PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

1.0 Eye and Face Protection

Selection the most suitable eye and face protection should take into consideration the
following elements:

Ability to protect against specific workplace hazards

Should fit properly and be reasonably comfortable to wear
Should provide unrestricted vision and movement
Should be durable and cleanable
Should allow unrestricted functioning of any other required PPE

1.1 Types of Eye and Face Protection

Safety Safety glasses have safety frames constructed of metal or plastic and impact-
Glasses resistant lenses. Side protection is required. Must comply with ANSI standard
Z87.1.

Chemical Tight fitting eye protection that completely covers the eyes, eye sockets and facial
Splash area surrounding the eyes. Provides protection from impact, dust and
Goggles splashes. Must comply with ANSI standard Z87.1.

Dust Dust goggles, sometimes called direct ventilated goggles, are tight fitting eye
Goggles protection designed to resist the passage of large particles into the goggles.
Must comply with ANSI standard Z87.1

Fluid These shields are fluid resistant or impervious and provide splash protection from
Resistant biological material, such as human or non-human primate body fluids.
Shields These shields do not provide protection against chemicals or impact hazards and
do not comply with ANSI Z87.1

Face Shields These shields extend from the eyebrows to below the chin and across the width
of the employees head. Face shields protect against potential splashes or sprays
of hazardous liquids. When worn for protection against UV, must be specifically
designed to protect the face and eyes from hazardous radiation.
When used for chemical protection or UV protection, must comply with ANSI
standard Z87.1.

Laser Protective eyewear is required for Class 3 and 4 laser use where irradiation of the
Eyewear eye is possible. Such eyewear should be used only at the wavelength and
 energy/power for which it is intended. Contact the Laser Safety Officer at x6271
for information.

Welding Constructed of vulcanized fiber or fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens,
Shields welding shields protect eyes from burns caused by infrared or intense radiant
light; they also protect both the eyes and the face from flying sparks, metal splatter
and slag chips produced during welding, brazing, soldering and cutting
operations.

1.2 Types of Eye and Face Protection for Various Hazards

Chemicals Hazardous* dry chemicals Safety glasses Eye protection is required

and small amounts of when working with chemicals
hazardous liquid chemicals on the bench or in a fume
hood
Hazardous* chemicals that Chemical splash
pose a splash hazard goggles
Cryogenic liquids Chemical splash
goggles and a
face shield
Highly reactive or explosive Chemical splash Blast shield recommended
materials goggles and a
face shield
Pyrophoric solids or liquids Chemicals splash
goggles

Biological Potentially infectious Safety glasses Eye protection is typically not

Material materials, including BSL2 plus mask or face required when working in a
microorganisms and viruses, shield biosafety cabinet, except if
human and non-human other hazardous materials are
primate material, outside of a being handled in the lab. Eye
biosafety cabinet protection may be needed
when removing items from
the biosafety cabinet.
Radiation Unsealed radioactive Safety glasses
materials, liquid or powder
Lasers Eyewear is Contact Laser Safety Officer
dependent on
wavelength and
energy/power of
laser
Open ultraviolet light source Face shield with
UV protection
Infrared emitting equipment Shaded goggles

Machining Soldering, spatter of flux or Safety glasses or

and hot metal chemical splash
Physical goggles
Hazards
Furnaces, molten metal or Dust goggles,
glass, heat, sparks, glare reflective face
shield
Chips, particles, dust, glass Safety glasses
shards
Glassware under pressure Safety glasses or
chemical splash
goggles
Cutting/connecting glass Safety glasses
tubing
Welding and brazing See OSHA
operations Factsheet - Eye
Protection
During Welding
Changing out compressed Safety glasses
gas cylinders, affixing
regulator to cylinder
Use of compressed air for Dust goggles Use of compressed air for
cleaning equipment personal cleaning is
prohibited
2.0 Foot Protection

Potential hazards which may lead to foot and leg injuries include falling or rolling objects,
crushing or penetrating materials, hot, corrosive or poisonous substances, electrical hazards, static
electricity, or slippery surfaces.

Different footwear protects in different ways. Check the product's labeling or consult the
manufacturer to make sure the footwear will protect the user from the hazards they face.

Foot and leg protection choices include the following:

Safety-toed shoes or boots protect against falling, crushing or rolling hazards. Safety-toed
footwear must meet the minimum compression and impact performance standards in ANSI
Z41-1999 or provide equivalent protection.
Some safety shoes may be designed to be electrically conductive to prevent the buildup of
static electricity in areas with the potential for explosive atmospheres or nonconductive to
protect workers from workplace electrical hazards.
Metatarsal guards protect the instep area from impact and compression. Made of
aluminum, steel, fiber or plastic, these guards may be strapped to the outside of regular
work shoes.
Toe guards fit over the toes of regular shoes to protect the toes from impact and
compression hazards. They may be made of steel, aluminum, or plastic.
Rubber overshoes are used for concrete work and areas where flooding is a concern
Shoes with slip-resistant soles are required for certain departments and should be used in
areas where slips and falls on wet floors are most likely.
Studded treads and overshoes should be used when employees must work on ice or snow-
covered walking surfaces.
Leggings protect the lower legs and feet from heat hazards such as molten metal or welding
sparks. Safety snaps allow leggings to be removed quickly.
3.0 Hand and Arm Protection

Potential hazards to hands and arms include skin absorption of harmful substances, chemical
or thermal burns, electrical dangers, bruises, abrasions, cuts, punctures, fractures or
amputations. Protective equipment includes gloves, finger guards and arm coverings.

3.1 Types of Protective Gloves

There are many types of gloves available today to protect against a wide variety of
hazards. The nature of the hazard and the operation involved will affect the selection of
gloves. The variety of potential occupational hand injuries makes selecting the right pair of gloves
challenging. In general, gloves fall into the following four categories:

1. Leather, Canvas or Metal Mesh Gloves: These types of gloves protect against cuts, burns and
punctures.
2. Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves: These types of gloves are made of cotton or other
fabric. They generally protect against dirt, chafing and abrasions.
3. Insulating rubber gloves: These gloves are used for protection against electrical hazards
4. Chemical and liquid resistant gloves: When working with chemicals with a high acute toxicity,
working with corrosive materials in high concentrations, handling chemicals for extended
periods of time or immersing all or part of a hand into a chemical, the appropriate glove
material should be selected, based on chemical compatibility. The following table includes
major glove types and their general uses. This list is not exhaustive. For more information on
chemical resistant glove selection, see PPE for Chemical Hazards or the Safety Data Sheet for
a particular substance.
3.2 Other Considerations

There are several factors besides glove material to consider when selecting the appropriate
glove. The amount of dexterity needed to perform a particular manipulation must be weighed
against the glove material recommended for maximum chemical resistance. In some cases,
particularly when working with delicate objects where fine dexterity is crucial, a bulky glove may
actually be more of a hazard.

Dexterity: Where fine dexterity is needed, consider double gloving with a less compatible
material, immediately removing and replacing the outer glove if there are any signs of
contamination. In some cases, such as when wearing Silver Shield gloves, it may be possible
to wear a tight-fitting glove over the loose glove to increase the overall dexterity.
Glove thickness, usually measured in mils or gauge, is another consideration. A 10-gauge
glove is equivalent to 10 mils or 0.01 inches. Thinner, lighter gloves offer better touch
sensitivity and flexibility, but may provide shorter breakthrough times. Generally, doubling
the thickness of the glove quadruples the breakthrough time.
Glove length should be chosen based on the depth to which the arm will be immersed or where
chemical splash is likely. Gloves longer than 14 inches provide extra protection against splash
or immersion.
Glove size may also be important. One size does not fit all. Gloves which are too tight tend
to cause fatigue, while gloves which are too loose will have loose finger ends which make
work more difficult. The circumference of the hand, measured in inches, is roughly equivalent
to the reported glove size. Glove color, cuff design, and lining should also be considered for
some tasks.
3.3 Glove Inspection, Use and Care

All gloves should be inspected for signs of degradation or puncture before use. Test for
pinholes by blowing or trapping air inside and rolling them out. Do not fill them with water, as
this makes the gloves uncomfortable and may make it more difficult to detect a leak when wearing
the glove.

Disposable gloves should be changed when there is any sign of contamination. Reusable
gloves should be washed frequently if used for an extended period of time.

While wearing gloves, be careful not to handle anything but the materials involved in the
procedure. Touching equipment, phones, wastebaskets or other surfaces may cause
contamination. Be aware of touching the face, hair, and clothing as well.

Before removing them, wash the outside of the glove. To avoid accidental skin exposure,
remove the first glove by grasping the cuff and peeling the glove off the hand so that the glove is
inside out. Repeat this process with the second hand, touching the inside of the glove cuff, rather
than the outside. Wash hands immediately with soap and water.

Follow the manufacturers instructions for washing and caring for reusable gloves.
4.0 Head Protection

4.1 Hard Hats

Hard hats can protect employees from impact and penetration hazards as well as from
electrical shock and burn hazards. Protective headgear must meet ANSI standard Z89.1-
2009 or later.

Hard hats are divided into two types and three industrial classes:

Type I hard hats are intended to reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow only to
the top of the head. This form of impact, for example, may result from a hammer or nail
gun falling from above.

Type II hard hats are intended to reduce the force of lateral impact resulting from a blow
which may be received off-center, from the side, or to the top of the head. This form of
impact, for example, may result from contact with the sharp corner of a side beam.

Class G (formerly known as Class A) These hard hats are considered for general use
and offer protection against low-voltage electrical conductors up to 2,200 volts (phase to
ground).

Class E (formerly known as Class B) These helmets are intended for electrical work
and offer protection against exposed high-voltage electrical conductors up to 20,000 volts
(phase to ground).

Class C These helmets do not offer any electrical protection and are often electrically
conductive.

Each hard hat should bear a label inside the shell that lists the manufacturer, the ANSI
designation and the class of the hat.
4.2 Bump Caps

Unlike hard hats, bump caps do not offer protection against falling or flying objects.
However, bump caps provide excellent protection against accidental impact with fixed
objects, such as exposed pipes or beams. They should be worn when working in areas with
low overhead hazards. Bump caps do not have an ANSI designation.

4.3 Care and Storage

Periodic cleaning and inspection will extend the useful life of protective headgear. A daily
inspection of the hard hat shell, suspension system and other accessories for holes, cracks,
tears or other damage that might compromise the protective value of the hat is
essential. Paints, paint thinners and some cleaning agents can weaken the shells of hard
hats and may eliminate electrical resistance. Do not store protective headgear in direct
sunlight, as UV light and extreme heat can cause damage.

Always replace a hard hat if it sustains an impact, even if damage is not

noticeable. Suspension systems can be replaced when damaged or when excessive wear is
noted.
5.0 Protective Clothing

There are many varieties of protective clothing available for specific hazards. Examples
of the body/skin protection include laboratory coats, coveralls, vests, jackets, aprons, surgical
gowns and full body suits. Uniforms, caps, or other clothing worn solely to identify a person as
an employee would not be considered PPE.

Hats, long sleeves, long pants or sunscreen, while not defined as PPE, should be considered
for protection against heat, cold, sun or insect exposure. Also included in this category may be the
use of a personal fall arrest system or body positioning system when working on elevated surfaces.

5.1 Personal Fall Arresting Systems

Components of a personal fall arresting system include a body harness, lanyard, lifeline, connector,
and an anchorage point capable of supporting at least 5000 pounds.

Full body harnesses must be used at all times for Fall Arrest Systems.
Limit maximum arresting force on a worker to 1,800 lbs. when using a body harness.
Fall arrest system must be rigged so a worker can neither free fall more than 6 feet (4 in
CA), nor contact any lower level. Deceleration devices used must not exceed 3.5 feet. The
image below illustrates how to calculate free fall distance when using fall protection.
D-rings and snap hooks must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 lbs.
Full-body harnesses come with optional side, front and shoulder D-rings. The side and front
D-rings are connection points used for work positioning, and the shoulder D-rings are for
retrieval from confined spaces.
Snap hooks must be sized to be compatible with the member to which they are connected
to for the prevention of rollout. Only locking-type snap hooks must be used.
Horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a
qualified person as part of a complete personal fall arrest system maintaining a safety factor
of at least two.
Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs.
Lifelines must be protected against being cut or abraded
6.0 Hearing Protection

When an employees noise exposure cannot be reduced to safe levels, then hearing
protection must be worn. There are several options for hearing protection available that include
ear plugs, ear muffs, and hearing bands, which are also known as canal caps. Each should be
carefully considered for the noise reduction they will provide, as well as for comfort and fit. EHS
assists departments with hearing protection selection to ensure that these variables are properly
addressed.

6.1 Typical Hearing Protection Devices

Pre-molded Ear Plugs

Come in different sizes and shapes to fit different sized ear canals. They have virtually
no expansion or contraction, so obtaining a good seal with the ear canal may be
challenging.

Formable or Foam Ear Plugs

When placed in the ear correctly, this type of ear plug, will expand to fill the ear canal
and seal against the walls. This expansion allows foam ear plugs to fit ear canals of
different sizes.

Ear Muffs

These devices fit against the head and enclose the entire perimeter of the external ear.
The inside of the muff cup is lined with acoustic foam, which reduces noise. Their
effectiveness depends on how tight the seal is between the foam cushion and the head.

Hearing Bands or Canal Caps

These devices cover the ear canal at its opening. They do not provide as much of a seal
inside the ear canal and generally provide less protection than ear muffs or plugs, so
they are typically not recommended.
7.0 Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protection equipment is divided into two main types:

7.1 Respirator (filtering device) uses filters to remove contaminants in the workplace
air, there are two main types:

Non-powered respirators rely on the wearers breathing to draw air through the
filter
Powered respirators use a motor to pass air through the filter to give a supply of
clean air to the wearer

7.2 Breathing apparatus (BA) needs a supply of breathing-quality air from an

independent source (e.g. air cylinder or air compressor)

Both respirators and BA are available in a range of different styles, which can be put into
two main groups:

Tight-fitting face pieces (often referred to as masks) - rely on having a good seal with
the wearers face. These are available as both non-powered and powered respirators
and BA. Examples are filtering face pieces, half and full-face masks.

Loose-fitting face pieces rely on enough clean air being provided to the wearer to
prevent contaminant leaking in (only available as powered respirators or BA).
Examples are hoods helmets, visors, blouses and suits.
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) FOR CONSTRUCTION

Required personnel protection equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times when on
construction or renovation sites. At a minimum, each employee is required to wear a hard hat and
safety glasses. High visibility safety vests with reflective striping are required when employees are
exposed to vehicular traffic. In the absences of vehicular traffic, high visibility shirts should be
worn at all times. All workers must wear shirts with sleeves, long work pants, and sturdy work
shoes or boots when working on a construction or renovation site. Sleeveless or tank top shirts,
short pants, sweatpants, sneakers, sandals, and high-heeled or open-toed shoes are not permitted.

Depending on the circumstances and potential hazards present, additional PPE may be
required. This determination will be made by supervisor based on the preliminary Job Hazard
Analysis, EHS may also be consulted. Additional PPE may include:

Protective gloves

Hearing protection

Full face shields when cutting, grinding, or chipping

Chemical splash googles

Respiratory protection

Fall protection equipment when working above 6 feet

Specific protective clothing such as welding leathers when welding or FR clothing when

working with live electric