Chemical Protective Clothing

Principal Objective  Participants leave with an appreciation for the selection and use of protective clothing

Specific Objectives  Describe the factors to consider in selecting protective clothing  Recognize categories of hazards  Identify exposure routes  List regulations and standards affecting selection of protective clothing

Specific Objectives  Know differences among degradation, penetration, and permeation  Read and interpret a permeation chart  Select the appropriate protective clothing for a specific situation

Problem Scope  BLS: skin disease is #1  NIOSH: one of the top 20 H&S issues  Large surface area: opportunity Site of direct injury Route of entry

Skin Disorders  About 1/3 of all reported occupational illnesses  Classifications Contact dermatitis Photosensitivity Occupational acne Pigmentary abnormalities Cancers Burns

Skin as Route of Entry  Systemic Intoxication Sole route of entry Additional to inhalation

Direct Causes  Chemical  Biological / Botanical  Mechanical  Physical

Industries By Incidence  Agriculture / Forestry / Fishing  Manufacturing  Others Construction Services Transportation Mining

Industries By Processes  Machine Tools: Cutting Oils and Coolants  Plastics Manufacturing  Rubber Manufacturing  Food Processing  Leather Tanning and Finishing  Agriculture  Metal Plating and Cleaning  Construction

Factors to Consider in Selecting Protective Clothing  Hazards - physical, chemical, biological  Exposure duration  Regulations and standards  Level of protection required - EPA  Material properties  Garment design

Considerations: Selecting Protective Clothing  Availability of Technical Data  Storage, Maintenance, Inspection, Testing Requirements  Decontamination Issues - reuse, disposal  Reusable or Limited Use  Disposability

Considerations: Selecting Protective Clothing  Shelf Life  Availability  Cost  Human Factors  Environmental conditions

Industrial Hygiene Process Is protective clothing needed?

Industrial Hygiene Process ANTICIPATION HAZARD RECOGNITION EVALUATION CONTROL

Hazard Control Hierarchy  Administrative: Operating procedures, e.g., work/rest regimes  Personal Protective Equipment: Protective apparel (clothing) Respiratory protection Eye and face protection Hand protection Foot protection Head protection

Definitions  Toxicity The inherent ability of a substance to cause harm if there is significant exposure  Hazard The probability that a substance will harm when it is used in a particular quantity and manner

Hazard Categories  Chemical Hazards Particulates, fibers Metal Fumes Toxic/Inert Gases Solvent Vapors Corrosives Flammables Explosives Chemical warfare agents

Hazard Categories  Physical Hazards Cold/Hot Surfaces Cold/Hot Ambient Temperature Heat Stress Steam Sharp edges, sharp points Slippery Surfaces Uneven Terrain Low Visibility Nip points, pinch points

Risk = Hazard x Exposure

Hazards Assessment Process  Select and have affected employee(s) use properly fitted PPE as indicated  Certify in writing that a workplace hazard assessment has been done

Chemical Hazard Group  Carcinogens/Cancer  Teratagen/Developmental Toxin  Mutagen/Reproductive Toxin  Irritants  Narcotics  Sensitizers  Corrosives  Asphyxiants

Protective Equipment & Clothing: Is all of this needed?

Hand Protection: Gloves  Gloves are made from many polymers Butyl Isobutylene- isoprene rubber Natural rubber Neoprene, Chloroprene Nitrite, Acrylonitrite- butadiene rubber Polyethylene Polyvinyl Chloride Polyvinyl Alcohol Polyurethane Viton Polylaminate

Hand Protection: Gloves  Gloves for physical hazards Cotton Leather Synthetic fiber Synthetic film Steel yarn

Protection Level History  In early 1980’s, EPA established protection levels for PPE for hazardous chemical remediation  In 1990, OSHA adopted EPA levels as part of final rule for hazardous waste operations and emergency response  Levels now frequently used to describe full body clothing

EPA Levels of Protection

Selection of CPC

Quick Selection Guide to Chemical Protective Clothing Almost 800 chemicals with CAS number and risk codes Approximately 1000 more/corrected selection recommendations in 96 of the total 99 chemical classes/subclasses (ASTM F-1186) 19 representative barrier materials A new feature is the Trade Name Table containing single and multi-layer generic materials vs. 22 test chemicals (ASTM F-1001/EN374-1)

Master Chemical Resistance Table containing 800 chemicals organized in 96 chemical classes

Chemical Index containing 800 chemicals, synonyms, CAS numbers, Risk Codes and Risk Phrases