PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

The last line of defense against workplace injuries

Iowa Municipalities WorkersCompensation Association

• Founded in 1981• Member owned association that provides

workers compensation coverage and loss control services to Iowa municipalities

• 520 members (cities, counties, 28E entities• Governed by IMWCA Board of Trustees• Endorsed and administered by the Iowa League

of Cities• Endorsed by the Iowa State Association of

Counties

Today’s Presentation

• We will cover:• Eye Protection• Hearing Protection• Head, Hand, Arm and Leg Protection• Foot Protection• High Visibility Clothing

• Not covered:• Respiratory Protection• Fall Protection

POINTS OF DISCUSSION

• Identify the appropriate PPE for specific hazards

• Train employees on proper use of PPE• Screen employees for PPE use

• Limitations of PPE• How to properly maintain PPE

PPE SELECTION

• Conduct a hazard assessment of all tasks performed by employees• What are the

hazards of the job?

PPE SELECTION

• SDS recommendations• Equipment manufacturer

recommendations• OSHA requirements

• Recommendations from an advisory or a consensus standards group

• Previous claims

PPE SELECTION

• Screen employees that will use PPE• does employee have a condition

that would prevent them from safely wearing the equipment

• respirators/ latex gloves/safety shoes

• Comfort is big issue that must be considered

Eye Protection

The Numbers

• Each day about 2000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment.

• About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days of lost work.

Causes of Eye Injuries

• The majority of these injuries result from small particles or objects striking or abrading the eye. Examples include metal slivers, wood chips, dust, and cement chips that are ejected by tools, wind blown, or fall from above a worker.

Causes of Eye Injuries

• Some of these objects, such as nails, staples, or slivers of wood or metal penetrate the eyeball and result in a permanent loss of vision.

Causes of Eye Injuries

• Large objects may also strike the eye/face, or a worker may run into an object causing blunt force trauma to the eyeball or eye socket.

• Chemical burns to one or both eyes from splashes of industrial chemicals or cleaning products are common.

Causes of Eye Injuries

• Thermal burns to the eye occur as well. Among welders, their assistants, and nearby workers, UV radiation burns (welder’s flash) routinely damage workers’ eyes and surrounding tissue.

Causes of Eye Injuries

• In addition to common eye injuries, health care workers, laboratory staff, janitorial workers, animal handlers, and other workers may be at risk of acquiring infectious diseases via ocular exposure.

The OSHA Standard forEye Protection

• OSHA standard 1910.133 sets forth the personal protective equipment standards for eye protection.

• Safety glasses, goggles, etc. must meet ANSI Z87.1 standards.

The Standards Require:

• The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from:• Flying particles

• Molten metal

• Liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids

• Chemical gases or vapors, or

• Potentially injurious light radiation

Eye Safety Checklist #1

• Create a safe work environment• Minimize hazards from falling or unstable

debris.

• Make sure that tools work and safety features (machine guards) are in place.

• Make sure that workers (particularly volunteers) know how to use tools properly.

• Keep bystanders out of the hazard area.

Eye Safety Checklist #2

• Evaluate safety hazards. • Identify the primary hazards at the site.

• Identify hazards posed by nearby workers, large machinery, and falling/shifting debris.

Eye Safety Checklist #3

• Wear the proper eye and face protection. • Select the appropriate Z87

eye protection for the hazard.

• Make sure the eye protection is in good condition.

• Make sure the eye protection fits properly and will stay in place.

Eye Safety Checklist #4

• Use good work practices. • Caution—Brush, shake, or vacuum dust and

debris from hardhats, hair, forehead, or the top of the eye protection before removing the protection.

• Do not rub yes with dirty hands or clothing.

• Clean eyewear regularly.

Eye Safety Checklist #5

• Prepare for eye injuries and first aid needs.

• Have an eye wash or sterile solution on hand.

Don’t let what happened to Ralphie happen to you!

Hearing Protection

The Numbers

• Every year, approximately 30 million people in the United States are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise.

• Noise-related hearing loss has been listed as one of the most prevalent occupational health concerns in the United States for more than 25 years.

• Thousands of workers every year suffer from preventable hearing loss due to high workplace noise levels.

• Since 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that nearly 125,000 workers have suffered significant, permanent hearing loss. In 2009 alone, the BLS reported more than 21,000 hearing loss cases.

Decibels and Duration

• Hearing conservation focuses on two primary elements:• Decibel Levels

• Duration of Exposure

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/noisemeter.html

OSHA Standard

• In 1981, OSHA implemented new requirements to protect all workers in general industry (e.g. the manufacturing and the service sectors) for employers to implement a Hearing Conservation Program where workers are exposed to a time weighted average noise level of 85 dBA or higher over an 8 hour work shift.

• Hearing Conservation Programs require employers to measure noise levels, provide free annual hearing exams and free hearing protection, provide training, and conduct evaluations of the adequacy of the hearing protectors in use unless changes to tools, equipment and schedules are made so that they are less noisy and worker exposure to noise is less than the 85 dBA.

OSHA Standard

The Regulations1910.95(b)(1)When employees are subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of Table G-16, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.

1926.52(b)

When employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Table D-2 of this section, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table, personal protective equipment as required in Subpart E, shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.

Hearing Protection PPE

• The preferred strategy to protect hearing is through noise and engineering controls. However, this may not be enough to protect workers against hearing damage.

• Types of PPE required vary depend on level of exposure. This determined through Workplace noise sampling including personal noise monitoring which identifies which employees are at risk from hazardous levels of noise.

• Hearing protection devices (HPDs), such as earmuffs and plugs, are considered an acceptable but less desirable option to control exposures to noise and are generally used during the time necessary to implement engineering or administrative controls, when such controls are not feasible, or when worker's hearing tests indicate significant hearing damage.

Hearing Protection PPE

Types of Hearing PPE

• PPE and Noise Reduction Ratings• Ear Plugs:

• Disposable: NRR of 29 dB to 33 dB• Reusable: NRR of 21 dB to 30 dB

• Ear Muffs: NRR of 20 dB to 30 dB

• When plugs and muffs are used in combination, NRR can be increased by 5 dB.

• Above ratings assume PPE is properly used.

• It is especially important to protect those employees that already have impaired hearing.

• Whatever type is used it must be put in place CORRECTLY!

Head, Hand, Body, Leg, andFoot Protection

Head Protection

• 29 CFR 1910.135(a)(1) states, "Each affected employee shall wear protective helmets when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects." The standard also covers conditions where electrical hazards are present. 1910.135(a)(2) states, "Protective helmets designed to reduce electrical shock hazard shall be worn by each such affected employee when near exposed electrical conductors which could contact the head."

ANSI Standard Z89.1

• This standard separates protective hard hats into different types and classes.

• “Type” is used to designate whether a hard hat provides protection strictly from blows to the top of the head (Type I) or protection from blows to both the top and sides of the head (Type II).

• Under Z89.1-1997, the following three classes are recognized:

• Class G (general) helmets: Class G helmets are proof tested at 2,200 volts

• Class E (electrical) helmets: Class E helmets are proof tested at 20,000 volts

• Class C (conductive) helmets: This class provides no electrical insulation.

• According to the ANSI/ISEA standard, hard hats must also contain user information such as instructions pertaining to sizing, care and service life guidelines.

• Every hard hat conforming to the requirements of ANSI Z89.1-1997 must be appropriately marked to verify its compliance. The following information must be marked inside the hard hat:

• The manufacturer's name or identifying mark

• Date of Manufacture

• The legend, "ANSI Z89.1"

• The Type and Class Designation

• The approximate head size range

ANSI Z89.1-2009

• ANSI published a revision in January of 2009. The significant changes from the 2003 version include three non-mandatory tests.

• The three optional hard hat test criteria are:

• Reverse donning: Hard hats marked with a "reverse donning arrow" can be worn frontward or backward in accordance with the manufacturer's wearing instructions. They pass all hard hat testing requirements, whether worn frontward or backward.

• Lower temperature: Hard hats marked with an "LT" indicate that the hard hat meets all testing requirements of the standard when preconditioned at a temperature of -30°C (-22°F).

• High visibility: Hard hats marked with an "HV" indicate that the hard hat meets all testing requirements of the standard for high visibility colors. This includes tests for chromaticity and luminescence.

Inspection/Replacement

• Hard hats should be inspected prior to each use.• Manufacturers will typically provide a suggested

replacement schedule for suspension and shell components

• Once a hard hat has incurred a significant impact and/or penetration, replacement should be made.

• Hard hats do not last forever. • Remember that many plastics deteriorate when

exposed to sunlight.• Do not paint a hard hat as the paint may negatively

impact the plastic.

Hand Protection

Types of Hand PPE

• The type of PPE is dependent upon the type of activity.

• Activities in solid waste that warrant hand protection:• Equipment operation and maintenance

• Household Hazardous Waste

• Building maintenance

• Site maintenance and chainsaw operation

• Leachate collection

Body, Leg and Arm Protection

Don’t Be Like This Guy….

Or This Guy…

Body, Arm and Leg PPE

• Solid waste related operations do include activities that warrant body, arm and leg protection:• Chainsaw operation

• Welding

• Torching

• Grinding

• Household Hazardous Waste

Foot Protection

OSHA Standard

1910.136(a)

•General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.

ASTM F-2412-2005, "Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection," and ASTM F-2413-2005, "Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear," which are incorporated by reference in § 1910.6;

ANSI Z41-1999, "American National Standard for Personal Protection -- Protective Footwear," which is incorporated by reference in § 1910.6; or

ANSI Z41-1991, "American National Standard for Personal Protection -- Protective Footwear," which is incorporated by reference in § 1910.6.

Solid Waste Concerns

• Various types of protective footwear may be required for activities such as:• Landfill active face and transfer station

tipping floor

• Recycling center floors

• Working in wet and/or muddy conditions

• Working with pressure washers

• Household Hazardous Waste

And For The Record – This is NOT What We Mean by Having a Steel

Toed Shoe.

High Visibility PPE

Why Wear High Vis atSolid Waste Facilities?

• High traffic areas• Construction zones• On road activities

• Collection• Vehicle breakdowns

• Inclement conditions• Rain, snow, fog, dust

• Vehicle Unloading/Loading Areas• AVOID THE CRUSH ZONE!!

ANSI Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear Devices

• ANSI/ISEA 107-2010: This standard specifies performance requirements for high visibility safety apparel and headwear PPE. For the purpose of this standard, the term "garment" shall be used to mean apparel and headwear PPE. These garments are intended to provide conspicuity to the user in hazardous situations under any light conditions by day and under illumination by vehicle headlights in the dark. Performance requirements are included for color, retroreflection, and minimum areas, as well as the recommended configuration of the materials. Performance, requirements are also provided for the physical properties of background materials used in the construction of high-visibility safety apparel and headwear. Test methods are provided in the standard to help ensure that a minimum level of visibility is maintained when garments are subjected to ongoing care procedures.

OSHA and FHWA – MUTCD concur with ANSI/ISEA Standards

Wearer/Activities Garment Class Type

Class 1: Workers where traffic does not exceed 25 mph and there is ample separation from the traffic. These workers often include parking service attendants, warehouse workers in traffic, shopping cart retrievers and those doing sidewalk maintenance.

Class 1: Garment must be relatively conspicuous, with background material equal to 217 in. in total area and retroreflective bands not less than 25mm wide.

Class 2: Workers who work near roadways where traffic exceeds 25 mph and workers who need greater visibility in inclement weather. In general, railway workers, school crossing guards, parking and toll gate personnel, airport ground crews and law enforcement personnel directing traffic.

Class 2: Greater visibility than the Class 1 garments. Background material must equal 755 in., and the minimum width of retroreflective bands is 35mm.

Class 3: Workers with high task loads in a wide range of weather conditions where traffic exceeds 50 mph. The standard recommends these garments for all roadway construction personnel, vehicle operators, utility workers, survey crews, emergency responders, railway workers and accident site investigators.

Class 3: Superior visibility–the highest level of conspicuity. Background material must total 1240 in. Garment must have sleeves with retroreflective material between the shoulders and elbows. The width of retroreflective bands shall not be less than 50mm wide.

Class E: When high-visibility pants are worn without other high-visibility garments, they are considered Class E. When pants are added to Class 2 or 3 garments, the ensemble is considered Class 3.

Solid Waste Industry Suggestion

• Solid waste and recycling facilities that require high visibility safety vests should consider using vests of a “break away” design.

• Break away vests minimize entanglement hazards associated with solid waste and recycling equipment.

• This also applies to wood chipping operations.

Solid Waste Concerns

High visibility PPE should be utilized with the following activities:•Construction activities•Equipment operation•Traffic direction•Anywhere where staff will be in vicinity of vehicles or moving equipment

Be aware and use common sense!

Information for this presentation provided by: OSHA, the CDC, NIOSH, International Safety

Equipment Association and ANSI.

Contact Information:scottsmith@iowaleague.org

515.330.9397