Occupational Health and Safety Program

Personal Protective Equipment in Area Technology Centers

Selecting PPE for the Program Areas

The ATC management and staff must assess each program area and

determine if hazards that necessitate the use of eye and face protection are present, or are likely to be present, before assigning PPE to

students and instructors.

Protecting Students and Staff from Hazards

PPE devices alone should not be relied on to provide protection against hazards,

but should be used in conjunction with guards, engineering controls, and

appropriate tool and machine operation.

Hazard Assessment

Hazard Type Hazard Type Common related tasks

Impact Flying objects such as large chips, fragments, particles, sand, and dirt.

Chipping, grinding, machining, masonry work, wood working, sawing, drilling, riveting, sanding, etc.

Heat Anything emitting extreme heat.

Furnace operations, pouring, casting, hot dipping, welding, etc.

Chemicals Splash, fumes, vapors, and irritating mists.

Acid and chemical handling, degreasing, plating, and working with blood.

Dust Harmful dust. Woodworking, buffing, and general dusty conditions.

Optical Radiation Radiant energy, glare, and intense light

Welding, torch-cutting, -brazing, soldering, and laser work.

PPE Requirements

PPE Requirements

Training and Qualification

 

Face and Eye Protection

Employees must be provided with eye and face protection equipment when machines

or operations present potential eye or face injury from physical, chemical or

radiation agents.

Face and Eye Impact Hazards: Safety Spectacles

Intended to shield the wearer's eyes from impact hazards

such as flying fragments, objects, large chips, and particles.

Staff and students are required to use eye safety spectacles with side shields when there is a hazard from

flying objects.

Face and Eye Impact Hazards: Safety Goggles

Safety goggles are intended to shield the wearer's eyes from impact hazards such as flying

fragments, objects, large chips, and particles.

Goggles fit the face immediately surrounding the eyes and form a protective seal around the eyes. This prevents objects from entering under or around the goggles. 

Face and Eye Contacts and Rx Lenses

ATC management must ensure that

staff and students who wear prescription lenses or contacts use PPE that

incorporates the prescription or use eye protection that can be worn over prescription lenses.

Face and Eye Impact Hazards: Face Shields

Face shields are intended to protect the entire face, or portions thereof, from impact hazards such as flying fragments, objects, large chips, and particles.

Use face shields in combination with safety spectacles or goggles for additional protection. 

Face and Eye Optical Radiation: Welding

Welding helmets are protectors intended to shield the eyes and face from optical radiation, heat, and impact.

Use welding helmets in addition to protection such as safety spectacles or goggles to provide adequate protection. 

Head Protection-Hard Hats

ATC’s must ensure that staff and students have head protection if any of the following apply:

Objects might fall from above and strike them on the head.

They might bump their heads against fixed objects, such as exposed pipes or beams.

There is a possibility of accidental head contact with electrical hazards.

Head Protection-Hard Hats

Hard hats should do the following:

Resist penetration by objects.

Absorb the shock of a blow.

Be water resistant and slow burning.

Have clear instructions explaining proper adjustment and replacement of the suspension and headband.

Head Protection-Hard Hats

Hard hats must have a hard outer shell.Hard hats must have a shock absorbing lining.Hard hats must have a headband and straps that

suspend the shell from 1 to 1 ¼ inches away from the head.

This design provides shock absorption during an impact and ventilation during normal wear.

Foot and Leg Protection

Foot and Leg ProtectionExamples of hazards requiring foot and leg protection:

When heavy objects such as tools might fall on the individual’s feet.

Working with sharp objects such as nails or spiked that could pierce the soles or uppers of ordinary shoes.

Working on or around hot, wet or slippery surfaces.

When cutting grass and/or eat eating.

When electrical hazards are present.

Hand and Arm Protection

*Absorption of harmful substances,*Chemical or thermal burns,*Electrical dangers,*Bruises,*Punctures,*Fractures, and/or*Amputations.

Hand and Arm Protection

Protective equipment includes:

*Gloves,

*Finger guards,

*Arm coverings,

*Elbow length gloves.

Hearing Protection

If engineering and work practice controls do not lower exposure to workplace noise to acceptable levels, employees and students must wear appropriate haring protection.

Hearing protectors reduce only the amount of noise that gets through to the ears.

Hearing protectors worn by employees must reduce an employee’s noise exposure to within the acceptable limits specified by OSHA.

If employees are exposed to occupational noise at or above 85 dB averaged over an eight hour period, the employer is required to institute a hearing conservation program that includes regular testing of employees’ hearing by qualified professionals. OSHA Standards describe the requirements for a hearing conservation program.

Hearing Protection-Types

SINGLE USE EARPLUGS-made of waxed cotton, foam, silicone rubber of fiberglass wool. They are self-forming and, when properly inserted, they work as well as most molded earplugs.

PRE-FORMED OR MOLDED EARPLUGS-must be individually fitted by a professional and can be disposable or reusable. Reusable plugs should be cleaned after each use.

EARMUFFS-require a perfect seal around the ear. Glasses, facial hair, long hair or facial movements such as chewing may reduce the protective value of earmuffs.

Thank You For Your Participation

Safety is as Easy as ABC---

Always Be Careful