(5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
5.1 - OSHA Requirement
The Chemical Hygiene Plan shall include . . . criteria that the employer will use to determine and implement control measures to limit employee exposure to hazardous chemicals, including . . . the use of personal protective equipment and hygiene practices [16]. . . Where the use of respirators is necessary to maintain exposure below PELs [that is, OSHA permissible exposure limits], the employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, the proper respiratory equipment.
5.2 - Chemistry Department Implementation of the OSHA Requirement
Guidelines for use of personal protective equipment are given here in Section
5. [17] Certain PPE, such as
eye protection, should be worn in all laboratories where chemical splash hazards
exist. Other PPE may be specified in SOPs or worn at the discretion of the user.
SOPs generated by PIs must specifically include information on the type of PPE
required.
Users must be trained in the proper use of PPE. If respiratory protection is required, medical clearance and fit testing are also required - for assistance, contact the EHS Chemical Hygiene Officer.
5.3 - Overview of Types of PPE and Their Application
a. Eye protection: When an operation or activity has the potential of causing an eye injury from flying objects, chemical splash, or injurious radiation.
b. Face protection: When an operation or activity has the potential of causing a face injury from flying objects, chemical splash, or injurious radiation. Eye protection must always be worn under face protection.
c. Gloves: When an operation or activity has the potential to cut, burn, blister or bruise the hands, especially when working with chemicals, high voltages, metal plates, or pipes.
d. Protective clothing (including lab coats): When an operation or activity involves a situation where normal working attire will not afford suitable protection from injury.
e. Disposable clothing: When an operation or activity has the potential of causing exposure to asbestos, PCB oil, pesticide spray, or similar contaminant.
f. Respiratory protection: When an operation or activity has the potential for causing injury from harmful concentrations of dusts, fumes, gases, vapors, or radionuclides in the work environment.
g. Hearing protection: When the area is designated as a hearing protection area and/or when equipment generates a noise level of 85 dB or greater. EHS can give assistance in determining this type of hazard.
h. Safety shoes: When an operation or activity has the potential for causing foot injury from falling and/or rolling objects, from piercing the sole, or from electrical hazards.
5.4 - Eye Protection [18]
In any area at any time where there exists the possibility of an eye hazard,
suitable protection must be worn by all persons in the area. This rule applies
to visitors and staff as well as to laboratory workers.
The type of protection - safety glasses or chemical splash goggles - depends on the hazard level. If there is a splash hazard, goggles should be worn. If there is a radiation hazard, specialized eye protection may be necessary.
For all general, all organic/inorganic, and most physical chemistry instructional labs, all persons in the laboratory must wear chemical splash goggles (not safety glasses or spectacles) at all times, even when not performing a chemical operation. It is the responsibility of each instructor to enforce this policy; alternate forms of eye protection are not permitted. However, in those physical chemistry labs where a chemical splash incident is extremely unlikely, the judgment of the instructor regarding eye protection will be accepted.
Recommendations for types of eye protection are given in the University CHP. [19]
5.5 - Gloves
It is appropriate to wear gloves in many laboratory situations. However, gloves
should not be worn outside of the laboratory. Non-lab workers should not be
exposed to chemical contact from using, for example, the lavatory facilities
or the elevator buttons.
There are no gloves available that protect against all potential hand hazards, and commonly available glove materials such as latex provide only limited protection against many chemicals. Therefore, it is important to select the most appropriate glove for a particular application and to determine how long it can be worn, and whether it can be re-used. For the best protection, check with the manufacturer for degradation and permeation information. Recommendations for gloves are given in the University CHP.
Disposable gloves should be discarded when removed. They should not washed or re-worn. Gloves contaminated with chemicals should be discarded as chemical waste.
5.6 - Shoes and Clothing
Clothing should be fitted , not excessively loose or flowing. The body should
be covered, and the arms and legs from elbow to knee. Natural fabrics are more
resistant to solvents and are recommended. To protect body and clothing, a lab
coat or long-sleeved cotton shirt is recommended. Shoes must be flat and closed
- no sandals or slides.
5.7 - Cleaning Lab Coats
Lab coats that may be contaminated with harmful residues must be cleaned in
a responsible fashion; they should not be taken home for washing along with
personal laundry. Conveniently, the University Hospital has arranged to include
Chemistry Department lab coats in the cleaning service to which it subscribes.
Coats must be labeled with indelible pen. They should be bagged in plastic and taken to the receiving dock, Hospital level 1. At the present time, dropoff and pickup dates are Monday-Thursday or Thursday-Monday. The cost per coat is inexpensive. For further information, contact the Hospital Director of Linen Services (4-1462).
(An alternative is to use disposable coats.)
5.8 - Respirator Selection and Use
Selection of respirators and respirator accessories, fit testing, and training
must be coordinated through the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.
EHS will evaluate the work area for chemical toxicity, the potential for exposure,
the concentration and duration of exposure, and the limitation of the various
types of respiratory protection that are available.
A respirator must never be worn before an evaluation has been made. Use of a respirator by an untrained individual, or in an application other than that for which it was designed, can prove extremely dangerous. In addition, a single respirator facepiece cannot be designed to fit the entire working population. Any laboratory user who is required to wear a respirator must receive medical clearance and be fit-tested and trained before using this equipment.
References:
[16] Hygiene practices are discussed above in Section 4.
[17] Except as otherwise noted, section 5 is adapted from
the Stony Brook CHP pp 47-53. Standards for compliance are given at OSHA
Technical Links: Personal Protective Equipment