates against hot working surfaces common in industries like roofing, paving, and metalwork. (some designs include impact resistant toes, metal for puncture wounds, and others preventing build up of static electricity) Metatarsal Guards Coverings that protect the instep area from impact and compression hazards (aluminum, steel, fiber, plastic) Toe Guards Coverings that protect the toes from impact and compression hazards (steel, aluminum, plastic)

Hearing Protection

Single-use earplugs: self-forming and typically made of waxed cotton, foam, silicone rubber, or fiberglass wool Pre-formed or molded earplugs: fitted by a professional, can be either disposable or reusable Earmuffs: require a perfect seal around the ear and can be made less effective by glasses, long hair, facial hair, or activities like chewing OSHA has specific requirements for hearing protection, depending on factors like: - noise level (in decibels) - duration of exposure - opportunities to relocate to quieter areas - source of the noise (single or multiple)

Conducting Workplace Hazard Assessments

To determine the most appropriate PPE for workers to use, employers must: - conduct regular workplace hazard assessments - reassess the workplace periodically to identify changes in equipment, operating procedures, or site conditions - document their assessments and receive written certification

Following Industry Best Practices for PPE

To protect yourself using PPE, you must: - wear PPE that is appropriate for your job - participate in training in the proper use of PPE - verify PPE fit and comfort - ensure PPE durability, cleanability, and compatibility with other required PPE - maintain your PPE in a sanitary condition - remove damaged or defective PPE and request its replacement - store your PPE appropriately - update your PPE as needed

Body Protection

Workers must wear body protection whenever they may be exposed to: - cuts - radiation - extreme temperatures - hot splashes - impacts from tools, machinery, and materials - hazardous chemicals Lab coats, coveralls, vests, jackets, aprons, hazmat suits Protective clothing comes in a variety of materials, such as paper-like fiber, treated wool and cotton, leather, rubber and rubberized fabrics, neoprene, and plastics. Your employer should conduct a hazard assessment of the worksite to determine which type of body protection is most appropriate for you.