Module 1 - Safety

Unit 1

Unit 1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Objective
Each student will understand what personal protective equipment (PPE) is, the correct
use and wear of PPE, and the importance it has in the workplace.

Skills
Each student will gain the following skills from this unit:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Select and wear proper safety attire on the job site, including PPE.
Accept responsibility for the personal safety of other workers.
Demonstrate personal safety rules.
Identify locations of all first aid equipment and materials.

Instructor Preparation
Study Unit 1 Personal Protective Equipment and be prepared to discuss the specific
PPE covered in this unit. Consider what additional PPE may be required for the
particular trades and skills your students are learning. Be prepared to provide
practical examples and the need for PPE in those areas.

Materials & Equipment

Each student should be prepared with the following PPE:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Hard hat
Safety Glasses
Appropriate Footwear
Work Gloves
Ear Protection

Each laboratory should be equipped with the following:

a. First Aid Kit
b. Eyewash Station

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Unit 1

Suggested Unit Development

Read aloud or have a student read aloud the introduction and each paragraph. Briefly
discuss the importance of safety and personal protective equipment. If you have not
already done so, this may be an appropriate time to discuss the class rules.
1.1.0 Introduction
Beginning a new job can be exciting and frightening at the same time. With a new job, you have
new responsibilities, new skills to learn, new people to interact with, and a new environment to
work in. Many job sites may have many hazards. Our first responsibility is to do a good job for
our employer, but that should never conflict with our personal safety. That is why we often
hear the phrase, Safety First. Always consider your surroundings and what potential dangers
may exist. This unit provides a summary of common personal protective equipment, or PPE,
found at most job sites.

Discuss the idea of Safety First and how it relates to our responsibility to our
employer.
1.1.1 First Aid Equipment and Its Use
The idea of making safety the first priority means we are prepared for potential accidents and
hazards. The first step to being prepared is to have a first aid kit on every job site. OSHA
(Occupational
Safety
and
Health
Administration)
publishes
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3317first-aid.pdf which is a guide to fundamental first
aid for the workplace.
The minimum first aid kit is defined here:
http://www.nwhealth.edu/safety/firstaid.pdf
OSHA First Aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151) requires trained first aid
providers at all workplaces of any size if there is no infirmary,
clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used
for the treatment of all injured employees. At a bare minimum,
this requires that someone survey the work site and determine
what types of injuries are possible. Training and equipment should
be customized to the findings of that survey. It is advisable for the
employer to give a specific person the responsibility for choosing
the types and amounts of first aid supplies and for maintaining
those supplies. But a first aid kit is useless without someone trained
to use it.
You need to familiarize yourself with the contents and know what you would do before an
accident occurs. Training for first aid is offered by the American Heart Association, the American
Red Cross, the National Safety Council, and other nationally recognized and private educational
organizations. Your employer should select several workers to be trained and identified to all
workers as the work site first aid representatives.

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Unit 1

Tour the laboratory as if it was your first work site.

Hazards recognized:
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________

______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

Location of First Aid Kit ______________________________________________________

Contents of First Aid Kit ______________________________________________________
Location of Eyewash Station __________________________________________________
Five-Minute First Aid: http://www.5min.com/Category/Health/First%20Aid

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Unit 1

1.1.2 Appropriate Work Clothing

You need to think about what you are going to wear to school and to your new job. Is it safe?
Loose-fitting clothes, baggy jeans, dangly scarves, and even long hair can all become caught in
power equipment. Long hair should be taken up. Loose-fitting clothes are not appropriate in
the laboratory or on the job site.

1.1.3 Hard Hat

This picture shows a typical hard hat. The outer shell of the hat
protects your head from a hard blow. The webbing inside the
hat maintains space between the shell and your head. Adjust
the headband so that the webbing fits your head and there is
at least one inch of space between your head and the shell.
Do not alter your hard hat in any way. Inspect your hard hat
every time you use it. If there are any cracks or dents in the
shell or if the webbing straps are worn or torn, get a new hard hat. Wash the webbing and
headband with soapy water as often as needed to keep them clean. Wear the hard hat only as
the manufacturer recommends. Never wear anything under your hard hat.

Hand out hard hats for each student. Take a minute to allow each student to inspect the
hard hat for defects. Have each student adjust the headband and ensure a proper fit.
Each student should label his or her hard hat.

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Unit 1

1.1.4 Eye and Face Protection

Wear eye protection whenever you are working in the laboratory.
The goggles at the left are made to fit over existing eyeglasses.
The ones below are for workers who do not wear eyeglasses for
vision correction. Safety glasses will protect you from objects
flying toward your face. You can add side shields for protection
from the sides. In some cases, you may need a face shield. Safety
goggles give your eyes the best protection from all directions.

Hand out safety glasses to each student. Have each student try them on and make
necessary adjustments for comfort.

You may not just use your sunglasses. The sides and lens of safety
glasses are important parts of their function and safety rating. Eye and
face protection must meet the requirements specified in American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard Z87.1-1968 and should be
used during the following tasks:

Grinding and chipping

Using power saws and other tools/equipment that can throw out solid material
Working with molten lead, tar pots, and other molten materials
Working with chemicals, acids, and corrosive liquids
Arc welding

On the job site, areas where there are potential eye hazards are usually identified, but you
should always be on the lookout for possible hazards.
Follow these general precautions for eye care:

Always report all eye injuries and suspected foreign material in your eye to your
supervisor immediately. Do not try to remove foreign material yourself.
Keep your hands away from your eyes.
Keep material out of your eyes by regularly clearing debris from your hard hat brim, the
top of your goggles, and your face shield.
Flood your eyes with water if you feel something in them. Never rub them, as this can
make the problem worse.
Know the location of eyewash stations and how to use them.

What is the Main Point? __________________________________________________________

Students should take a few minutes and write down in their workbooks what they
perceive as the main point of the paragraphs above.

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Unit 1

1.1.5 Safe Foot Wear

Work boots will not be required in the laboratory but they may be
required on your first job site, so it is a good time to think about what
you are going to wear. What would it feel like if a 2 x 4 or a hammer
fell on your foot? Untied laces are also safety hazards. What shoes do
you have that are better protection as opposed to looking cool?" The
soles of work boots have heavy
patterns to prevent slips and falls.
Some work boots have steel toes beneath the surface that
provide even more protection for your foot when something is
dropped. Your employer may require these. Now is a good
time to begin making a list of such items that may be needed.
With your job search only weeks away, anything you can do to
get ahead of the game will pay off in the future.
1.1.6 Gloves
On many jobs, you must wear heavy-duty gloves to protect your
hands. Work gloves are usually made of cloth, canvas, or leather.
Gloves may not be appropriate in every work situation. Gloves can
easily be caught in rotating saw blades and other moving equipment.
Do not be afraid to ask for advice from your supervisor or a more
experienced worker.
Gloves help prevent cuts and scrapes when you handle sharp or
rough materials. Heat-resistant gloves are sometimes used for
handling hot materials.
Replace your gloves when they become worn, torn, or soaked with
oil or chemicals. Special rubber gloves should be worn when
handling chemicals.
Electricians use special rubber-insulated
gloves when they work on or around live
circuits. These gloves should be tested
regularly to make sure they will protect the user. After visually
inspecting rubber-insulated gloves, other defects may be observed by
blowing the glove full of air and checking for leaks.

Discussion: Ask the students the following true or false question, A proper pair of
electricians gloves will protect anyone while working around electrical lines. Answer:
It depends on the rating from the manufacturer. Gloves offer protection up to a rated
number of volts.
1.1.7 Hearing Protection
6

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Unit 1

Exposure to loud noise over a long period of time can cause hearing loss, even if the noise is not
loud enough to cause pain. Hearing loss diminishes your quality of life and makes simple, daily
tasks more complicated. You will often work in a noisy environment, and it is up to you to
protect your hearing. The simple rule is that you need to wear either earplugs or earmuffs when
you are exposed to noise. The longer the exposure, the greater your chances are for hearing
loss.
Most companies follow OSHA regulations to determine when hearing
protection must be used. One type of hearing protection is specially designed
earplugs that fit into your ears and filter out noise. You should clean your
earplugs regularly with soap and water to prevent ear infection.
Another type of hearing protection is earmuffs, which are large
padded covers for the entire ear. You must adjust the headband on
earmuffs for a snug fit. If the noise level is very high, you may need
to wear both earplugs and earmuffs. Noise-induced hearing loss can
be prevented by using noise control measures and personal
protective equipment.
Scientists measure sound in decibels. Low decibel levels indicate
quieter sounds, whereas high decibel levels indicate louder sounds.
It is not a measure of pitch. Table 1 below shows the recommended maximum length of
exposure to sound levels rated 90 decibels and higher. When noise levels exceed those outlined
in Table 1, an effective hearing conservation program is required. A company-appointed
program administrator should oversee this program. If you have questions about the hearing
conservation program on your site, see your supervisor or the program administrator.
Table 1 Maximum Length of Exposure per Noise Level
Sound Level
(Decibels)

Maximum Hours of Continuous

Exposure per Work Day:

Example of Equipment or
Machinery in use:

90

Power Lawn Mower

92

Belt Sander

95

Tractor

97

Hand Drill

100

Chain Saw

102

1.5

Impact Wrench

105

Spray Painter

110

0.5

Power Shovel

115

0.25 or less

Hammer Drill

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Unit 1

Discuss the different variables shown in Table 1 and determine whether the students
understand the relationship between the sound level and the number of hours of
continuous exposure.
1.1.8 Lifting and Carrying Materials in a Safe Manner
Chances are you know someone with chronic back pain. Chronic pain is pain that does not go
away. This pain may come from years of neglect. Many jobs involve lifting heavy objects and
carrying them a distance to where they will be used. As a beginning laborer you will be
expected to carry your load." So, from day one, you are at risk of back injury. Hurting your
back can injure you in many ways. If back pain keeps you from work or makes your work less
efficient than others, it will cost you money in lost wages and promotions. You need to learn to
lift properly and strengthen your core abdominal muscles. Exercise is not discussed in this text,
but you should investigate what exercises you should do, especially if you have already
experienced pain. Back injury and repetitive motion injuries are common in the industry. Just
as you learned in physical education class, stretching your muscles prior to strenuous exercise or
work is helpful.
What is the main point? ______________________________________________________

Students should take a few minutes and write down in their workbooks what they
perceive as the main point of the above paragraph.
Many workplaces will require you to wear a back brace or safety belt. It is not a fashion
statement; it is intended for your long-term benefit. It is designed to support your back while
lifting. To protect yourself and reduce back injury, be sure to do the following:

Know what you are lifting before you lift. Know how heavy it is.
Know where you are going to ensure you do not trip.
Bend at the knees and lift with your legs.
Get a good grip before you lift.
Keep the load close to your chest.
Never start to turn or twist until you are fully standing with the load.
Ask for help or break down a heavy load.
Use mechanical devices intended to help lift heavy materials.

The proper lifting technique is illustrated below.

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Unit 1

Assessment
Use the following questions to assess how well the students understand the material
from this unit.
1. Reviewing Table 1, why is hearing loss common in farmers?
________________________________________________________________________
2. The maximum hours of continuous exposure per day is:
a.
b.
c.
d.

The total number of hours your boss can ask you to work per day.
How long you should work without ear protection.
The point at which an effective hearing conservation program is required.
How long you can do one task before you need to switch to another.

3. In industry you often work:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Alone
With your employer
In a large group of people
In pairs

4. This reading seems to imply:

a.
In industry, the risks are well known.
b.
In industry, the risks change with the situation.
c.
Your boss will be able to outline all the hazards to you.
d.
Your boss is ultimately responsible for your safety.
5. In your own words, what does Safety First mean?
________________________________________________________________________
6. True or False
____ Only the supervisor should have access to the first aid kit.
____ OSHA requires first aid trained individuals at all workplaces.
____ Clothing does not have anything to do with PPE.
7. Considering your eyesight, what are the potential injuries that could occur on the job?
________________________________________________________________________
8. After you read about hard hats and eyeglasses, briefly describe why both will be
required this afternoon in the laboratory even though we are only working with nails
and wood.
________________________________________________________________________