Worker protection personal protective equipment

Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment Acid-vapor-type respiratory protection rubber gloves chemical worker s goggles other equipment as necessary to protect skin and eyes Symptoms Following Exposure Inhalation irritates mucous membranes. Contact with liquid causes severe bums of eyes and skin. Ingestion causes severe burns of mouth and stomach General Treatment for Exposure Get medical attention following all Exposures to this compound. 

Provisions must be made to ensure worker protection for a process located in a containment building. For example, the atmosphere in the containment structure should be monitored for hazardous vapors, operations should be remotely controlled from outside the containment structures, access should be restricted, and proper personal protective equipment should be used when entry into the containment structure becomes necessary. 

Personal protective equipment Respiratory protection Gives workers direct access to worksite Increases worker exposure to hazard... 

On April 6, 1994, OSHA published its final revisions to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standard in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 66. With the implementation date of July 5, 1994, the regulation, applicable to the general industry, represented major changes in the selection and use of PPE. OSHA believes that through compliance with the PPE standard, safety statistics that track worker safety will improve. These improvements will add up to 712,000 lost workdays and 95,000 recordable cases. 

If no other method provides protection to the worker, design respiratory protective equipment. In the design phase, the minimum is to identify the need for personal protection. 

The basic assumption is that the individual always has the choice of whether or not to behave in an unsafe manner. The implication of this assumption is that the responsibility for accident prevention ultimately rests with the individual worker. It also implies that as long as management has expended reasonable efforts to persuade an individual to behave responsibly, has provided training in safe methods of work, and has provided appropriate guarding of hazards or personal protection equipment, then it has discharged its responsibilities for accident prevention. If these remedies fail, the only recourse is disciplinary action and ultimately dismissal. 

Employers must ensure that their workers know the potential hazards of the chemicals they work with, how to protect themselves against those hazards (e.g., safe practices, personal protection equipment, etc.), and what to do in case of an emergency. Accordingly, OSHA has established basic communication requirements under the Hazard Communication Standard to inform workers about chemicals in use in the workplace. Under this standard, chemical makers must meet the following requirements ... 

In occupational settings, exposure to endosulfan is mainly via the dermal and inhalation routes. Although workers involved in the manufacture and formulation of pesticide products containing endosulfan are potentially exposed to high concentrations of the compound, actual exposure is probably limited by the use of engineering controls and personal protection equipment. The highest documented dermal and inhalation exposures have been reported for agricultural workers involved in the spray... 

The chemical and physical compatibility of decontamination solutions or other decontamination materials must be determined before use. Any decontamination method that permeates, degrades, damages, or otherwise impairs the functioning of the personal protective equipment (PPE) is incompatible with such PPE and should not be used. If a decontamination method does pose a direct health hazard, measures must be taken to protect both decontamination personnel and the workers being decontaminated. Figure 16.22 presents a decision aid for the evaluation of health and safety aspects of decontamination methods. 

To establish the effectiveness of existing controls, samples are taken to determine the workers exposure to conditions that may be harmful. If problems are evident, controls must be implemented immediately temporary controls such as personal protective equipment can be used. Longer term and permanent controls are subsequently developed. 

Decontamination/cleanup workers working in environments known to be contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores may be at risk for inhalational anthrax. These workers should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow appropriate procedures, as outlined in other CDC Guidance documents. 

OSHA recommends that worker exposure to this chemical is to be controlled by use of engineering control, proper work practices, and proper selection of personal protective equipment. Specific details of these requirements can be found in CFR 1910.1003-1910.1016. 

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