NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCILSEMINAR

PRESENTATION ON PPE
Personal
Protective
Equipment
BY
G.JEEVANANDAM
24/09/2004

WHAT IS PPE?
SECOND LINE OF DEFENCE FOR
PROTECTION
FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE IS
ELIMINATION OF HAZARDS THROUGH
ENGG.CONTROL
PPE DOES NOT ELIMINATE HAZRDS
CAN REDUCE THE SEVERITYBY
ACTING AS BARRIER BETWEEN
HAZARD & WORKER

DEFINITION
PPE may be defined as an
equipment to be worn or
held by the worker to
protect against hazards
likely to endanger his/her
health and safety at
workplace

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PPE

ADEQUATE PROTECTION AGAINST HAZARD
LIGHT IN WEIGHT & MAXIMUM COMFORT TO
THE WEARER
COMPATABLE WITH PROTECTIVE EFFICIENCY
SHOULD NOT RESTRICT ESSENTIAL
MOVEMENT OF THE WEARER
DURABLE AND MAINTENANCE FREE
CONFIRM TO ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS
TO COMPLY WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENT
UNDER SECT 87 OF INDIAN FACTORIES ACT.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PPE

Nature of work
Nature of hazard
Effects due to exposure to the hazards
Threshold limit value
Part of Body Involved
Relevant standard
Duration of Exposure
Annual requirement
Life of equipment

CLASSIFICATION OF PPE
NON RESPIRATORY & RESPIRATORY
TYPES OF NON RESPIRATORY
HEAD PROTECTION
EYE PROTECTION
FACE PROTECTION
EAR PROTECTION
HAND PROTECTION
BODY PROTECTION
LEG/FOOT PROTECTION
FALL PROTECTION

Head Protection
HEAD HOUSES THE BRAIN
HELMETS OFFERS THE PROTECTION
HELMET COMPRISING OF OUTER SHELL, INNER
CRADLE, CHIN/NAPE STARAP & INTEGRAL PEAK
CONFIRMS IS 2925-1984
MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION MAY BEPVC, FRP,
HDPE, ALUMINIUM ETC.,
WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF A PLUMB BALL TEST
THE SHELL MUST BE PROVIDED WITH
VENTIALTION HOLES

SELECTION OF HEAD PROTECTION

TYPE

MATERIAL

PROTECTION AGAINST

Safety
Helmet

Alu.alloy,PVC,
FRP &HDPE

Falling Object&Hit against

obstructions

Elecl.
Helmet

Non
conduct./PVC

Electric shock

Welders
Cap

Leather with
cloth lining

Falling welding spatters

Crash
Helmet

Fibre/plastic
material

Skull Injuries in road

accidents

EYE
PROTECTION
Eyes are our windows to the world
Direct and Instant communication that
the Body has with environment.
If eyesight is lost everything lost
Eyes are precious vital part of our Body
If we neglect them ,it may cause
irreversible damage

TYPES OF HAZARDS
HAZARDS
Mechanical

OPERATIONS

Chemical

Grinding,
chipping,cutting,dust, chips,
sparks etc.,
Splashing and fumes

Thermal

Heat radiation and Glare

Radiation

UV and Infrared from welding

EYE PROTECTORS
TYPE
Spectacle type
Goggles

PROTECTION AGAINST
Flying Bodies

(Dust Metal chips

etc.,)

Panorama goggle

Oil and paint splashes,dust and chip

exposure

Leather-Mask
Goggle

Smoke, Dust, foreign Bodies

Chemical Goggles

Chemicals and toxic dusts

Gas-tight Goggles

Irritating fumes,vapors and gases

Welding Goggles

Gas welding/cutting , flames and

sparks

Welding shields

Arc welding/cutting and sparks

EYE PROTECTORS
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
SHATTER PROOF
CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT
FREE FROM OPTICAL DEFECTS
LESS FOGGY
SCRATCH RESISTANT
GOOD VENTILATION
WITH SIDE PROTECTION
GOOD FACE FIT

LENSES FOR EYE PROTECTORS

SHOULD WITHSTAND
Impact of 22mm steel ball weighing
approximately 44g when freely dropped
from a height of 1.25 Meter
Temperature of 55oC for 30 minutes
Ultraviolet radiation for 100 hours from a
high pressure Oxenon lamp located at a
distance of 300mm

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

CHECKLIST
CLEAN WITH SOAP AND WARM WATER TO
REMOVE OIL OR GREASE
KEEP IN HOT WATER FOR 5 MINUTES,OR
EXOPOSE TO STEAM FOR 5 MINUTES
EXPOSE TO FORMALDEHYDE VAPOURS, OR
IMMERSE FOR 5 MINUTES IN
FORMALIN (1 PART OF 40% FORMALDEHYDE
SOLUTION AND 9 PARTS OF WATER) OR
SOLUTION OF 1 PART OF SODIUM
HYPOCHLORIDE IN 10 PARTS OF WARM WATER
RINSE IN COLD WATER AND DRY IN CLEAN
AREA

PRECAUTIONS
Solvents (Petrol, thinners etc., ) should
not be used for cleaning
Avoid very high temperature of water
Manufacturers instructions should be
followed wherever they are available
Place cleaned goggles in a plastic bag or a
suitable container with a tag indicating
the date of cleaning and disinfecting

HEARING (EAR) PROTECTION

Hearing is one of lifes most precious gifts
A child with defective hearing may have
severe difficulty in learning to speak
Too much noise can damage hearing
temporarily or even permanently
Noise can affect ones physical and mental
well being and cause accidents in workplace
Hearing conservation is protecting your ear
(hearing) from potentially damaging levels
of sound

EFFECTS OF NOISE
Psychological - Can Startle, Annoy, And
Disrupt Concentration, Sleep, Or
Relaxation
Interference With Communication,
Resulting In Interference With Job
Performance And Safety
Physiological - Noise Induced Hearing
Loss, Aural Pain, Or Even Nausea

DEFINITIONS
Sound Pressure - Level Of Sound Wave
Energy Measured In Decibels
Sound - Pressure Variations In The Air
That Can Be Detected By The Ear
Noise - Sound That Provides No
Information; Unwanted Sound
Attenuation - Process Of Reducing
Sound To Acceptable Levels

SOUND PRESSURE
MEASUREMENTS
Hertz (Hz)- Measurement Of Sound
Frequencies Per Second
Decibel (dB) - Logarithmic Scale For
Sound Volume Measurement
Normal Hearing Range For Human Ear
Is Between 20 And 20,000 Hz

SOUND PRESSURE LIMITS

Normal Hearing - 25 dBA At 500 To
2,000 Hz.
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - An 8Hour Exposure To 90 dBA Of Sound
5 dBA Doubling Rate - Each Increase
In dBA By 5 Reduces The PEL By Half

Permissible Exposure levels of

Continuous Noise
TOTAL TIME OF EXPOSURE
PERDAY IN HOURS

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE
SOUND LEVEL IN dB(A)

8
6
4
3
2
1.5
1
0.75
0.5
0.25

90
92
95
97
100
102
105
107
110
115

Permissible exposure levels of

Impulsive or Impact Noise
Peak Sound Pressure
Level in dB

Permitted no. of impulses

or impacts per day

140
135
130
125
120

100
315
1000
3160
10000

No Exposure in excess
of 115 dB(A) is to be
permitted in case of
Continuous Noise

No exposure in excess
of 140 dB peak sound
pressure level is
permitted

OCCUPATIONAL NOISE
EXPOSURE LIMITS
115 dBA Is Maximum Level Without
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
140 dBA Is Maximum Impulse Or
Impact Level
Monitoring Program Must Be Started If
A Time-Weighted-Average Of 85 dBA
Over An 8-Hour Period Is Exceeded

FACTORS AFFECTING
HEARING LOSS
Noise Intensity Or Sound Pressure
Frequency Or Pitch
Length Of Daily Exposure
Duration Of Exposure In Years
Individual Susceptibility
Other Factors (Disease, Genetics,
Lifestyle, Age, Etc.)

HEARING PROTECTION
DEVICES
Ear Plugs - Premolded Rubber
Ear Plugs - Foam Rubber
Ear Plugs - Custom Molded
Ear Muffs
Canal Caps

Hand Protection

HAND PROTECTION
Hands are the two busiest , most important,
indispensable and invaluable and vulnerable
tools the human body has.
Hands and Fingers are a set of amazingly
dexterous tools with the strength to grasp,
grip, lift, push , pull, squeeze, twist and hold
things
Sensitive to touch, response to pressure,
temperature and pain
Have the flexibility and co ordination to
perform highly complicated and intricate jobs

INJURIES RELATED TO HANDS

Absorption Of Hazardous Substances
Potential Cuts Or Lacerations
Severe Abrasions
Possible Skin Punctures
Potential Chemical Burns
Potential Thermal Burns
Harmful Temperatures

Diseases related to
Hands
Dermatitis
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Reynauds Syndrome

Selection of Hand
Protection
Task Being Performed
Environmental Conditions Present
Expected Duration Of Exposure
Actual Or Potential Hazards Identified
PPE Required To Be Used
Employees Safety Attitude

HAND PROTECTORS
TYPE

PROTECTION
AGAINST

LEATHER GLOVES

CUTS/BRUISES/ABRASIONS
/LACERATIONS

ALUMINISED FABRIC
GLOVES

FLAMES, INTENSE HEAT

RADIATION,BURN INJURY

ASBESTOS GLOVES
ACID ALKALI PROOOF
GLOVES (RUBBER,
NEOPRENE OR PVC

- DO CORROSSIVE CHEMICALS
(ORGANIC ACID OR
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS)

HAND PROTECTORS
TYPE

PROTECTS AGAINST

LEAD LINE GLOVES

(RUBBER
LEATHER OR PLASTIC)

IONISING RADIATION (X
RAY, GAMMA RAYS ETC.,)

CANVAS GLOVES

GREASE, OIL, DUST AND

DIRT TO PREVENT SLIP

ELECTRICAL GLOVES
(INSULATED RUBBER WITH
DIELCTRIC STRENGTH

ELCTRICAL SHOCK (TESTED

UPTO 4000V)/INSULATION
VALUE

BARRIER CREAM

CONTACT DERMATITIS
FROM
SOLVENTS,LUBRICANTS
AND OTHER OILS.

MAINTENANCE OF GLOVES
KEEP THE GLOVES IN PROPER STORAAGE
RUBBER/PVC GLOVES MUST BE WASHED IN
SOAP SOLUTION AND WATER AND DRIED IN
AIR
USE DUSTING POWDER LIKE CHALK POWDER
TO PREVENT STICKY OR TACKINESS
INSPECT AND TEST GLOVES FOR LEAKS ETC.,
EVERYDAY BEFORE USE
RUBBER AND PLASTIC GLOVES MUST BE
PROTECTED FROM HEAT/ SUN LIGHT

FOOT PROTECTION

Who Needs Foot PPE ?

For protection of feet from falling or
rolling objects, sharp objects, contact
with hazardous, corrosive , toxic
chemicals,electricity, transmission of
vibration, molten metal, hot surfaces,
and wet slippery surfaces workers
should use appropriate safety shoes, or
boots.

Causes of Foot Problems

FOOT PROBLEMS:
Severely aching feet
blisters, calluses,
corns, hard flooring,
rheumatism,
arthritis,
malformations of
toes, fallen arches
(flat feet), bunions,
sprains

COMMON CAUSES:
Long periods of
standing, hard
flooring, and poorly
fitted footwear:
high heals, pointed
shoes, lack of arch
support, too loose or
too tight footwear

Causes of Foot Problems ?

Foot Problems:
Sweaty feet,
fungal infections
(Athletes Foot)

Common Causes:
Hot and humid
environment,
strenuous work,
footwear with
synthetic (nonporous) uppers

How Does the Working

Position Contribute to the
Foot Problem ?
Since the human foot is designed for
mobility, maintaining an upright stance
is extremely tiring.
Continuos standing can cause the joints
of the feet to become mis-aligned (flat
feet) and cause inflammation that can
later lead to rheumatism and arthritis.

The Human Foot

Tendon from
peronaeus longus
(extends under foot
to base of 1st
metatarsal)

Peronaeus brevis

Tibia

Soleus
Tendon from
gastrocnemius

Extensor digitorum longus and

peronaeus tertius

Talus

Extensor digitorum brevis

Calcaneus

Abductor hallucis and

flexor hallucis brevis

Cuboid

Metatarsals

Phalanges

How Does the Foot Wear

Contribute to the Foot
Problems?
Foot wear that fits poorly or is in of
repair contributes heavily to foot
discomfort

Specific Examples of
Workplace Foot Injuries
INJURIES:
Crushed or
broken feet,
amputation of
toes or feet

Punctures of the
sole of the foot

COMMON CAUSES:
Feet trapped
between objects or
caught in a crack,
falls of heavy
objects, moving
vehicles (lift trucks)
Loose nails, sharp
metal or glass
objects

Specific Examples of
Workplace Foot Injures
INJURIES:
Cuts or severed
feet or toes
Lacerations

Electric shocks

COMMON CAUSES:
Chain saws, rotary
mowers
Unguarded
machinery

Static electricity,
contact with sources
of electricity

Specific Examples of
Workplace Foot Injuries
INJURIES:
Burns

COMMON CAUSES:
Molten metal
splashes,
chemical
splashes, contact
with fire,
flammable or
explosive
atmospheres

Specific Examples of
Workplace Foot Injuries
INJURIES:
Sprained or
twisted ankles,
fractured or
broken bones
because of slips,
trips, or falls

COMMON CAUSES:
Slippery floors,
littered
walkways,
incorrect
footwear, poor
lighting

How can foot injuries be

prevented ?
The first step in developing a strategy
to reduce foot problems is to identify
the relevant hazards at the workplace.

How Can the Job Design

Improve Foot Safety ?
Aching, flat or tired feet are common
among workers who spend most of
their working time standing.
The most important goal of job design
is to avoid fixed positions especially
fixed standing positions.

How Can the Job Design

Improve Foot Safety ?
Job rotation moves workers from one
job to another
Job enlargement includes more and
different tasks in a workers duties
Rest breaks, frequent short breaks are
preferable to fewer long breaks

How Can the Workplace

Design Improve Foot
Safety ?
For standing jobs, an adjustable work
surface is best
Work station design should allow the
worker room to change body position
A foot rail or footrest enables workers
to shift weight from one leg to another
Where possible a worker should be
allowed to work sitting or standing at
will

How Can the Kind of Floor

Improve Foot Comfort ?
Where resilient floors are not practical,
foot wear with thick, insulating soles
and shock absorbing insoles can
alleviate discomfort
Anti-fatigue matting

Safety Shoes and Boots

Steel Toe footwear protects your toes
from falling objects and from being
crushed.

Metatarsal footwear have special guards

that run from your ankle to your toes
and protect the entire foot

Safety Shoes and Boots

Reinforced sole footwear have metal
reinforcement that protects your foot
from punctures.
Latex/Rubber footwear resists
chemicals and provides extra traction
on slippery surfaces.

Safety Shoes and Boots

PVC footwear protects your feet against
moisture and improves traction.
Butyl footwear protects against most
ketones, aldehydes, alcohol's, acids,
salts, and alkalis.
Vinyl footwear resists solvents, acids,
alkalis, salts, water, grease, and blood.

Safety Shoes and Boots

Nitrile footwear resists animal fats, oils
and chemicals.
Electrostatic Dissipating footwear
conducts static electricity to floors that
are grounded.
Electrical Hazard footwear are insulated
with tough rubber to prevent shocks
and burns from electricity.

Wearing and Using Safety

Footwear
Select and use the right kind of
footwear for the job you are going to be
performing. Footwear should meet or
exceed the standards set by BIS
Avoid footwear made of leather or cloth
if you work around acids or caustics.
These chemicals quickly eat through the
leather or cloth,and can injure your feet.

Wearing and Using Safety

Footwear

Select footwear that fits.

Inspect your footwear before you use
them. Look for holes and cracks that
might leak.
Replace footwear that is worn or torn.
After working with chemicals, hose your
footwear with water to rinse away any
chemicals or dirt before removing your
footwear.
Avoid borrowing footwear. Footwear is
personal protective equipment.
Store footwear in a clean, cool, dry,
ventilated area.

Testing of Safety
Footwear
Carbon steel toe cap of 1.4 1.6 mm
thickness
Ankle to a height of 12cm
Soles of shore hardness of 55A
The toe cap under an impact of 14 Kg
should not distort or depress so as to
reduce the clearance inside the shoe to
less than 13.5 mm

Remember
Your Feet are one of your greatest
assets.

Protect them!

BODY PROTECTION
THE SKIN IS THE BODYS FIRST LINE OF
DEFENCE
IN HAZARDOUS WORK
ENVIRONEMNTS, THE SKIN IS THE
MOST VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENT AND
INFECTION FROM EXPOSURE
FOR YOUR OWN BODYS WELL BEING,
PROTECT YOUR SKIN AGAINST ALL
HAZARDS BOTH AT HOME AND AT
WORK

CAUSES FOR JOB RELATED SKIN

DISEASE/INJURY
PHYSICAL HAZARDS -ENVIRONEMNTAL
AND MECHANICAL.

CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES - INORGANIC

ACIDS AND SALTS, HYDROCARBONS,OIL, TARS,

PITCH AND DYES

PLANT PRODUCTS - LEAVES, SATEMS, SAP,

ROOTS, BULBS, FLOWERS, FRUITS,
VEGETABLES, WOOD DUST, RESINS AND
LACQUERS

LIVING AGENTS BACTERIA, VIRUSES,

FUNGI, PARASITES, INSECTS, AND MITES

SKIN/BODY PROTECTION
TYPE

PROTECTS AGAINST

LEATHER APRON

HOT MATERIALS LIKE HOT

CHIPS, MOLTEN SLAG, ETC.,

ASBESTOS APRON,ASBESTOS
HOOD WITH VISOR

HEAT RADIATION

PVC APRON, ACID/ALKALI

PROOF RUBBER APRON, FACE
SHIELD WITH VISOR

CHEMICAL SPLASHES

LEAD APRON

IONISING RADIATION
X-RAY, GAMMA RAYS

BARRIER CREAM

CONTACT DERMATITIS
WHILE HANDLING
LUBRICANTS, SOLVENTS,
ETC.,

Total Body Protection

PVC suits can be used for handling acid,
alkalis or chemicals
Air supplied suits to be worn with
proper air source for chemical with
toxic/offensive odours
Aluminised suits with independent air
supply for fire fighting operations

Chemical protective
clothing analysis
Job classification or task
Process or task summary
Potential or actual chemical hazards
Physical properties of chemicals
Potential or actual physical hazards
Chemical contact periods
Type of potential contact
Body zones of potential contact

PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Wash frequently using proper cleansers
Change clothes often
Remove irritants
Take showers
Separate soiled clothing
Treat abrasions properly

Fall Protection
Fall Arrest
Fall Restraint

Safety nets
Falls account for a sizable percentage of
injury
Safety net offer protection over an area
Can be used on the nature of job
Nets must be properly tied on all sides
firmly

Safety Belt
As per BIS Specification 3521:1983
Webbing can be of leather, nylon or
synthetic material
The material for buckles, D ring and
clamp should be metal with nickel
plating or SS
The life line clamp should be of a
locking type and should not open up
even under a jerk

USE OF SAFETY BELT

The life line should be of nylon and the
length can be maximum of 5 Mts
The life line must be secured to an
independent firm anchor
The belts must be numbered and
inspected
Must be certified/tested annually by
external agency
Defective belts must be destroyed
Suitable register must be maintained by
the user department

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
The respiratory system consisting of
vital organs of the Body
Very core of a human being
If it collapses, life itself is extinguished
Best protection must be given against
the hazards of the workplace that
threatens the respiratory system

Respiratory hazards
Oxygen deficient air
Harmful toxic contaminant in the
atmosphere

Determining physical state

of airborne contaminant
Listing of contaminant in TLV book is a
clue but there are some exceptions
Guidelines for estimating airborne phase
have been developed based on:
identity of the major constituents
saturated vapor concentrations of
constituents
estimate of total airborne mass
concentration
(the saturated vapor concentration and total
airborne concentration can help predict phase)

Types of respirators
Air-purifying respirators
Filters (for particulates)
Cartridges (for gases or vapors) - may
have filters, too
Canisters (used with gas masks -large capacity)
Oxygen must be > 19.5%

Atmosphere supplying respirators

SCBAs
Supplied air respirators (Type C or CE)
Combinations of SCBAs and SARs

Aerosol removing
respirators
Filters can remove dusts, mists, fumes,
others
Cannot protect against gases, vapors, or
low O2
Removal mechanisms:
interception
sedimentation
impaction
diffusion
electrostatic attraction

Nine filter types

3 levels of filter efficiency:

95%
(called 95)
99%
(called 99)
99.97% (called 100)
3 categories of resistance to filter
efficiency degradation:

N
R
P

(Not resistant to oil)

(Resistant to oil)
(oil Proof)

Selection of N, R, and Pseries filters

If no oil particles are present in the work
environment, use a filter of any series.
If oil particles are present, use an R- or P-series
filter.
If oil particles are present and the filter is to be
used for more than one work shift, use only a Pseries filter.
Selection of filter efficiency depends on how
much filter leakage can be accepted.
Choice of face piece depends on level of
protection needed (APF).

Gas and vapor removing

respirators
Use sorbents
Housed in cartridges or canisters
Removal mechanisms:
adsorption
absorption
chemisorption
catalysis

Designed for specific contaminants or

classes

Gas and vapor removing

cartridges
Organic vapor cartridges:
currently tested with CCl4 at 1000 ppm (only)
may or may not be very effective for specific
vapors
seek guidance from respirator manufacturer
including test data on vapor in use
only small amount of charcoal in cartridges
more charcoal in canisters
color code: black

Service life of cartridges or

canisters
Depends on:
quality and amount of sorbent
packing uniformity and density
exposure conditions, breathing rate
relative humidity
temperature
contaminant concentration
affinity of the gas or vapor for the sorbent
presence of other gases and vapors

Acid gas respirators

Designed for removing acidic gases

Tested by NIOSH against chlorine, HCl

and SO2 (only)
Limited to fairly low concentrations
Chlorine
Hydrogen chloride
Sulfur dioxide

Color code: white

10 ppm
50 ppm
50 ppm

Alkaline gas cartridges

Contains chemicals for removing
alkaline gases such as:
ammonia
methylamine

Concentrations limited
ammonia
methylamine

Color code: green

300 ppm
100 ppm

Air-purifying respirators
additional information
Replace cartridges:
NIOSH: daily or after each use, or even more
often if odor, taste, or irritation
some canisters may have end of service life
indicators
Other cartridges available:
pesticides
carbon monoxide
ethylene oxide
formaldehyde
hydrogen fluoride
hydrogen sulfide
mercury
phosphine
vinyl chloride

Colors for AP elements

Acid gas
Organic vapors
Ammonia gas
Carbon monoxide
Acid gases and organic vapors
Acid gas, ammonia, and OV
Acid gas, ammonia, CO, and OV
Other vapors and gases
Radioactive materials (HEPA)
Dusts, fumes, mists (non-radio)

White
Black
Green
Blue
Yellow
Brown
Red
Olive
Purple *
Orange *

Atmosphere-supplying
respirators
Air-line respirators
Self-contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA)
Combination SCBA and SAR

Must be supplied with Grade D breathing

air, usually from bottles or compressors

Supplied Air Respirators

Airline respirators
called Type C or Type CE
hose can be up to 300 feet
4 cfm required for tight-fitting mask, 6 cfm
for hoods and helmets
available in demand, pressure demand, and
continuous flow arrangements

Hose masks
Type A (motor or hand-operated blower)
Type B (no blower)
large diameter hoses

Sources of breathing air

Compressors

Subject to failure
If oil-lubricated, can overheat changing oil mist into CO
Carbon vane type are available and oil-less
Can run continuously
Can be fitted with CO sensor and/or adsorption units
Air intake location is critical

Compressed gas cylinders (breathing air)

Can be up to 3500 psi
Finite air supply...for limited time spans
Do not rely on utility services

Blowers used for hose masks

Criteria for Grade D

compressed air
Oxygen

19.5% to 23.5%
oxygen (vol)
< 5mg/M3 (oil

Hydrocarbons
mist)
Carbon dioxide < 1000 ppm
Carbon monoxide< 10 ppm
Odor
no pronounced odor

Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus
Open-circuit type
bottled air from 2000 to 4500 psi typically
time from 15 min to 60 min typically
demand or pressure demand or continuous flow
can be combined with supplied air respirator
escape-only type available in 5, 7, 10 or 15 minute
size

Closed-circuit type (also called re-breathers)

could be either negative or positive pressure type
possible to over breathe
more complicated to maintain
requires more training
longer use period ... sometimes up to 4 hours

Respirator selection
Routine use vs non-routine use
Workplace hazards
Physical Characteristics
Physical demands of the work
Respirator capabilities and limitations

Exposure assessments
Identify airborne contaminants where
possible
Match up specifications and limitations of
respirators
Consider abnormal conditions that may
cause concentrations to rise
Think in terms of worst case exposures
Apply substance-specific requirements
Communicate information to employees;
discuss signs, symptoms of overexposure
Keep good records

Non-routine use of
respirators
Three situations require careful consideration:
entry into confined spaces
entry into oxygen-deficient atmospheres
emergencies
IDLH
ANSI: ...any atmosphere that poses an
immediate, irreversible debilitating effects on
health... (acute effects vs chronic exposures)
New OSHA standard requires atmospheres to be
considered IDLH unless shown otherwise

IDLH, continued
NIOSH: IDLH based on two factors:
worker must be able to escape within
30 min without losing life or suffering
permanent health damage, and
worker must be able to escape without
severe eye or respiratory irritation or
other reactions that could inhibit escape
also, atmospheres > LEL are IDLH

8-Step PPE Process

1. Determine type of hazard(s) like to occur
2. Determine adverse effects of unprotected
exposures
3. See if other control options can be used
4. Determine performance characteristics
needed for protection
5. Determine need for decontamination
6. Determine ergonomic constraints presented
7. Determine cost of various options
8. Make the selection

THANK YOU