CHAPTER 7. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Suitable and individual personal protective equipment (such as gloves, goggles, respirators) should be provided or made available to students and staff requiring such equipment. It must be remembered, however, that personal protective equipment has its limitations. It can be uncomfortable, have fitting problems, and only protects the person wearing the personal protective equipment. GENERAL PROCEDURES Selection of personal protective equipment should be centralized (e.g., through the health and safety committee) to ensure that proper equipment is chosen, fit testing occurs and that training is given in its proper use and maintenance. A variety of sizes should be made available since one size will not fit everyone. Written procedures should be developed for the proper use of personal protective equipment. Wearing of personal protective equipment should be mandatory for processes where it is needed to prevent injury. Records should be kept of operations requiring the wearing of personal protective equipment. OSHA PPE STANDARD OSHA has updated its regulations for personal protective equipment for employees (29 CFR 1910.132, .133, .135, .136, and .138). This excludes respirators. Employers must conduct a hazard evaluation to determine if hazards are present, or likely to be present, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, the employer must: 1) select and have employees use the types of PPE that will protect them; 2) communicate selection choices to employees; and 3) select PPE that properly fits each employee. The employer must certify in writing that the hazard assessment has been performed. Employees who are required to wear PPE must be trained in the following: 1) when PPE is necessary; 2) What PPE is necessary; and 3) How to put on and off, adjust and wear PPE. Employees must demonstrate an understanding of the training and an ability to use PPE before being allowed to perform work requiring its use. Retraining is necessary if an employee doesn't show this understanding or skill, or if changes in the workplace or types of PPE make previous training obsolete. The employer must certify the training of employees. RESPIRATORS Respirators should be a last resort which is used only when ventilation and other protective measures are not sufficient. In fact, OSHA permits the use of respirators only when effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted. In fact, proper use of respirators takes a lot more effort and knowledge than many people assume. Employees wearing respirators come under OSHA's respirator standard. This standard (29 CFR 1910.134) has just been updated. The revised standard became effective April 8, 1998, with employers having to be in complete compliance by October 5, 1998. The revised standard can be found on CSA's web site (http://artswire.org:70/1/csa) in the Precautions subdirectory. The revised standard has several new or enlarged requirements: * a written plan with work-site specific procedures; * a hazard evaluation to determine respiratory hazards and work conditions in order to help in respirator selection (compliance date September 8, 1998); * medical evaluations to determine the ability of employees to wear a particular respirator; * fit testing of tight-fitting respirators; * training in the safe use of respirators; and * regular respirator program evaluations. Respiratory Protection Program OSHA requires employers to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with work-specific procedures and procedures for respirator use. The program must be administered by a trained administrator, and must include the following features. 1. Whenever respirators are necessary to protect health or whenever an employer requires wearing of respirators, there must be a written respiratory protection program with the following elements: * procedures for selecting respirators; * medical evaluation of employees required to wear respirators; * fit-testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; * procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and emergency situations; * procedures and schedules for maintenance of respirators; * procedures for proper functioning of atmosphere-supplying respirators; * training of employees in hazards and proper use of respirators; and * procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program. 2. If respirator use is not required: * An employer may provide employees with respirators or allow employees to use their own respirators, if the employer determines such respirator use will not create a hazard. If voluntary respirator wearing is allowed, then the employer must provide the information in Appendix D of the respirator standard to the respirator user; * An employer must have a written respirator program that includes medical evaluation of ability to wear a respirator and adequate maintenance of the respirator. An exception is when an employee voluntarily wears a filtering facepiece (dust mask), whether provided by the employee or employer. However the employer must still make sure the dust mask is not a hazard to the wearer and is not dirty or contaminated. 3. An employer shall designate a program administrator who is qualified by training or experience to administer the program. 4. Employers shall provide respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the employee. Type of Respirators Atmosphere-supplying respirators: Atmosphere-supplying respirators provide a source of clean air from compressed air tanks or compressors. Examples are supplied air (airline) respirators and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). For situations involving oxygen deficiency or that are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH), only full-facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of 30 minutes, or a full facepiece pressure demand airline respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply is acceptable. Pressure demand or positive pressure respirators are respirators in which there is always a positive air pressure inside the facepiece so that contaminated air cannot leak into the facepiece. The source of air for atmosphere-supplying respirators can be compressed or liquid oxygen or compressed air. Compressed or liquid oxygen must meed the US Pharmacopoeia requirements for medical or breathing oxygen. Compressed air must meet the specifications for Type I-Grade D breathing air: 19.5 - 23.5 % oxygen, less than 5 mg/cu.m. of hydrocarbons, less than 10 ppm carbon monoxide, less than 1000 ppm carbon dioxide, and no noticeable odors. OSHA has other requirements for cylinders. Since the use of supplied air respirators is more complicated than air purifying respirators, it is imperative that people wearing these have adequate and training in their use and practice with them on a regular basis. Air-purifying respirators: Air-purifying respirators remove contaminants from the air in a given location in a variety of ways, including filtering particulates from the air, absorbing the contaminant, or chemically reacting with the contaminant. The air is pulled into the face-piece by lung power, which creates a negative pressure inside the face-piece during inhalation. Thus if the fit is not perfect, contaminants can leak into the face-piece because of this negative pressure. Air-purifying respirators come in two types: gaseous and particulate. There can also be combinations of the two. Gaseous types contain cartridges for organic vapors (e.g. solvent vapors), ammonia, and acid gases (e.g. for chlorine bleach, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride). In the past, particulate filters included ones for paint spray, dusts and mists (DM); dusts, mists and fumes (DMF, e.g. for welding fumes); and high efficiency (HEPA) filters. In 1995, NIOSH published revised standards for particulate respirators. The new regulation provides for nine classes of filters: three levels of filter efficiency, each with three categories of resistance to filter efficiency degradation from oil. The three levels of filter efficiency are 95%, 99%, and 99.97%. The three categories of resistance to filter efficiency degradation are labeled N (not resistant to oil) , R (resistant to oil - for a limited time), and P ( oil-proof. ). N95 and N99 filters outperform DM and DMF filters. Air-purifying respirators cannot be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres, in IDLH situations, or for very high concentrations of contaminants. They also should not be used for chemicals with poor warning properties (when air concentrations at or above the recommended exposure levels create no observable odor, irritation or taste) because there is no way to detect when the cartridge is no longer removing the contaminants. Examples include methyl alcohol, nitrogen dioxide, isocyanates, and carbon monoxide. Air-purifying respirators should also not be relied upon to give adequate protection against cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens) because they are not 100% efficient and do allow some contaminants to penetrate through the respirator (see section below on protection factors). Finally, air-purifying respirators are not to be used for abrasive blasting because this type of respirator is not approved for very high levels of particulates (see protection factors below). Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs): PAPRs actually come under the classification of air-purifying respirators. They differ, however, in that the air is pumped through the cartridge or filter so that there is always a positive pressure inside the respirator face-piece. This reduces a major disadvantage of air-purifying respirators which create a negative pressure inside the face piece. The same restrictions applying to air-purifying respirators apply to powered air-purifying respirators. In addition they are only approved for particulates, although there are also cartridges for gaseous contaminants. Recently there have been studies indicating that they do not provide as great a protection factor as originally thought. Respirator face-pieces: Respirator face-pieces come in a variety of types and sizes. These include: * hoods, which cover the entire head and shoulders; * full-facepiece types, (typified by the classic "gas mask", and required for protection against eye irritants); * half-facepiece types which cover mouth, nose, and chin; * quarter-facepiece types, covering the mouth and nose; and * filtering facepieces (dust masks). The revised OSHA standard defines filtering facepieces as a negative pressure air-purifying particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the facepiece or with the entire facepiece consisting of the filtering medium. These dust masks do not have to have full written respirator programs. Selection of Respirators Respirators must be selected for the particular contaminants, their physical state, and exposure conditions that will be encountered by the individual wearing the respirator. The revised OSHA respirator standard requires that employers evaluate respiratory hazards in the workplace and exposure conditions in order to assist in respirator selection. (This must be completed by September 8, 1998.) If the employer can't identify or reasonably estimate the level of exposure to a contaminant, the employer shall consider the atmosphere to be IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health). Table 7-1 is a general protocol for determining the allowable types of respirators for a given contaminant and conditions. Table 7-2 is a more specific selection chart for types of filters and cartridges for various art processes. At high concentrations of toxic contaminants, air-supplied respirators might become necessary instead of air-purifying types. Different types of respirators vary in the degree of efficiency with which they can protect. To properly select a respirator, you need to know the actual concentration of the contaminant in the work area, the Threshold Limit Value (or OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit) of the contaminant, and the rated Protection Factor of the various types of respirators. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 7-1. Respirator Selection Protocol Hazard Respirator Type Oxygen Deficiency - SCBA - Combination Airline and auxiliary SCBA Toxic Contaminants Gaseous - IDLH * - Positive Pressure SCBA - Positive pressure airline respirator plus auxiliary SCBA - Not IDLH - Air line respirator - Chemical cartridge respirator Particulate - Dust, mist or fumes respirator - Airline respirator - Abrasive blasting respirator Gaseous and Particulate - IDLH - Positive pressure SCBA - Positive pressure airline respirator plus auxiliary SCBA - Not IDLH - Airline respirator - Chemical cartridge respirator with special filter * IDLH Immediately dangerous to life or health --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 7-2. Selection Chart for Filters and Cartridges Substance or process Cartridge Filter Acid gases AG - Acid mists AG N95 Aerosol spray cans OV N95 Air brush water-based - N95 solvent-based OV N95 Ammonia A - Asbestos - N100, HEPA * Clay and glaze powders - N100, HEPA Dye powders - N95 Fiberglass dust - N95 Formaldehyde FOR - Lacquers OV - Metal grinding oil-based lubricant - R95, P95 water-based/no lubricant - N95 Lead-containing powders - N99, N100, HEPA Metal melting - N95 lead, cadmium - N100, HEPA Metal powders - N95 Oil mists - P95, R95 Paint strippers (solvent) OV - Pastel dusts - N95 Pigment powders - N95 (no lead, cadmium or chromates) Plastic resins and glues OV - Plastics sanding, grinding - N95 Polyvinyl chloride AG N95 Polyurethane OV N95 Formaldehyde plastics FOR N95 Silica - N100, HEPA Soldering, lead acid fluxes AG N100, HEPA organic fluxes OV N100, HEPA Soldering, hard (no cadmium) fluoride fluxes AG N95 borax fluxes - N95 Solvents OV - Spraying water-based - N95 solvent-based OV N95 Sulfur dioxide AG - Welding (metal fumes only) - N95 lead, cadmium, nickel - N100, HEPA Key OV organic vapor A ammonia AG acid gas FOR formaldehyde HEPA high efficiency N95 95% efficient filter * atmosphere-supplying respirator recommended --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protection Factors: The Protection Factor of a respirator is defined as the concentration outside the respirator divided by the concentration inside the respirator. These protection factors are developed from laboratory studies. Table 7-3 gives the Protection Factors for a variety of respirators based on recommendations from NIOSH.(OSHA will be issuing Protection Factors in the future) You can obtain the maximum concentration of the contaminant for which you can use a given respirator by multiplying the Protection Factor for that respirator by the recommended exposure level for the contaminant of concern. If the actual concentration is higher than the calculated maximum concentration, then you need to select a respirator with a higher Protection Factor. For example, suppose someone is exposed to xylene, which has a Threshold Limit Value of 100 ppm. The standard half-face respirator with organic vapor cartridges has a Protection Factor of 10. Therefore, for xylene, the maximum concentration against which this respirator can be used is 1000 ppm. If the actual concentration is greater than 1000 ppm, then a full-face respirator or a supplied-air respirator would be needed. If the concentration of the substance is unknown and can not be estimated, particularly if it is one that can be immediately dangerous to life or health, then a positive-pressure SCBA type or positive-pressure demand airline respirator with emergency SCBA should be used. This would apply, for example, in many spill situations. In some cases, cartridges for gaseous contaminants have limitations for exposure concentrations not related to the face-piece. In such instances, the most protective respirator should be used. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Table 7-3. Respirator Protection Factors Respirator Type Protection Factor 1. Air-purifying respirators Single-use, dust 5 Quarter-face, dust 5 Half-face (including filtering facepiece) 10 Full-face, dusts, mists and/or fumes filter 10 Full-face, HEPA filter or chemical cartridge 50 Powered air-purifying respirator, hood or helmet 25 Powered air-purifying respirator, half- or full- face with HEPA filter or chemical cartridge 50 2. Supplied-air respirators SCBA, open-circuit, demand, full-face 50 SCBA, open-circuit, pressure-demand, full-face 10,000 Air-line, demand, half-face 10 Air-line, demand, full-face 50 Air-line, pressure-demand, half-face 1000 Air-line, pressure-demand, full-face 2000 Air-line, continuous flow, full-face 50 Air-line, continuous flow, hood 25 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Medical Factors Before requiring an employee to be fit tested for a respirator, a medical evaluation must be provided to determine the ability of the employee to wear a respirator since respirators put an extra strain on the heart and lungs. OSHA does not require a medical examination; at the minimum, the medical evaluation can be done by a questionnaire found in Appendix C of the revised standard. The evaluation must be performed by a physician or other licensed health care professional qualified to do the evaluation. The OSHA standard has further requirements on what information must be provided to the health care professional and what information they can divulge to the employer. Persons with heart or lung diseases such as arrhythmias, asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis may be limited in their ability to wear a particular type of respirator. Other medical factors that could limit respirator use include anemia, hemophilia, poor eyesight or hearing (i.e. not being able to detect warnings), lack of proper use of fingers or hands, and claustrophobia. In cases where a medical condition would limit the use of negative-pressure air-purifying respirators, the employer must provide a powered air-purifying respirator if the health professional finds the employee can use one. Additional medical evaluations must be done if an employee reports symptoms related to his or her ability to wear a respirator, if the health care provider or supervisor or respiratory program administrator indicates the need, or if there is a change in workplace conditions that might result in an increased physiological strain on the employee. Fitting of Respirators If a respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece does not fit properly, then it is not serving its intended purpose. In order to fit, there must be an adequate seal between the face-piece and the wearer's face. Anything interfering with this seal can allow inward leakage of contaminants. There are a variety of factors affecting the fit of a respirator, including the model and size of the face-piece, facial characteristics, and eyeglasses. No two people have the same size and shape of face. Similarly there are variations in shape of respirator face-pieces between the different models of respirators. As a result, it cannot be expected that one size or model of respirator would fit everyone. Until a few years ago, respirators were designed to fit men only, and women and others with small faces found it impossible to get a proper fit with a respirator. Today most major respirator manufacturers make a variety of models and sizes. It is therefore advisable, and is required by OSHA, to provide a variety of makes and sizes available to be certain of a proper fit. Beards, sideburns or other facial hair between the face-piece and the skin will prevent you from obtaining a proper respirator to face seal. Many men who shave regularly can even find difficulty in getting a proper fit if they have a heavy growth during the day. In some instances it is necessary to shave just before putting on the respirator. In addition facial scars, missing teeth, and a broken nose can prevent a proper fit. Eyeglasses can also prevent a proper fit if the temple bars of eyeglasses interfere with the seal of the respirator. Changing eyeglass styles can often help. Another solution is to mount corrective lenses inside a full-face respirator. OSHA requires annual fit testing to determine if a respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece fits properly. Employees must also be fit tested if a different respirator facepiece is used, or if there is any question about the fit of the respirator. If the employee notifies the employer that the fit is unacceptable (even after passing a fit test) then the employee shall be given a reasonable opportunity to select another respirator and be retested. There are two basic types of fit tests: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative fit testing involves exposing the respirator wearer to an atmosphere of some agent such as corn oil and measuring the concentration of this agent both inside and outside the respirator. This is the best method but is expensive. Qualitative fit testing involves exposing the respirator wearer to an agent which can be detected by irritation, odor or taste. Examples of approved qualitative fit testing agents include isoamyl acetate (banana oil), irritant smoke, saccharin mist, and Bitrex. The isoamyl acetate requires an organic vapor cartridge and the irritant smoke, saccharin and Bitrex require a particulate filter. Qualitative fit testing may only used to test negative pressure air-purifying respirators that must achieve a fit factor of 100 or less. The following is the general steps required by OSHA for qualitative fit testing. The entire protocol can be found in the mandatory Appendix A of the respirator standard. 1. The person to be tested shall be allowed to select the most acceptable respirator from a variety of choices. 2. Prior to selection, the person shall be shown how to put on and adjust a respirator. 3. The selected respirators is put on and worn for at least 5 minutes to assess comfort. 4. The adequacy of the fit shall be checked using listed criteria. 5. The test subject shall conduct either a positive or negative-pressure seal check as described in Appendix B-1. 6. The fit test procedure shall be described, including exercises to be performed. 7. The fit test will be performed wearing any other personal protective equipment that would be normally worn and which could affect respirator fit. 8. For qualitative fit tests, a threshold sensitivity test will be performed to determine if the person can detect the odor, taste or other response used to indicate a poor fit. 9. The person shall conduct the following 1-minute exercises while wearing the respirator in the fit testing atmosphere: * normal breathing; * deep breathing; * turning head side to side; * moving head up and down; * talking; * bending over; and * repeat of normal breathing. 10. If a person fails a fit test with a given respirator, the procedure is repeated with a different respirator. Records of fit tests must be kept until the next fit test. Use of Respirators OSHA requires employers to establish procedures for the proper use of respirators. These include: * prohibiting conditions that would interfere with the facepiece seal. Employers shall not allow employees with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or have any other condition that would interfere with the seal or valve function. * Employers shall ensure that corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment worn by employees does not interfere with the facepiece seal. * Employees wearing respirators with tight-fitting facepieces must perform a user seal check each time they wear the respirator, as described in Appendix B-1 (or approved manufacturer procedures). * Ongoing surveillance of the workplace conditions to determine if they may affect respirator effectiveness. * Employers shall ensure that employees leave respirator use area to 1) wash their faces as needed to prevent eye or skin irritation; 2) if they detect vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance or leakage; and 3) to replace filers, cartridges or canisters. * Employers must have proper emergency procedures for use of respirators in IDLH atmospheres. Changing Filters/Cartridges: One of the major disadvantages of air-purifying respirators is that the cartridges become saturated with the gaseous contaminant and breakthrough of the contaminant occurs into the lungs. The revised OSHA standard requires that air-purifying respirators be equipped with end-of-service indicators certified by NIOSH for the contaminant or that the employer implement a change of cartridge schedule based on objective data. The data relied on shall be included in the respirator program. In the absence of air sampling data to help determine when to change cartridges, the respirator manufacturer should be consulted. In any case, change cartridges if odor breakthrough is detected. With filter cartridges, the more particulates collected on the filter, the more efficient the filtering action. Particulate filters should get changed whenever it becomes difficult to breathe through them. Maintenance and Care of Respirators OSHA requires employers to provide for cleaning and disinfecting, storage, inspection and repair of respirators used by employees. * Appendix B-2 of the respirator standard specifies cleaning and disinfection procedures. Respirators used by one person shall be cleaned and disinfected as needed to maintain them in a sanitary condition. Respirators worn by more than one person shall be cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals. Emergency respirators shall be cleaned and disinfected after every use. * Respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, lights, temperature extremes, etc. * Respirators used routinely shall be inspected before each use and during cleaning. Inspections must include a check of respirator function, tightness of connections, condition of various parts including valves, straps, facepiece, etc. There are special procedures for emergency and escape-only respirators. * Defective respirators must be repaired before being used. Repairs must be done by trained personnel. Respirator Training Employees required to wear respirators must be trained before being required to use a respirator, and at least annually thereafter. The training must be understandable by the employees and employers must demonstrate that employees know at least the following: * why the respirator is needed and the how improper fit, use or maintenance can affect its effectiveness; * limitations and capabilities of the respirator; * what to do in emergency situations, including cases of respirator malfunction; * how to inspect, put on and remove, and check the seal of the respirator; * how to recognize medical signs that may limit or prevent respirator use; * the general requirements of the OSHA respirator standard. Employees voluntarily wearing respirators must be given the information in Appendix D. Program Evaluation Employers must conduct regular evaluations of the workplace to ensure that the written respiratory program is being properly implemented. This shall include consulting employees about the effectiveness of the program. Factors to be assessed include: * respirator fit; * appropriate respirator selection; * proper respirator use under existing workplace conditions; * proper respirator maintenance. Respirators and Students OSHA regulations only apply to employees, and do not cover students (unless they are working for the Art Department). However, in order to protect students, it is good practice to use the same procedures for respirator use with students as is required for employees. However, I would not recommend that students ever be in situations where atmosphere-supplying respirators are required for reasons of the complexity of the equipment, the danger of accidents, and possible liability in case of accidents. GLOVES AND HAND PROTECTION Many acids, solvents, and other liquids found in art materials are capable of damaging the skin to cause dermatitis, the leading occupational disease. Gloves are available that can protect the hand against most hazardous exposures. These include chrome-tanned leather gloves for protection against heat, sparks, molten metal, chipping and cuts; cotton or fabric gloves work gloves for protection against dirt, abrasion, cold, and chips or slivers; metal mesh gloves for protection against hand saws, knives, and similar tools; and plastic and rubber gloves to protect against toxic liquid chemicals. Asbestos gloves aren't recommended for use because of the release of hazardous fibers. OSHA requires that employers select and require that employees use appropriate hand protection when exposed to hazards that can damage the skin or can result in skin absorption of harmful substances (29 CFR 1910.138). Liquid Penetration There are a wide variety of types of rubber and plastic gloves on the market for use with liquids, each with different properties. Examples include natural rubber, neoprene rubber, polyvinyl chloride, nitrile, etc. There is no one type or brand of glove which is resistant to all kinds of liquids. One brand may be able to resist turpentine, but will dissolve in xylene, while another brand may do the opposite. Other gloves, while seemingly resistant to a liquid, actually allow permeation of the substance's vapor. Dishwashing, hairdressing, and surgical gloves almost never protect wearers against the solvents and acids found in many art materials. Liquids, especially solvents, may penetrate gloves either as liquids or as vapors. In liquid form, solvents can cause some glove materials to dissolve. This is usually apparent to the wearer as the gloves soften and disintegrate. Vapor penetration or permeation of gloves is more difficult to detect and may leave the glove unchanged in appearance. Some general principles, however, determine a glove material's resistance to liquid and vapor penetration: * Certain rubber or plastic glove materials are especially suited to resist particular solvents or acids. * Denser gloves manufactured by a solvent-dipping process are usually more resistant than latex-dipped gloves, especially to vapor permeation. * Penetration usually increases as glove thickness decreases. * The more concentrated the solution, the faster glove penetration can occur. * Heat and abrasion will adversely affect glove performance. Selection of Gloves Glove selection begins with knowledge of the chemical composition of your materials. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), with the listing of ingredients can be obtained from the manufacturer. Glove charts gotten from safety supply distributors list chemical resistances rated on performance under ordinary conditions. Remember that glove performance varies between manufacturer even if the actual glove material is the same. Therefore, each chemical resistance chart is supplier-specific. For gloves used in special circumstances, such as with heated solutions or with abrasive action, it is recommended that you consult the manufacturer or test the glove in its particular application to ensure suitability. Gloves are available in various sizes. It important that the glove fit well. Gloves also come in a variety of lengths. Be sure to select a glove of sufficient length to adequately protect the hand and forearm while working. Table 7-4 gives relative resistance ratings of certain glove materials to some commonly used liquids in industry. It is adapted from a table in National Safety Council's 3rd edition of Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 7-4. Glove Selection Chart GLOVE MATERIAL Natural Neo- Buna-N Butyl PVC PVA Poly- Nitrile Rubber prene ethylene CHEMICAL mineral acids e.g. Hydrochloric G E E G G P G E organic acids e.g. Acetic E E E E E E G - caustics e.g. Sodium hydroxide E E E E G P E G alcohols e.g. Methanol E E G E E F E E aromatics e.g. Toluene P F F F P P E E petroleum distillate e.g. Mineral spirits E E E F P E E E ketones e.g.Methyl ethyl ketone G G F E NR F G F chlorinated hydrocarbons e.g. Perchorethylene NR F F NR NR E G G glycol ethers e.g. Cellosolve* G F - - F E G P MISCELLANEOUS Lacquer Thinner F NR NR F F E F F Benzene NR P G NR F E F G Formaldehyde E E E E E P E F Ethyl Acetate F G F G P F G F Vegetable Oil G E E G G E E E Animal Fat P E E G G E E E Turpentine F G E F F E G E Phenol F E G G G P E NR PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE Abrasion resistance - F G G G G E E Cut resistance - E E G F E F E Puncture resistance E E G G F E E E Heat resistance E E F P P F P F Flexibility F G F G F F G G Dry Grip E G G F E E G G Wet Grip G F G F E E G F * from glove manufacturer data Key: E - Excellent G - Good PVC polyvinyl chloride F - Fair P - Poor PVA polyvinyl alcohol NR - Not Recommended --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maintenance of Gloves Periodic cleaning and drying of your gloves is necessary to keep them functional. One therefore needs a spare pair of gloves to wear while doing this maintenance. Hands should be washed twice: 1) with the gloves on to clean the gloves; and 2) with the gloves removed to clean the hands. Barrier Creams and Waterless Hand Cleansers There are also various protective creams, and waterless hand cleansers. Barrier creams are applied to the hands before chemical contact. These barrier creams are less protective than gloves, use is appropriate when gloves are impractical. Never use barrier creams for very corrosive chemical exposure. Water-soluble protective creams protect against solvents, cutting oils, paints, lacquers, and varnishes, while water-resistant types of creams protect against contact with acrylics, dyebaths, and mild acids. One should wash and reapply these creams often for best protection. Waterless hand cleaners often contain solvents themselves, and are not a good substitute for plain soap and water for hand cleaning. As an alternative, baby oil can be used to remove paint from hands. EYE AND FACE PROTECTION The face and eyes must be protected against a variety of hazards, including flying particles (chipping, grinding, etc.), radiation (welding, glassblowing, carbon arcs, kilns, foundries) and chemical splash (acids, caustics, solvents, etc.), molten metal splashes, chemical gases or vapors, etc. OSHA requires that employees use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to these hazards (29 CFR 1910.133). PPE purchased after July 5, 1994 must comply with American National Standards Institute Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection (ANSI publication Z87.1-1989). PPE purchased before July 5 must comply with ANSI Z87.1- 1968, or be demonstrated to be equally effective. All eye and face protection devices meeting this standard have the Z87 logo stamped on them. One important factor is that face protection is different from eye protection. In certain instances, you may have to wear both protective goggles and a face shield to work safely. The use of a face shield does not necessarily provide adequate eye protection. Sometimes individuals will wear face shields when in fact they only need eye protection. Art Departments and Art Schools should have a written policy mandating that students and wear suitable eye protection in all studios where there is a risk of chemical splash, flying particles, or radiation. Protection Against Impact Protection against impact or flying particles is of three types: spectacles with impact-resistant lenses and side shields, flexible or cushioned goggles, and chipping or eyecup goggles. For some types of exposure, a combination of goggles and face shield is advised. OSHA requires side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Regular eyeglasses do not meet industrial impact protection standards. Flexible goggles are available that can be worn over eyeglasses. In addition it is possible to obtain goggles with prescription lenses. Protection Against Radiation The type of protection needed against radiation depends on the type of radiation exposure. Carbon arcs and electrical welding require protection against ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation. The ultraviolet radiation can cause conjunctivitis ("arc eye"), sunburn, and skin cancer. A face shield is necessary as well as welding goggles. Table 7-6 lists minimum shade numbers for various operations, according to OSHA. In general, the rule is to use the darkest shade possible that is compatible with visibility. In oxyacetylene welding, glassblowing, soldering, pottery and enameling kilns, and foundry work involving molten metal, the concern is mostly with protection against the visible and infrared radiation. Over a period of years, exposure to infrared radiation can lead to the development of cataracts. Goggles protecting against infrared radiation are recommended. In the case of foundry pours, a face shield protecting against infrared radiation is also recommended. Plastic lenses are recommended where there is a risk of molten metal splash. For looking in pottery or enameling kilns, use goggles with a shade number between 1.7 and 3. For glassblowing and foundry, a shade number of 3-5 is often used. Special infrared goggles are also available. ======================================================================== Table 7-6. Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy Operations Electric arc size Arc current Minimum * (1/32 inch) (amps) Protective Shade ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Shielded metal Less than 3 Less than 60 7 arc welding 3-5 60-160 8 5-8 160-250 10 More than 8 250-550 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gas metal arc Less than 60 7 welding and 60-160 10 flux-cored arc 160-250 10 welding 250-500 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gas Tungsten Less than 50 6 arc welding 50-150 8 150-500 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Air carbon arc (Light) Less than 500 10 cutting (Heavy) 500-1000 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Plasma arc welding Less than 20 6 20-100 8 100-400 10 400-800 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Plasma arc cutting (Light) ** Less than 300 8 (Medium) ** 300-400 9 (Heavy) ** 400-800 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Torch brazing 3 Torch soldering 2 Carbon arc welding 14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Plate thickness Plate thickness Minimum * (inches) (mm) Protective Shade ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gas Welding: Light Under 1/8 Under 3.2 4 Medium 1/8 - 1/2 3.2-12.7 5 Heavy Over 1/2 Over 12.7 6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Oxygen Cutting: Light Under 1 Under 25 3 Medium 1-6 25-100 4 Heavy Over 6 Over 100 5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. The go to a lighter shade which gives suficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding or cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the visible light of the (spectrum) operation. ** These values apply where the actual art is clearly seen. Experience has shown that lighter filters may be used when the arc is hidden by the workpiece. Source: 29 CFR 1910.133 Eye and face protection. ======================================================================== Protection Against Chemical Splash Protection against chemical splash depends on the severity of the problem. For work with hot, concentrated acids in large amounts, complete acid hoods covering head and shoulders are available. In other cases face shields and goggles or simply chemical goggles with baffled ventilation are sufficient. For eye irritants, you should choose unventilated goggles. If chemicals splash in the eyes, it is necessary to flush the eyes with water for 15-20 minutes and consult a physician. (See the first aid section of Chapter 4.) Contact Lenses There has been considerable controversy about wearing contact lenses in the presence of chemical fumes, vapors, or splashes, intense heat, molten metals, or high concentrations of particulates. More recent research has not indicated an excess risk to the eyes of contact lens wearers. As a result, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and other professional organizations have recommended that contact lenses be permitted in all occupational settings in combination with proper eye protection, except where prohibited for specific reasons. For individuals requiring contact lenses for proper vision, the Americans with Disabilities Act requiring reasonable accommodation would apply. Art departments and art schools should have a written policy about contact lenses for students and employees. The policy should include: * identification of contact lens users; * areas where contact lenses are not permitted and why; * emergency and first aid procedures; * designation of proper eye protection; and * education and training of employees and students. In case of chemical splashes in the eyes of contact lens users, the eye should be rinsed out with the contact lenses in place to avoid the delay involved in removing the contact lenses. Equipment Maintenance Goggles and face shields should be regularly inspected for scratches, pitting, clouding, etc. and replaced if necessary. They should be regularly cleaned, and disinfected if worn by more than one person, and stored away from heat and light. HEARING PROTECTORS Excessive noise over a period of years can cause permanent noise-induced hearing loss. OSHA's occupational noise exposure standard (29 CFR 1910.95) established Permissible Noise Exposures. For an 8-hour day, the OSHA standard sets a maximum time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (measured on the A scale of a sound level meter). If the 8-hour exposure is over 85 dBA, then OSHA mandates a Hearing Conservation Program which involves regular hearing examinations, education, and provision of hearing protectors. If the level is over 90 dBA, then measures to reduce sound levels are required. Noise control measures can include quieter machines, isolation, proper maintenance, silencers and mufflers, vibration isolators (shock absorbers) and sound insulation. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has adoped more protective Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for noise than OSHA. Their 8-hour time weighted average TLV is 85 dBA (compared to OSHA's 90 dBA). In addition, the ACGIH adopted a increment of 3 dBA for halving the exposure time, compared to OSHA's 5 dBA. (See Table 7-7) The ACGIH TLVs are intended to be more effective at preventing hearing loss. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 7-7. Comparison of OSHA PELs and ACGIH TLVs for Noise Exposure OSHA ACGIH Duration PEL TLV (hrs) (DBA) (dBA) 24 none 80 16 80 82 8 90 85 4 95 88 2 100 91 1 105 94 0.5 110 97 0.25 115 100 ceiling 115 115 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ear plugs and ear muffs can protect artists from excessive noise exposure if engineering controls and other types of precautions are inadequate. Standard earplugs are generally inexpensive and are available in rubber, plastic, wax, urethane, foam and impregnated cotton. (Plain cotton is not effective). Although plugs can be molded for individual users, "off the shelf" varieties made of resilient foam material are usually effective in conforming to individual ear shapes. Earmuffs are larger and more cumbersome than ear plugs, but can be more effective. They are constructed of materials containing plastic or rubber foam and when well fit, provide a better acoustic seal than ear plugs. Earmuffs could also be equipped with speakers like those used for recording sessions. The Noise Reduction Ratio (NRR) is used to determine the effectiveness of ear protective devices. On the average, sound intensity is decreased by 15-30 dB when the subject is wearing correctly fitting plugs or muffs. OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT There is a wide variety of other types of personal protective equipment available for particular purposes, including safety helmets, safety shoes, protective leggings and sleeves, heat-resistant clothing, impermeable protective suits, etc. OSHA requires that employees wear protective helmets when working in areas where there is a potential for head injury from falling objects, and that the helmets must be designed to reduce electrical shock hazards when near exposed electrical conductors that could contact the head (29 CFR 1910.135). Helmets purchased after July 5, 1994 must comply with ANSI Z89.1-1986 - "American National Standard for Personnel Protection - Protective Headwear for Industrial Workers - Requirements." Helmets purchased before July 5 must comply with ANSI Z89.1-1969 or must be demonstrated to be equally effective. OSHA requires that employees must wear protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling and rolling objects, objects that can pierce the sole, and where feet are subject to electrical hazards. The selection of footwear purchased after July 5, 1994 must comply with ANSI Z41-1991, "American National Standard for Personal Protection - Protective Footwear." Equipment purchased prior to July 5 must comply with ANSI Z41.1-1867, "USA Standard for Men's Safety-Toe Footwear", or be demonstrated to be equally effective. Personal protective equipment of all types is available from safety equipment suppliers. A partial list of such suppliers is found in Appendix 2. REFERENCES 1. A. M. Best Company. Best's Safety Directory. 2 Volumes. A.M. Best, Oldwick, NJ. Updated regularly. 2. American National Standards Institute. (1989). Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection. ANSI Z87.1-1989. ANSI, New York, NY. 3. American National Standards Institute. (1980). Practices for Respiratory Protection. ANSI Z88.2-1980. ANSI, New York, NY. 4. Lab Safety Supply. (1991). Your Guide to Proper Glove Selection. Lab Safety Supply, Janesville, WI. 5. McCann, M. (1992). Artist Beware. 2nd ed., Lyons and Burford Publishers, New York, NY. * 6. McCann, M. (1989). Respirators. Center for Safety in the Arts, New York, NY. * 7. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. (1976). A Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection. DHEW (NIOSH) #76-189. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. 8. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. (1988). NIOSH Certified Equipment List as of October 1, 1987. DHEW (NIOSH) #88-107. Government Printing Office, Washington. 9. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry - Respiratory Protection. 29 CFR 1910.134. 10. Plog, B. (Ed.) (1988). Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene. 3rd ed., National Safety Council, Chicago, IL. 11. Segal E. (1997). Contact lenses and chemicals. Cehical Helath and Safety 4(3):33-37.