The document discusses personal protective equipment (PPE), describing PPE as clothing or equipment that protects the body from workplace hazards. It outlines the different types of PPE including foot, eye, face, hearing, head, hand, respiratory, and body protection. The document stresses that PPE should only be used after engineering and administrative controls and that its effectiveness relies on proper selection, use, maintenance and monitoring.
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An ESS Department Monthly Safety Awareness Briefing
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
A 1568 painting depicting beekeepers in protective clothing
“Personal
Protective
Equipment
is self
defense.”
Author
Unknown
2. 2
What is PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets,
goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body
from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include
physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter.
What is PPE ?
3. 3
How does PPE work ?
PPE imposes a barrier between the wearer/user and the working environment.
PPE has the serious limitation that it does not
eliminate the hazard at source and may result in
employees being exposed to the hazard if the
PPE fails – chemical breakthrough, mechanical
failures, breakage, wear & exceeding use life
and improper selection of inadequate protection.
PPE can create additional strains on the wearer; impair their ability to carry out
their work and create significant levels of discomfort. Any of these can discourage
wearers from using PPE correctly, therefore placing them at risk of injury, ill-health
or, under extreme circumstances, death.
Good ergonomic design and correct use of PPE
can help to promote the effectiveness of PPE.
PPE has limitations
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What to do before you arrive at the need for PPE.
There are work practices – a Hazard Control Hierarchy - that should first be
used to reduce workplace risk and, potentially, eliminate the need for PPE.
At the top of the hierarchy are (1) ELIMINATION and SUBSTITUTION, which remove the hazard entirely or replace
the hazard with a safer alternative.
If elimination or substitution measures cannot apply, (2) ENGINEERING CONTROLS are to be used to design
safer equipment, mechanisms and systems and provide a physical protection barrier between the potential hazard
and the employee.
The next lower level of control involves (3) ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS which address implementation of
human behaviors which may reduce an employees’ potential proximity or time of exposure to a potentially present
hazard.
Use of (4) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ranks last on the hierarchy of controls, as the workers are
regularly exposed to the hazard, with only the PPE providing a barrier of protection.
While personal protective equipment has tremendous utility, it is not the desired
mechanism of control in terms of worker safety.
Before you choose PPE to protect you…
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PPE is needed when there are workplace hazards present
that other control mechanisms are not fully addressing.
PPE is the LAST line of defense.
PPE – a potentially “thin candy shell” between you and a hazard.
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What are the Requirements for PPE at GTI ?
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
ESS Policy SAF-05
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be
required, and must be provided, where risk of
bodily injury, not mitigated by engineering controls
or administrative controls, is present in the
workplace.
PPE will be provided to protect all workers and/or
visitors from bodily injury while at Grifols
Therapeutics Inc. facilities.
Policy SAF-05 is supported by other Guidance Documents, Forms,
Tables, etc. providing additional information – consult GTI ESS or
the GTI ESS Portal site.
Grifols Therapeutics PPE requirements
7. 7What to wear… when to wear it.
How do you know which PPE to wear…
…and when to wear it ?
There are several ways this information is
developed and communicated:
1. Specific Work Instructions – SOPs etc. provide
instructions on what to wear & when to wear it.
These documents may be Production guides on
how to manufacture a product, Operating Manuals
related to a specific item of equipment or may be
documents such as Safety Data Sheets providing
direction as to what PPE is required in handling a
particular chemical substance.
2. Job Hazard Analyses – these come in different
forms at GTI but they all identify workplace hazards
and describe actions (Contols) to implement to
reduce or eliminate workplace hazards – this can
include use of specific Personal Protective
Equipment.
Departmental SOPs
Remedy Interactive
JHA Software
GTI Safe Work
Process
JHA Form
8. 8Departmental Hazard Assessment to Identify Required PPE
3. GTI Departments are required to assess potential hazards and identify required PPE using this ESS Policy FORM.
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Department Specific ESS Procedures
(RE: GTI ESS Policy SAF-02) provide
information describing PPE required for
activities conducted by a particular
department.
A variety of Charts or Tables have been
prepared by various departments
identifying PPE requirements for...
Handling particular Chemicals
Operating particular Processes.
This information may also be displayed in
work areas of affected departments.
PPE Requirement Charts
10. 10Process for evaluating PPE requirements
PPE HAZARD ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: Inform affected employees of the process: Review job procedures, potential hazards and PPE currently in use with affected employees.
Step 2: Review data: Review prior work related injuries or illnesses, near miss events and reported safety concerns when assessing hazards.‐ ‐
Step 3: Conduct a walk-through survey: Observe layout of the workplace, location of the employees, work operations, hazards and places and
types of PPE is currently used .
Consideration should be given to the following basic hazard categories:
Step 4: Select PPE: After considering Engineering, Administrative or other controls, select the PPE which provides a level of protection required to
protect employees from the hazards.
Step 5: Make document accessible: Once completed, make the information developed from the assessment easily accessible to employees and
inspectors. Post it in work areas.
Step 6: Revise protocols: Update departmental protocols with the new or modified PPE requirements as applicable.
Step 7: Reassess the workplace periodically as necessary. Identify new equipment and processes, Incident/Injury Records and actual PPE use
suitability and performance.
Impact (falling/flying objects) Dust/flying debris (grinding, chipping, sanding, etc.)
Compression (roll over or pinching objects)‐ Fall (slip/trip, scaffolds, elevated work)
Penetration (sharp objects piercing foot/hand)
Radiation (non ionizing: UV/IR/light, welding,‐
brazing, cutting, furnaces, etc.)
Chemical exposure (inhalation, ingestion, skin
contact, eye contact or injection)
Noise (mechanical rooms, machines, cage
washing, jackhammers, etc.)
Temperature extremes (heat/cold) Electrical (shock, short circuit, arcing, static)
There is a Process to follow in evaluating PPE requirements:
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CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Foot Protection
Eye Protection
Face Protection
Hearing Protection
Head Protection
Hand Protection
Respiratory Protection
Body Protection
The following slides provide examples and GTI-specific requirements.
PPE MUST BE
Approved by your
supervisor
Appropriate for the
hazard
Clean and in good
repair
Worn appropriately
Provided at NO
cost to employees
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Foot Protection: Required to
protect an employee’s feet when
there is a danger of foot injury
from falling or rolling objects,
piercing the sole, electrical
hazards and/or chemical
hazards.
Foot Protection
Types of Foot Protection Include:
“Steel-Toe” shoes. - Chemical-resistant shoe. - Slip-resistant shoes (labs)
Each GTI department has a shoe “standard”
An on-site Shoemobile has scheduled visits to Clayton.
Inspect shoes for wear/leaks.
Shoe construction/materials must be designed to address the hazard
requirements of the environment in which they are used.
13. 13Eye Protection
Eye Protection: Required to protect
an employee’s eyes where there
is a danger of eye injury due to
impact from flying objects or
chemical splashes
Types of Eye Protection Include:
Safety glasses w/side shields. - Safety/Chemical Goggles - Face Shields
GTI pays for Prescription Safety Glasses through Walmart Vision Centers
Safety “Glasses” only protect for “impact” not chemical splash or dust.
Goggles do not protect your face – just your eyes.
Eye protection must be designed to address the hazard requirements of the
environment in which it is used.
14. 14Face Protection
Face Protection: Required to
protect an employee’s face where
there is a danger of injury due to
impact from or chemical splashes
or other specific hazards.
Types of Face Protection Include:
Face Shields - Splash Shields - Welding Helmets
Face Shields are usually not “impact resistant” – safety glasses are needed.
Shields providing maximum coverage are preferred – e.g. under chin.
Light “medical splash” shields are only for minor bio-liquid splash hazards.
Face protection must be designed to address the hazard requirements of the
environment in which it is used – angle of splash, type of hazard.
15. 15Hearing Protection
Hearing Protection: Required to
protect an employee’s hearing
when sound level monitoring
exceeds established OSHA
Exposure Limits
Types of Hearing Protection Include:
Ear Muffs - Ear Plugs
Personnel routinely required to wear Hearing Protection must be enrolled in
the company Hearing Conservation Program and be medically monitored.
Personnel wearing Hearing Protection must be instructed on the proper way
to wear it – ear plugs in particular must be inserted properly to be effective.
Hearing protection must be designed to address the level of noise hazard
present in the environment in which it is used.
16. 16Head Protection
Head Protection: Required to
protect an employee’s head where
there is a danger of head injury from
impact and falling or flying objects.
Types of Head Protection Include:
Hard Hats - Bump Caps
Bump caps will only protect from minor head impact “bumps”.
Hard Hats have a finite lifespan and must be replaced if impacted/damaged.
Vented Hard Hats do not protect from chemical splash.
Head protection must be designed to address the hazard requirements of the
environment in which it is used – impact, electrical, thermal.
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Hand Protection: Required to
protect an employees hands
physical, biological, chemical,
radiation, or electrical hazards.
Hand Protection
Types of Hand Protection Include:
Cut Resistant - Chemical Resistant - Thermal - AntiVibration
Puncture Resistant - Biological Resistant – Cryogenic
Gloves generally only slow down the hazard from reaching your hand.
Care must be used in understanding the limitations of the gloves chosen.
No one glove is resistant to all hazards.
Glove protection must be designed to address the specific hazard
requirements of the environment in which they are used.
18. 18Respiratory Protection
Respiratory Protection:
Required to protect
employees from
airborne contaminants
Types of Respiratory Protection Include:
FullFace - HalfFace - Cartridge - Fabric Masks – PAPRs - SCBAs
Respirator usage is part of a comprehensive respiratory protection program.
Medical evaluation, training and fit testing is required for respirator users.
Dust Masks provide minimal protection and are not for chemical safety use.
Respiratory protection must be designed to address the hazard requirements
of the environment in which it is used – type of hazard, duration of exposure.
19. 19Body Protection
Body Protection: Required to
protect potentially exposed
portions of an employees body
from physical, biological,
chemical, radiation, or
electrical hazards.
Types of Body Protection Include:
Gowning - Overalls - Bibs - Sleeves - Suits - Head Covers
All areas potentially exposed to a hazard should be covered.
If damaged, worn or exposed to the hazard – coverings are to be discarded.
Body protection must be designed to address the hazard requirements of the
environment in which it is used.
20. 20 Final Words
The effectiveness of PPE is only as good as its proper…
selection to match the hazard
use and maintenance
continuous monitoring of performance
Employees using PPE have a responsibility to…
attempt to find better means of removing or mitigating the hazard.
carefully select, maintain and monitor PPE used
consistently wear it every time its use is required
This Safety Awareness Briefing brings focus issues related to Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment – referred to as “PPE” comes in a variety of forms. It’s purpose is to protect persons from direct exposure to any number of physical or chemical hazards.
While serving as a valuable tool in the workplace, PPE has its limitations.
There are actions that should be taken to remove or mitigate hazards in the workplace before the decision is made to use PPE as the means of protecting against workplace hazards.
All other alternative risk mitigation actions should be taken, where possible, before relying on PPE to protect you.
There is a Grifols Therapeutics Inc. ESS Policy addressing PPE requirements. It is supported by a variety of other documents – and by the ESS Safety Staff who are always available to assist with PPE questions.
Employees needing PPE have a number of sources they may use to help them select what PPE is best to use.
Departments are required to perform, and document, a formal assessment of the hazards in the workplace and which PPE is appropriate for use.
Many departments have prepared customized charts identifying where PPE is required and what PPE is to be used.
There is a process to be followed in making any assessment of PPE requirements. It involves the participation of affected personnel in identifying hazards and PPE best suited to protect employees from those hazards.
What follows is a brief description of the categories of PPE used at GTI.
US DOL OSHA requires that whenever there is a risk of foot injury, protective footwear be used. This footwear must meet regulatory (OSHA) and industry (ANSI) standards for impact protection.
Your eyes are very valuable and must be protected. A variety of devices are available and must be used at all times where required.
Protecting your face from impact hazards and chemical exposure requires a barrier be placed covering your face yet allowing you to see. The design of these devices are matched to the hazards anticipated.
Where workplace noise levels – constant or sudden/transient – exceed certain OSHA mandated levels – hearing protection must be worn. Areas are posted regarding this requirement.
If there is risk of something falling onto your head or you bumping your head, head protection must be worn. These devices must meet government and industry performance standards.
Hands are often the body part most at risk for injury. Wearing the proper glove to protect your hands is critical. Often combinations of gloves must be worn to provide full protection.
While every effort is made to engineer away the presence of airborne contaminants in GTI workplaces, there are some circumstances where PPE in the form of respiratory protection must be worn to assure exposures are mitigated. Personnel required to use respiratory protection PPE must be enrolled in a medical monitoring program and properly trained in use of this PPE category.
Depending on the work environment, body coverings may be required. These vary from thermal jackets to keep employees warm in sub zero temperatures to full chemical hazmat suits for personnel performing hazardous chemical waste removal. And yes… it’s always good to wear a bib while eating lobster!
PPE is effective only if it is the “correct” PPE and… if it is worn. It will not protect you if it is not on your body.
GTI ESS makes special effort to provide the most comfortable, best protective… and “stylish” looking PPE we can find. We provide it through your departments, in vending machines and directly from the ESS Safety Department Office. If you have any questions or needs regarding PPE… contact us.