PROTECTIVE CLOTHING…consideration of the options

available for protecting the skin against health hazards

BACKGROUND

skin: first point of contactprotection

prevalent occupational disease

significant decline in post-OSHA era

problems continue

PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DERMATOSES

pre-placement examinations

ventilation aspects

cleanliness protective

clothing protective

ointments (barrier creams)

PRE-PLACEMENT EXAMS

careful examination of skin by physician

obtain history of skin disease caution with pre-employment

patch test Unlikely to help predict

allergies Might cause skin

problemsliabilities to large extent, the employee

becomes his/her own reference point

VENTILATION

dilution and LEV used primarily to protect against inhalation hazards

side benefit is the positive impact on general cleanliness

minimization of settled contaminants

CLEANLINESS

…of person, clothes, workplace

most important single factor

clean-up of machines, tools general housekeeping

(floors, walls, ceiling, rafters, etc.)

skin and clothing washing, shower and

locker facilities

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

“body suits” long coats jackets & pants aprons boots gloves

PROTECTIVE MATERIALS

natural rubber neoprene polyvinyl alcohol nitrile butyl leather others

DEFINITIONS

breakthrough time

penetration

permeation

degradation

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

permeability

contamination of inside of clothing

regular cleaning

routine inspection

EPA/NIOSH ENSEMBLES

Level A: SCBA, totally encapsulating suit, gloves, chemical boots, +

Level B: SCBA, hooded chemical-resistant suit, gloves, chemical boots, +

Level C: full-face or half-face APR, hooded chemical-resistant suit, +

Level D: no respirator, coveralls, gloves, boot coverings, +

PROTECTIVE OINTMENTS

“vanishing cream” types facilitate removal of chemical

water-repellant (lanolin, wax, silicone)

oil-repellant (methyl cellulose, silicates)

“light screens” protect against UV special “reactive ingredient” types particularly useful with gloves

DESIRABLE PROPERTIES

protective ointments: non-irritating non-sensitizing easily applied adhere to skin

during work activity removed easily after

completion of work

PPE RESOURCES

http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_viii/otm_viii_1.html

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/protclothing/

http://www.polyurethane.org/bookstore/AX179.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/manual/pprotect.htm#appendix%20a

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001001-d001100/d001051/d001051.html