Personal protective equipment identification

Identification of training and educational needs, resources, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The disaster plan provides direction for identifying training needs, including mock drills, and acquiring additional resources and PPE. A comprehensive discussion of PPE is found in chapter 26. 

Five levels of emergency response team members, hazard identification, evacuation, notification, hazard recognition, personal protective equipment, control and containment, and decontamination. 

The proper use of personal protective equipment relies on an extensive series of supervisory and personnel actions, such as the identification of the equipment needed, its selection, fitting, training, inspection, maintenance, et cetera. 

Patches are essentially spot or grab samples (typically 25 cm ) of the skin, whereby dermal exposure is assessed by extrapolating the patch loading level to the surface of the entire body. Given that only a small area of exposed skin is covered by the patches used, the uncertainties in calculating true exposure are likely to be high. Furthermore, the exposure pattern may vary with time, with activities, and both within and between individuals, days and shifts. However, several field studies have shown that this technique is a useful tool in the identification and evaluation of dermal exposures to a range of workplace contaminants and in the assessment of the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (Fenske et al. 1990). 

General strategy for control (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations). Identification of a hazard. Assessment of risk. Choice of control measures (including process change, substitution, segregation, engineering controls, reduced time exposure, personal protective equipment). 

Personal protective equipment (the training, use, and enforcement of personal protective equipment, as well as user group involvement in the identification of problems with and design of personal protective equipment)... 

Numerous security devices may reduce the risk for assaults against workers and facilitate the identification and apprehension of perpetrators. These include closed-circuit cameras, alarms, two-way mirrors, card-key access systems, panic-bar doors locked from the outside only, and trouble lights or geographic locating devices in taxicabs and other mobile workplaces. Personal protective equipment such as body armor has been used effectively by public safety personnel to mitigate the effects of workplace violence. For example, the lives of more than 1800 police officers have been saved by Kevlar vests. 

The data sheets are prepared and supplied by over 500 producers or distributors and contain product identification information, manufacturer and/or supplier address and emergency contact information, company disclaimers, issue or re-issue date, and the material safety data sheet (MSDS). The MSDS s usually contain information on chemical and physical properties, health, fire and reactivity hazards, environmental and regulatory requirements, spill and disposal procedures, first aid recommendations, and information on storage, handling and personal protective equipment. 

Access to damaged areas is likely to be controlled by emergency services or emergency management agencies early in the response. If that is the case, impact assessors will need to be required to carry pre-authorized means of identification or identification and access documentation or printed cards developed for the particular response. Assessors will also be required to use personal protective equipment and regular reporting procedures as prescribed by the coordination entity or at standard occupational health and safety practice for the respective jurisdiction. 

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