Hazardous Materials – Chemical Personal Protection Equipment

Risk managers in every industry are aware of the fact that despite their best preparations and most carefully laid plans, accidents can and do happen in the workplace.  Just as managers work diligently to create a jobsite where the chances of an injury-causing incident are greatly reduced, they must also ensure that individual workers are protected from harm should the unthinkable actually occur.

Any work environment where hazardous chemicals are regularly handled by workers, either directly or through transportation devices such as motorized vehicles, conveyors or pumping systems, poses a clear risk of exposure through accidental discharge.  No matter how many safety systems are in place, or what policies have been enacted, the final line of defense between an employee and injury-causing exposure always comes down to personal protective equipment.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration provides individual protective recommendations for each specific chemical that could either cause harm to an employee through skin contact, ingestion or inhalation, or through a temperature differential that can cause frostbite.  The overriding concern when it comes to personal protective equipment is that it prevent skin contact of any kind with dangerous chemicals, due to the fact that even if they are not immediately harmful through the epidermis, they could be easily transferred to either the eyes, nose or mouth where they could cause harm later on.

At its most basic, personal protective equipment consists of a pair of gloves to protect the hands, which are usually the most exposed part of a worker in an industrial setting.  Depending upon the extent of the hazard, these gloves may extend up above the wrist to provide extra forearm protection.  Gloves must be made of a material that is strong enough not only to resist the chemicals in question, but also prevent any tearing resulting from contact with sharp edges in the work area.  After gloves, eye protection is typically next on the list, if not already mandatory due to the glove requirement.  Goggles or safety glasses must protect not just the eye but the area around it, and they must not come loose should the worker move their head quickly.  As chemical threats become more elaborate, fume hoods and even complete containment suits with respirators may become necessary, particularly if there is a risk of aerosolization upon exposure.

Equally important as the personal protection equipment itself are the attitudes and policies surrounding its use.  The most effective protective gear is completely useless if it is not used properly, or not worn at all.  Workers must be trained in how to wear and properly maintain their gear, and managers must stay vigilant in order to ensure that regulations concerning its use are not ignore or only met halfway.  Education and training go hand in hand with any protective equipment rollout.