Personal Protective Equipment

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment 

Wearing the Right Protective Clothing at work

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Topic: Personal Protective Equipment

Wearing the Right Protective Clothing At Work

When you think of personal protective equipment (PPE), you may naturally think of respirators, safety glasses, hard hats, safety shoes, hearing aids, and gloves. Although these are the most common types of PPE—protecting the most vulnerable areas and organs—some whole-body hazards require whole-body protection.

The types of hazards that require full coverage for workers, and how to select protective clothing based on those hazards.

Hazard Assessment

Some working conditions and job tasks pose a hazard to a specific body part or organ—the lungs, the eyes, the ears, the hands, or the feet. Others pose a danger of more widespread bodily harm. Hazards that may require full-body protective clothing include:

• Hot or cold materials or objects
• Chemicals
• Welding hazards
• Electrical shock
• Heavy, sharp, or rough materials.

When you are conducting your hazard assessment, make sure that you distinguish between ordinary clothing used solely for protection from weather, and clothing designed for protection from job hazards. The first is not considered PPE (and an employer is not required to pay for it)—but the latter is definitely is considered required PPE.

Selection of General Work Clothing

To protect workers, consider whether they need to wear:-

• Long sleeve shirts and long pants, to protect their arms and legs from exposure—for example, to splashing or spraying chemicals or molten metal.
• Hot weather clothing. Workers exposed to both hot weather and sunlight may need sun-protective clothing that’s not too hot. Workers who wear heavy gear or perform heavy work in hot weather may also need cooling vests or similar clothing.
• Cold weather clothing. Workers exposed to cold weather may need subzero jackets, overalls, or hoods. Workers exposed to cold and wet conditions may need specialized protective clothing to keep them dry and warm.
• Flame-retardant clothing, aprons, or arm covers may be required for workers exposed to fire hazards or very hot materials.
• Aluminized clothing, aprons, hoods, boots, and gloves are another option for those working with flames and extreme temperatures.
• Chemical protective clothing should be selected to protect against the specific chemicals to which the employees will be exposed. Clothing can be made from waterproofed fabrics, PVC, polyurethane, nylon, rubber, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Some types of chemical-resistant clothing are better suited for working with dry chemicals while others are designed specifically for working with specific hazardous liquid chemicals.
• Welders’ protective clothing typically includes protective leather clothing such as jackets, pants, aprons, and even caps.
• Cut and abrasion-resistant clothing. Employees who handle heavy, sharp, or rough materials should wear clothing made of strong, durable materials to protect their skin. This might include blue jeans and thick cotton or wool shirts.

As with any protective equipment, good fit is essential for protective work clothing. Work clothing should fit comfortably, allowing for free movement while not being too baggy or loose. Permit workers to select from different styles or types of appropriate protective clothing when you can, and they are more likely to use it willingly.

A Body at Work Will Stay at Work if It’s Wearing the Right Protective Clothing

PPE : Respiratory Protection Requirements

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment

Respiratory Protection Requirements

Respiratory protection requirements, your first thought might be of workers wearing respirators. The respiratory protection standard doesn’t start there, though. It begins by requiring employers to first reduce workers’ exposures, if possible, using these external measures:

• Engineering controls. Engineering controls “physically change the work environment to reduce employee exposure to air contaminants,”. If it is possible to control workers exposures through the use of ventilation, process enclosures, substitution of less hazardous chemicals, or similar “engineered” methods, you are required to do that instead of putting workers in respirators.
• Administrative controls. Administrative controls restrict “the length of time or the time of day in which an employee can be exposed,”. This type of control reduces exposures using strategies such as employee rotation and scheduling work for times when air contaminant levels are low.

If you can’t reduce workers’ exposures to airborne contaminants below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) using these strategies—or if you are in the process of putting these types of controls in place, but haven’t completely implemented them yet—you’ll have to put workers in respirators.

Identifying Hazardous Atmospheres

When you’re implementing a respiratory protection program, you’ll need to select appropriate respirators. The first question you must answer when you’re selecting respirators is, what kind of hazardous atmosphere are my workers exposed to? As with controls, you’re working from the outside—what are the hazards in the air?—in. Hazardous atmospheres may be:

• Oxygen deficient. If there’s less than 19.5% oxygen in the air, the atmosphere is “immediately dangerous to life and health.” No air-filtering respirator will correct an oxygen-deficient atmosphere; you’ll have to choose air-supplying respirators.
• Contaminated with chemicals. Nearly 500 common hazardous chemicals and many more have published nonregulatory exposure limits.
• Contaminated with biological hazards. Sometimes you need to worry about whether your workers are exposed to airborne diseases, like tuberculosis (which is spread from person to person), hantavirus (which is spread by dried animal excreta), or valley fever (which is spread by contaminated dust).
• Contaminated with radiological hazards. When radioactive materials become airborne, they can be very dangerous to workers. Special respirators are available that can remove radiological hazards from workers’ breathing air.
• Potential emergency situations. If a foreseeable workplace emergency could release airborne contaminants, you may need a respiratory protection program.

Implementing a Respiratory Protection Program

If you do have hazardous atmospheres in your workplace that cannot be eliminated through engineering or administrative controls, you will need a comprehensive respiratory protection program. 

This required written program must cover:

With more organizations hiring independent contractors to deal with economic, staffing, and business challenges—with typical duties including janitorial duties, building construction and renovation, different production activities, security, and maintenance—it's important to understand the risk of liability your organization could face if those workers aren't properly trained on safety protocols.

Sure, in theory independent contractors are responsible for their activities, including safety, and their liability is not transferred to the company that has hired them. However, in the real world it's not always so black and white. In fact, there are many situations where your organization could be liable.

PPE : Insulated Gloves

Tool Box Talk
 
Insulated Gloves

Electricity is a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to such dangers as life-threatening electric shock and electrical burns. 

Personal protective equipment can provide an important line of defense when exposed to electrical hazards.

1. Always wear insulated rubber gloves (with canvas or leather outer gloves) when working with high voltage equipment.
2. Verify that gloves are of the maximum voltage rating for the job.
3. Wear gloves under leather gloves to prevent punctures.
4. Make sure gloves fit snugly.
5. Inspect gloves daily for holes, tears, punctures, cuts, texture changes, embedded objects etc. If gloves are damaged, do not use them.

Maintain insulated gloves in a safe, reliable condition. Verify that they are periodically inspected and tested as required organization and local illegal requirement 

PPE : Body protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment 

Body protection

You must provide your employees body protection if they are at risk for bodily injury caused by: intense heat, hazardous chemicals, splashes of hot metals and liquids, impacts from tools, machinery and materials, and contact with potentially infectious materials such as blood and radiation.
 
Types of body protection.
 
Protective clothing my include:

• Vests
• Jackets
• Aprons
• Coveralls
• Surgical gowns
• Full body suits

Protective clothing comes in a variety of materials, each suited to particular hazards. Materials for protective clothing include:

• Paper-like fiber. Disposable suits made of this material provide protection against dust and splashes.
• Treated cotton and wool. Adapts well to changing temperatures, is comfortable and fire-resistant. Protects against dust, abrasions and rough and irritating surfaces.
• Duck. Protects employees against cuts and bruises while handling heavy, sharp or rough materials.
• Leather. Leather protective clothing is often used against dry heat and flame.
• Rubber and plastics. Protects against certain acids and other chemicals.

Work Clothes and Safety

Has it ever occurred to you that your work clothes may cause you to be injured?

The fact is that the work clothes you wear to the job can affect your safety.  A simple example is the length of your pants.  If they are too long you can easily catch your heal in them coming down a ladder or trip yourself while backing up, or catch them while going down stairs.

Although you don’t see very many construction workers wearing ties that can catch in moving machinery, you do see a lot of long sleeves which can pose the same threat as a tie. 

If your sleeves are long, keep them buttoned at the wrist.  Don’t roll them up or leave them loose.  Also keep your shirt tucked in and your belt tight.  This may all sound silly but there many people who have been maimed or killed because their shirt got caught in moving machinery.  Also it is not a good idea to wear gloves around moving machinery. Never touch moving parts or machinery with or without gloves.

Watch your shoes.  Make sure they are in good condition and are suited for the job you are doing.   Good leather work boots with rubber soles are best.  Steel toes are required.

Keep your work clothes clean.  Work clothes that are dusty and greasy can cause skin irritations.  Work clothes that are soaked with oil and grease can catch fire from a spark or cigarette.

I’m sure you have heard the phrase, ”Dress for Success”. That might be true in many cases but when it comes to personal protection you should “Dress for Safety”.

PPE : Foot Protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment 

Foot Protection

Foot protection is probably about the least talked about type of personal protection. Nevertheless, it is still an important safety topic. One nail puncture could cause weeks of lost time off the job.

Organisation  must provide foot and leg protection for employees faced with the following hazards:

• Heavy objects such as barrels or tools that might roll onto or fall on employees’ feet.
• Sharp objects such as nails or spikes that might pierce the soles or uppers of shoes.
• Molten metal that might splash.
• Hot, wet or slippery surfaces.

Types of foot protection.
 
The type of foot and leg protection you provide your employees depends upon the specific workplace hazards and the specific parts of the feet or legs exposed to potential injury.

• Safety shoes. Have impact-resistant toes and heat-resistant soles that protect against hot work surfaces common in roofing, paving and hot metal industries. The metal insoles may protect against puncture wounds. Safety shoes may also be electrically conductive to prevent the buildup of static electricity or non conductive to protect workers from workplace electrical hazards.
• Leggings. Use these to protect the lower legs and feet from heat hazards, like molten metal or welding sparks. Safety snaps allow leggings to be removed quickly.
• Metatarsal guards. Made of aluminum, steel, fiber or plastic, these guards may be strapped to the outside of shoes to protect the instep area from impact and compression.
• Toe guards. Made of steel, aluminum or plastic, these guards fit over the toes of regular shoes and protect only the toes from impact and compression hazards.
• Combination foot and shin guards. These guards may be used in combination with toe guards when greater protection is needed.

Characteristics of a Suitable Boot

• Puncture resistant soles.
• Steel toes.
• Boot extends above the ankle.
• Sole provides good traction.

Type of Injuries Commonly Resulting from Poor Footwear

• Punctures from nails and tie wire.
• Bruises of the foot.
• Unsure footing.
• Blisters.
• Body fatigue.
• Mashing of foot resulting from dropped objects.

Other Acceptable Footwear

• Buckle Overshoes – for work in mud, water and concrete.
• Knee and Hip boots – for work in deep water and mud.

(Encourage use of rubber boots when placing concrete. Sometimes we forget concrete can cause severe burns if it comes into contact with the skin for any length of time.)

While implementing safety shoes for an industrial environment (assembly lines, grinding, honing, electrical work, and other tasks) or Construction job site, several key technical details should be considered:

1. Safety toe protection:
• Steel, composite, or alloy toe caps
• IS 15298: Indian standard for safety, protective, and occupational footwear.
• Should meet ASTM F2413 or equivalent standards for impact and compression resistance EN ISO 20345: European standard for safety footwear.
• ASTM F2413: American standard for protective footwear.
2. Electrical hazard (EH) protection:
• Shoes should be rated for electrical hazard protection
• Non-conductive soles to protect against electrical shocks
3. Slip resistance:
• Outsoles with good traction on various surfaces
• Look for shoes meeting ASTM F2913 standards
4. Puncture resistance:
• Reinforced midsoles to prevent sharp objects from penetrating
5. Metatarsal protection:
• Additional guard over the metatarsal area for protection against falling objects
6. Oil and chemical resistance:
• Uppers and outsoles resistant to common industrial fluids
7. Heat resistance:
• For areas with high temperatures or molten metal splash risks
8. Ankle support:
• High-top or mid-top designs for better ankle protection
9. Comfort and fit:
• Cushioned insoles and ergonomic design for all-day wear
• Breathable materials to manage moisture
10. Durability:
• Quality materials and construction to withstand harsh industrial environments
11. Compliance:
• Meet or exceed relevant safety standards (e.g., ASTM, ANSI, ISO)

Important Note : Almost all of us work on our feet or at least use our feet to get to work. Doesn’t it make sense to take good care of our feet in order to insure that they are able to get us to work?

PPE : Hand Protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment 

Hand Protection

Hand injuries are common in workplace. This is because the hands are engaged in almost all activities on the job. Can you imagine any occupation that does not make use of the hand?

Hands are so important because of their utility. They provide us with the dexterity needed to perform most daily activities. In fact, hands, as tools, are so versatile and can perform many intricate functions more than any single known tool developed by man.

 
Suitable gloves should be worn when chemicals and harmful temperature are present or when employees are at risk for cuts, lacerations, abrasions, punctures or burns. Glove selection should be based on performance characteristics of the gloves, conditions, duration of use and hazards present. One type of glove will not work in all situations.
 
The first step in glove selection for use against chemicals is to determine the exact nature of the substances. Read instructions and warnings on chemical container labels and Material Safety Data Sheets before working with any chemical. Recommended glove types are often listed on such labels in the PPE section.
 
Types of hand protection.
 
Gloves can be divided into three groups:

1. Durable work gloves. Made of metal mesh, leather or canvas and provide protection against cuts, burns and sustained heat. Leather gloves protect against sparks, moderate heat, blows, chips and rough objects. Welders specifically should use leather gloves.
2. Fabric and coated fabric gloves. Made of cotton or other fabrics to provide varying degrees of protection. They can protect against dirt, slivers, chafing and abrasion. Cut protection can be accomplished using kevlar or similar materials in gloves. The newest versions of the cut free gloves also offer chemical resistance and excellent hand dexterity. Fabric gloves do not provide sufficient protection for working with rough, sharp or heavy material. However, adding a plastic coating to some fabric gloves strengthens them and makes them effective protection for a variety of tasks ranging from handling bricks and wire rope to handling chemical containers in laboratory operations.
3. Chemical and liquid resistant gloves. Made of rubber, plastic or synthetic rubber-like material, they protect workers from burns, irritation and dermatitis caused by contact with oils, greases, solvents and other chemicals. The use of rubber gloves also reduces the risk of exposure to blood and other potentially infectious substances.

Someone commented that the “hands and fingers are the instruments of the mind.” If that is true, it must become very difficult to be productive when your hands are injured or lost as a result of an accident. Whatever the construction craft, a worker must be able to use both hands in order to get the job accomplished.

Causes of Hand Injuries:

• Inattention.
• Taking chances.
• Exposure to rough materials.
• Stacking of heavy materials (i.e., getting your hand or fingers caught between materials).
• Cut by sharp objects.
• Mashed (or hit by) tools.
• Burns.
• Caught in machinery.

How to Protect Your Hands:

• Wear gloves whenever possible.
• Pay attention to the task being performed.
• Use the proper tools.
• Make sure any equipment used has hand guards in place.

No wonder hands are highly useful on our jobs. There are many dangerous conditions on the job to which the hand is always exposed.

Your hands may look tough, but when you get scratches, cuts, bruises or mashed that seriously injure your hands, you take a chance of losing them. In this business you can’t work without them.

Should any injuries occur to your hands, be use to get immediate treatment. Without treatment, a minor cut can turn into a major problem with infection.

Sharp edges, pinch points, protruding objects, splinters, exposed blades on unguarded machinery and many more. These conditions may not always be too obvious to the working person.

Pinch points are basically traps for the hand especially. Doors may pinch your fingers if you get them caught in a jam. Paying attention and being aware of their existence helps us to avoid pinch points. We also need to take the proper precautions to avoid being pinched.

Our hands are also subject to cuts, bruises, burns and poking. Handling sharp objects, hot objects, rough materials and splinters without the necessary hand protection are sure signs of invitation for hand injury. A necessary precaution to take is to wear approved work gloves.

Not all gloves protect you from all hand injuries. Check the appropriateness of the glove for the task before using them. Precautions must still be taken to reduce the level of danger before handling very dangerous material. Lockout machinery and power before reaching into them.

Check and clear doorways and aisles and make sure you have proper head clearance before you move loads through.

Machines are guarded to avoid accidental exposure of its moving parts to the hands and parts of the body. Make sure machines are guarded at all times.

• Do not wear rings or wedding bands when working with machinery.
• Do not pick up broken glass or spilled machine parts with your bare hands. 

Remember :

• Work gloves cannot prevent all hand injuries—only safe work practices can do that.
• Your hands will obey any commands your brain sends them. Use your brain. Avoid dangers and protect your hands. You need them as long as you live.

PPE : Respirators Protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment 

Dust Mask / Respirators

Dust masks are often used in areas with nuisance dusts and other particulates. When properly worn, rated masks (such as N95) work well for particulates. There are other special ratings that are effective for certain levels of welding fumes or oil mists.

Hazards to watch for:

• While dust masks can be very effective, they are not appropriate in all cases. Check with your supervisor before using one in new situations.
• Do not use in areas with low oxygen or high carbon monoxide levels.
• Dust masks do not work well for organic compounds such as paints and solvents.
• They are not effective without a good seal.
• They won’t work with beards or goatees, and mustaches must be neatly trimmed in order to get a good seal. Safe procedures:
• Make sure a dust mask is appropriate for the hazard. If unsure, talk to your supervisor.
• Place both straps over your head, one below your ears, and the other above your ears.
• Pull the straps tight, and adjust the nose piece, if adjustable. Make sure there are no leaks.
• Store away from contaminants. A good container or zip lock bags work well for storage.
• Replace when damaged, visibly dirty, or if breathing becomes difficult.

 A dust mask can help keep you healthy and more comfortable in your job, but only if properly
used. Key things to remember:

1. Make sure the hazard can be controlled by a dust mask.
2. Select the right dust mask for the task.
3. Minimize leaks around the mask.

Generally: No respiratory program is required when filtering - face piece respirators are the only respirator used and they are used voluntarily.

• Respirators will be worn when the employee is exposed to hazards such as fumes, gases, mists, vapors and sprays
• Fit testing shall occur prior to allowing an employee to wear the respirator.
• Employees should be fit tested at minimum of annually to ensure the employee is putting on the respirator properly.
• Respirators shall be kept in a sanitary condition, covered at all times when not in use.
•  Respirator training should be conducted prior to wearing the respirator for the first time.

Company Specific: We want all our line employees to:

• Inspect the respirator before each use.
• Know how to properly don/fit their respirator.
• Conduct a positive pressure or negative pressure check with each use.
• Report any and all problems to your supervisor.
• Take proper care of the respirator.
• Never hang respirator on a nail or leave exposed to dust.

The reason we wear respirator is to protect our lungs and bodies against hazardous fumes, gases, mists, vapors or sprays.

                            Let’s talk about how dust masks should be used here at work.

PPE : Ear Protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment 

Ear Protection 

Many Industries & Construction business are overexposed to noise.

In time, overexposure permanently damages our ability to hear. Older workers can start to feel lonely and frustrated as hearing loss over the years makes it tough to communicate with family and friends.

We can slow down or stop hearing loss by taking precautions.

Noise is generally measured in dB(A).

You should wear hearing protection if you’re exposed to average daily noise levels of more than 85 dBA. Most power tools and equipment used in construction operate well over this level.

Since it’s difficult to reduce noise levels on site, the next best choice is hearing protection.

There are two main types: muffs and plugs.

MUFFS:

• Muffs are useful for intermittent noisy work because they are quick and easy to put on and take off.
• Muffs don’t last forever. Protection and comfort decrease over time. 
• Muff cushions must be replaced every year.
• Tension in the headband needs to be just right. Too loose... they don’t give you enough protection. Too tight... they’re uncomfortable.

PLUGS:

• Plugs are light and comfortable for most users. But they have to be put in properly to work right. And your hands have to be clean to insert or remove them.
• Contaminated earplugs can irritate or infect your ears.
• Plugs come in disposable and permanent types.Disposables are to be used once and once only.

It’s important to know that overexposure to noise doesn’t necessarily take a long time. Short periods of very high noise can cause overexposure.

For example, working for only 15 minutes with a gas powered quick-cut saw will lead to overexposure for that day.

Important

Review any special requirements for hearing protection on the site. Determine what types of protection are being worn. Identify some tasks that require hearing protection on the project. Demonstrate how to fit plugs.

PPE :- Eye Protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment sonal Protective Equipment

Eye Protection

Eye protection should be used when employees are exposed to flying particles, molten metal, acids or caustic liquids, chemical liquids, gases or vapors, bio-aerosols or light radiation

Every day several eye injuries are occurring at work place . The financial cost of these injuries are very high also loss in production time, medical expenses, and workers’ compensation.  Money figure can reflect the personal toll these accidents take on the injured workers.

The protection of your sight requires three extremes: extremely easy, extremely important, and too often, extremely forgotten. Once you have lost an eye or your ability to see, it’s too late. Protecting your eyes is the easiest thing to do, if you care about your eyes.

No one has to tell us that seeing is important. But it’s surprising how many jobs we do without protecting our eyes.

Just think of the eye hazards in Industries & construction:

• Flying dust and slivers from sawing, chipping, grinding
• Dirt and grit blown by the wind
  
• Welding arcs
• Ultraviolet radiation from the sun
• Sparks and slag from welding and cutting
• Abrasives from sandblasting
• Splash from chemicals and cleansers
• Pipe and wire sticking out of walls
• Ties and wire hanging down from ceilings.

Hazards:

• Flying particles. Almost 70 percent of the accidents result from flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye.
• Contact with chemicals. On average chemicals cause one-fifth of eye injuries.
• Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job.
• Particles trapped in eyebrows or hair, and then falling into the eye after the safety glasses are removed.

Safe procedures:

• Always wear effective eye protection. OSH standards require that employers provide workers with suitable eye protection.
• Make sure eye wear is the appropriate type for the hazard and properly fitted.n Safety glasses with side shields are required when there is a hazard from flying particles. A face shield is often required to effectively block particles when grinding.
• Splash goggles or a face shield is required when pouring hazardous chemicals.
• Carefully brush particles out of the hair before removing eye protection.
• Maintain eye wear. Scratched and dirty safety glasses reduce vision, cause glare, and may not offer full protection. They should be replaced

Follow these rules of thumb:

• Contact lens wearers must also wear appropriate eye and face protection in hazardous environments.
• Side protectors must be used when there is risk of flying objects.
• Goggles and face shields must be used when there is risk of chemical splashes.
• Face shields must be worn over primary eye protection such as safety glasses or goggles when the situation requires.
• Prescription lens wearers must either incorporate the prescription into their PPE design or it should fit properly over the prescription lenses.
• Equipment fitted with appropriate filter lenses should be used to protect against light radiation. Tinted and shaded lenses are generally not filter lenses.

Types of eye protection.

1. Safety glasses. Made with safety frames constructed of metal or plastic and are fitted with either corrective or impact-resistant lenses. They come with and without side shields, but most workplace operations require side shields.
2. Impact-resistant glasses. Can be used for moderate impact from particles produced by such jobs as carpentry, woodworking and grinding.
3. Side shields. Protect against particles that might enter the eyes from the side. Eye-cup side shields provide the best protection.
4. Goggles. Choose from many types of goggles, each designed for specific hazards. Generally, goggles protect eyes, eye sockets and the facial areas immediately surrounding the eyes from impact, dust and splashes. Some goggles fit over prescription lenses.
5. Welding shields. Constructed of vulcanized fiber or fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens. Welding shields protect employees’ eyes from burns caused by infrared or intense radiant light and protect the face and eyes from flying sparks, metal spatter and slag chips.
6. Laser safety goggles. Provide a range of protection against the intense concentrations of light produced by lasers. The type you choose depends on the equipment and conditions in your workplace.
7. Face shields. These transparent sheets of plastic extend from the brow to below the chin across the entire width of the employee’s head. Some are polarized for glare protection. Choose face shields to protect your employees’ faces from nuisance dusts and splashes or sprays of liquids.

It is important a that emergency eyewash facilities are available in areas where the eyes of any employee may be exposed to corrosive materials.

Types of Eye Injuries

• Small flying objects such as dust or other microscopic objects.
• Particles resulting from chipping, grinding, sawing, brushing, hammering or using power tools (including nail guns). (These items move with the speed of a bullet and can permanently damage your eyes.)
• Liquids such as chemicals, tar, asphalt solvents, paints or masonry cleaning solutions.
• Invisible light rays such as those generated by welding operations or by a laser beam.

Methods of Protection

• Safety glasses
• Safety goggles
• Face shields
• Welding hoods

Eye protection is the answer. 

• To be effective, eye protection must be properly selected and fitted. Wearing the right protection can prevent most eye injuries.
• Basic eye protection is safety glasses with side shields. Your glasses should meet the safety standard for impact resistance. This means the frames must be manufactured so that the lens won’t push through on impact.
• Safety eye wear must have the manufacturer’s mark on the frame and on the lens. For welding, the eye wear must also be marked with the “shade” number.
• Non-prescription or “plano” eye wear must also be marked with the safety logo.
• Don’t wear contact lenses on site. Dust and other particles can get under the surface. If you must wear contact lenses for medical reasons, wear appropriate eye protection.
• [Where applicable, review the company policy on providing and replacing safety eye wear.]
• Keep your safety glasses on when you wear other protection such as a welding helmet or face shield.
• Why? Because when you lift up the visor or shield you may still be exposed to flying chips, dust, or other hazards on site.
• Match eye wear to hazard. Goggles that protect you from dust may not protect you from splash or radiation.

Eye wear should fit firmly.

• Clean dirty lenses by using water or a lens cleaning solution to float the dirt away instead of scratching it into the lenses.
• Ensure that pitted or scratched lenses and filters are replaced, since they may impair vision and reduce impact resistance.
• [Review any special requirements with your crew— welding helmets, sandblasting hoods, face shields, etc.]
• Get your eyes checked every couple of years to make sure that problems haven’t developed or gotten worse.
• Protecting your eyes from injury on the job is one of the easiest things you can do.
• You’ve only got one pair of eyes. Make them last a lifetime.
• [Take a look at eye protection currently used by crew. Talk about jobs on the project where eye protection should be worn.]

We’ve all had dust and dirt in our eyes. Some of us have been hit in the eye by chips of wood, concrete, or stone.

A little bigger, a little faster – these particles can leave us with limited sight or none at all.

Important Notes : 

• It is estimated that 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented through the use of proper protective eye wear. Nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident.
• There are many kinds of safety glasses or goggles available on the market; some are really cool. Eye injuries occur in a split second. Don’t blind yourself to the necessity of protecting your eyes.

PPE :- Head Protection

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment

Head Protection

Head injuries are not the most commonly reported work accident, but are by far among the most devastating. One serious blow to the head can leave an employee disabled for life.

Head injuries can be as simple as a minor bump, bruise or cut or as serious as a life long impairment or even death. Hard hats are designed to resist blows and penetration. Hard hats have an impact absorbing suspension system that puts a barrier space between your head and the shell of the hard hat.

There are some practical reasons for wearing a hard hat. They help keep your head cooler in summer; dry during rain; and helps shield your ears from noise. 

But the main reason to wear a hard hat is that it protects the control center part of your body—your head.

Head protection should be provided if: (Hazards)

• Overhead falling Objects might fall from above and strike employees on the head.
• Fixed objects over head: Employees might bump their heads against fixed objects, such as exposed pipes.
• Employees Head contact with electrical hazards or work near exposed electrical conductors.
• Swinging objects

Follow these rules of thumb. In general, protective helmets or hard hats should:

• The hard hats should be selected based on the hazards expected on the job.
• Resist penetration by objects.
• Absorb the shock of a blow.
• Be water resistant and slow burning.
• Come with instructions explaining proper adjustment and replacement of the headband.

These are the three classes: G , E & C

• (G) General use: Resists impact, penetration and low voltage electrical protection
• (E) Electrical: Resists impact, penetration and high voltage electrical protection
• (C) Conductive: Provides impact and penetration resistance only.

These are the two types:

Type I: Hard hats intended to reduce force of impact from a blow to the top of the head.
Type II: Hard hats intended to reduce force of impact to the top and sides of the head.

• Inspect your hard hat daily to assure shell and suspension systems are in good working order.
• Adjust your hard hat suspension system to fit your head properly.
• Keep your hard hat clean by using warm soapy water or the method recommended by the manufacturer. Rinse completely. Dry before use.
• Wear the hard hat in the direction that the manufacturer recommends and for which use it was designed.
• Store your hard hat out of the sun in a cool place, not the back window of a vehicle.
• Replace a hard hat if it has sustained an impact, it is damaged or if it is older than five years.

Types of head protection.

 
Each kind of protective helmet is designed to protect against specific hazards.

1. Hard hats. As their name suggests, they are made of rigid, impact-resistant, non-flammable materials. The shell is held on the head by a network of straps and harnesses, which fit over the head itself and cushion impact. Hard hats are divided into three industrial classes:
• Class A. For general service. They provide good impact protection, but limited voltage protection. They are used mainly in mining, construction, shipbuilding, lumbering and manufacturing.
• Class B. For your employees who do electrical work. They protect against falling objects and high-voltage shock and burns.
• Class C. These lightweight helmets offer comfort, but limited protection. They protect workers if they bump against fixed objects, but do not protect against falling objects or electric shock.
2. Bump caps. Do not protect against blows to the head or other serious impacts such as from falling objects. Made of lightweight plastic, these protect against minor bumps only. Bump caps should never be used in place of hard hats. Bump caps are commonly used when working in confined spaces where there are no serious head hazards.
3. Hair covers. Made of breathable, lightweight materials, are often required when working around machinery. This type of head wear is usually adjustable and may have a front visor to let employees know when they get too close to the machine. Hair covers help prevent hair from becoming caught in moving machine parts.

Although these are the most common types of protective head wear, the particular tasks your employees do may require that special safety accessories be added to the basic protector. For example, a thermal liner may be required if your employees work in extremely cold temperatures or lamp brackets may be attached if work areas are dark.

What a Hard Hat Does

• Protects you from falling objects.
• Protects your head in case of a fall or bump’s into machinery, duct work and the like.
• Protects you from electrical shocks and burns if it's a non-conductive hat.
• It is a neat place to put stickers and decals, especially first aid trained or safety committee member.

Proper Care: In order for your hard hat to take care of you, you need to care for your hat.

• Always keep your hard hat properly adjusted.
• Do not cut, bend or heat the hard hat.
• When you see deep gouges or cracks in the shell, or the hat color turns dull, its time for a new one.

Proper Wear:

• Do not wear it backwards.
• Don’t put anything inside your hard hat except your head.
• Don’t try to substitute it for a “bump cap.” The bump cap will not provide adequate protection from falling objects; just isn’t strong enough.
• It is not a stool or a step; doing so weakens the shell of the hard hat.

OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) does not specify an exact timeframe for replacing hard hats, Regulations emphasize that employers must ensure hard hats are in good condition and provide adequate protection. The general guidelines for helmet replacement are based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and the conditions in which the helmet is used.   

1. Service Life:

• Shell: Typically, the recommended lifespan of a hard hat shell is 2-5 years from the date of first use. This can vary depending on the work environment (e.g., exposure to sunlight, extreme temperatures, or chemicals).
• Suspension: The internal suspension should be replaced every 12 months or sooner if there is visible wear or damage.

2. Inspection and Replacement:

• Hard hats should be inspected before each use for any visible signs of wear, dents, cracks, holes, or any damage to the suspension system.
• Replace the hard hat immediately if there is any sign of damage, even if it's within the lifespan window.
• Exposure to UV light, chemicals, and extreme temperatures can degrade the materials faster, so hard hats used in such conditions may need to be replaced more frequently.

Key Recommendations:

• Replace every 2-5 years: Even if the helmet shows no visible damage, replace it every 2-5 years (depending on the environment and usage).
• Replace after impact: If the hard hat sustains a significant impact, it should be replaced immediately, even if no damage is visible.
• Check : Always follow manufacturer's instructions / recommendations for the helmet model being used.

General Requirement : 

OSH requires that hard hats meet the Country / Internation standard, which includes guidance on inspection, care, and replacement.

Important Note:  

The average hard hat weighs about 14 ounces. The average head weighs about 14 pounds. That’s about one ounce of protection for each pound of head. A small price to pay to protect the control center of your body.

Point to Remember: 

1. To protect your head from the impact of falling or fixed objects, wear your hard hat. 
2. Select, inspect, adjust, clean and store your hard hat as recommended by the manufacturer. 
3. Your hard hat has to be on your head to provide you with the designed protection.
4. When working on scaffolding and exposed to falling objects, a hard hat must be worn.