Personal protective equipment categories

Table 5.2 shows how signal words can be used to select the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for different toxicity categories. In aU cases follow label instructions. 

Similarly to protective gloves, most chemical protective clothing belongs to category II or III of PPE (personal protective equipment against medium or irreversi-ble/lethal risks). In accordance with the CEN (Comite Europeen de NormaUza-tion/European Committee for Standardization), it is divided into 6 classes (see Table 6.19). 

Respirators are personal protection equipment of category III according to the European directive 89/686/EEC, and are for use against irreversible or lethal health risks [6-54]. According to the European directive 98/24/EC [6-5], similarly to other types of personal protective equipment, the use of respirators is not allowed... 

Personal protective equipment is designed to protect an individual when faced with a particular hazardous situation. Accordingly, one must determine the need for such equipment, the type to be used, and the conditions under which it must be worn. For simplicity, we will consider protection under four categories respiratory system face and eyes head and ears body and limbs. 

Personal protective equipment is the equipment persons wear for protection against hazards that cannot be engineered out of the system. The need for personal protective equipment can be divided into three categories ... 

Personal protective equipment is sometimes included in this category, although generally it provides marginal protection in comparison to more substantial passive barriers. It normally represents the last line of defense, and its use and effectiveness may rely on procedures and training. 

A complete electrical system engineering study is required to determine, among other things, the Hazard/Risk Category of personal protective equipment (PPE) that an employee must wear. Safety training... 

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the third category of health hazard control available to the IH or occupational health and safety professional. It is considered the last line of defense because the barrier separating the employee from the health hazard must be worn correctly and consistently. If the employee does not wear the PPE or it fails, they will be at greater risk for illness or injury. It is an unfortunate fact that for many occupational safety and health programs, PPE is the symbol of the safety program rather than a last resort. 

Performing JSAs is a complex process. To better understand the importance of this analysis tool, figure 9-7 shows a completed JSA for hydraulic line replacement. Please note accident categories described in the potential hazards section. These potential hazards will aid in determining what safety measures and personal protective equipment are necessary for a given job. 

The European Economic Community (EEC) Directive gives general requirements for all personal protective equipment requirements dependent on types of gloves have been described (Mellstrom and Carlsson 1994) Protective gloves are classified into three categories based on intended use and attestation procedures ... 

If the risk category is Serious, the risk is not acceptable and action should be undertaken on a high-priority basis, meaning very soon, to lower the risk to a tolerable level. While arrangements are made to reduce the risk, an extra heavy application of the lower levels in the hierarchy of controls (warning systems, blocking off work areas, administrative controls, personal protective equipment) is in order. If it is determined that the cost to reduce the risk to a tolerably lower level is excessive in relation to the risk reduction benefit to be achieved, the operation should cease in all but rare situations. 

Part A. Personal protective equipment is divided into four categories based on the degree of protection afforded. (See Part B of this appendix for further explanation of Levels A, B, C, and D hazards.)... 

Harmful is the most commonly used classification and describes a substance which, if it is swallowed, inhaled or penetrates the skin, may pose limited health risks. These risks can usually be minimized or removed by following the instruction provided with the substance (e.g. by using personal protective equipment). Many household substances fall into this category including bitumen-based paints and paint brush restorers. Many chemical cleansers, such as trichloroethylene, are categorized as harmful. It is very common for substances labelled harmful also to be categorized as irritant. 

In Europe, all CPC falls under the Directive 89/686/EEC on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The directive has been transposed into member state legislation. PPE products are categorized in three risk categories ranging from minimal risks to mortal or irreversible risks. 

Each of the generic categories in Figure 12.9 could be used as a separate checklist at the initiation of a coaching process. The first category, for example, could lead to the development of a CBC for observation of personal protective equipment. Specific PPE behaviors for the work area could be listed in a left-hand column, with space on the right to check safe and at-risk observations. This kind of CBC could be used to record the observations of several individuals, by simply adding checks in the safe or at-risk columns for each observation of an individual s use or nonuse of a particular PPE item. 

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