What to Know About Choosing Proper PPE

by Dan Ankney

One of the most common industrial hazards during spill cleanup is the accidental exposure to dangerous chemicals. This is where Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) comes in. Choosing and using the right PPE for chemical spills in the workplace can help keep employees safe and protected while cleaning up a potentially dangerous spill.

Let’s start by looking at the proper process for choosing PPE before we move on to head-to-toe PPE for emergency or hazardous spills.

Questions to Ask When Choosing PPE

When selecting PPE for chemical spills in the workplace, several factors need to be taken into consideration. The primary things to consider are:

1. What chemical and chemical concentration will be in contact with the PPE?
2. How long will the PPE be exposed to this chemical?
3. What is the exposure level to the chemical (mist, spray, drench, etc.)?
4. Which parts of the body will get the most exposure (face, arms, legs, or torso)?

The PPE selected will be based on the answers to these questions as well as each unique situation.

Ultimately, it’s the employer’s responsibility to select and provide the appropriate PPE for employees (1910.132(d)(1) / 1910.132(h)(1)). There are certain exemptions where the employer isn’t responsible for providing PPE, though. These exemptions can be found in the OSHA 1910.132(h)(1) standards. Employers are also responsible for training employees on the proper use of PPE (1910.132(f)(1)).

Below is one process for choosing the correct PPE.

Assessing the Workplace for Hazards

To determine if there’s a need for PPE, employers should ask these questions (1910.132(d)(1) (I) through (III)):

Are there hazards present in the workplace?
Is it likely that workplace conditions could create new hazards in the future?
Do those current and potential future hazards create a need for the use of PPE?

Choosing PPE for the Workplace

If the assessment finds hazards, the employer should take the following actions:

Select PPE to protect affected employees from the hazards in the assessment and make sure affected employees use that PPE
Communicate these PPE decisions to each employee who will need to use it
Make sure PPE fits each affected employee properly

Training on Use of PPE

Employees who are required to use PPE need to be trained on using it (1910.132(f)(1) (I) through (V)).

Here’s what the training should entail:

When PPE is necessary
What PPE is required
How to properly use PPE, including:
o Donning
o Doffing
o Adjusting
o Wearing
The PPE’s limitations
How to properly care for, maintain and dispose of the PPE
Determining when PPE has met the end of its useful life

Let’s take a look at the types of PPE that can help protect responders facing chemical spills in the workplace – from head to toe.

Eye and Face Protection

When dealing with chemicals, there are two main types of eye and face protection: goggles and face shields. Goggles are designed to protect the eye, eye socket and the area immediately surrounding the eye. Face shields protect the entire face.

There are several factors to consider when selecting goggles, such as lens shape and color, frame type and if a vent is needed. When selecting a face shield there are two factors to consider: shield and headgear type.

Chemical-Resistant Gloves — Find the Right Chemical-Resistant Glove

Hand Protection

Gloves are one of the most important pieces of PPE for spill response. An employee’s hands could see direct contact with the chemical if they weren’t wearing gloves, leaving them open to dangerous chemical exposure that can have significant health impacts.

When selecting a glove, one of the most important factors to consider is chemical compatibility. Chemical compatibility for gloves is measured by permeation and degradation. Permeation is the amount of time it takes for the chemical to leach through the glove, and degradation is the amount of time it takes for the chemical to physically break down the glove.

To ensure proper usage, chemical compatibility testing is conducted by the manufacturer to specific ASTM test standards. Chemical compatibility guides can be found in the additional information section of our website. These guides provide a list of chemicals that the item has been tested with and provide a rating that takes both pereating and degradation into consideration. Other factors to consider during glove selection are cuff length, thickness, lining, and texture.

Body Protection

Personal Protective Equipment for the body comes in many configurations. Effective, full-body PPE can be achieved through a variety of options depending on individual application. These types of PPE can invlude chemically resistant aprons, suits or coveralls. The selection of appropriate items should be based on the chemical, bodily exposure risk and anticipated exposure time.

Protective suits come in four different levels.

Shop for Hazmat & Chemical Protective Clothing

Level A – Use when you need the highest level of skin, eye, respiratory, and mucous membrane protection. Includes either a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) or a Supplied Air Respirator (SAR) with egress bottle.

Level B – Use when you need the highest level of respiratory protection, but a lower level of skin, eye, and membrane protection. Includes either an SCBA or SAR with egress bottle.

Level C – Select this suit when the type of airborne substance is known, its concentration is measured, the criteria for using Air-Purifying Respirators (APR) are met, and skin and eye exposure is unlikely.

Level D – Wear a work uniform where no eye, skin or respiratory hazards are present.

New Pig offers suits for all of the levels mentioned above.

Respiratory Protection

Chemical vapors and particulate matter can pose a potential safety hazard during spill cleanup. Generally, these contaminants affect mucous membranes (eyes, nose and mouth). A respirator can be used to help protect employees during spill cleanup. The respirator selected would depend on the contaminate in the air, the exposure level, and the suit type. Fit testing must be conducted for each employee that will use a respirator. This testing must be done in accordance with the OSHA regulations in 1910.134 App A.

Find respirators and filters here.

Both PPE selection and training play an important role in successful spill cleanup. Typically, a company’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager will be the person to access the task and select the appropriate PPE.

Have questions about choosing PPE? Ask us in the comments!

TAGS: Safety, Spills

Questions to Ask When Choosing PPE

Assessing the Workplace for Hazards

Choosing PPE for the Workplace

Training on Use of PPE

Eye and Face Protection

Hand Protection

Body Protection

Respiratory Protection

Dan Ankney

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