Hazard Assessment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Selection: A Comprehensive Guide, Study notes of Engineering

Download Hazard Assessment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Selection: A Comprehensive Guide and more Study notes Engineering in PDF only on Docsity! TECH 231 Hazard Assessment Why Hazard Assessment?  29 CFR Part 1910. Subpart I  Increases Awareness of Workplace Hazards  Provides opportunity to identify and control workplace hazards  Can lead to increased productivity  May prevent an Occupational Injury or Illness What is PPE?  Equipment worn by an employee that is designed to prevent injury or illness from a specific hazard. Before PPE  Administrative Controls o Change Work Practices o Change Hazardous Duties o Cease Hazardous Duties  Engineering Controls o Sound insulation o Guards o Tools Administrative Changes! For Example ....vs…..  Working off Ladder vs. Working off Scaffold  Oil based paint vs. Water based paint  Sand blasting in booth vs. Sand blasting in cabinet  Jackhammering vs. Hole Ram  Gloved hand vs. Hot Sticks Engineering Controls  Machine Guards  Sound deadening/dampening  Shielding Controlling Hazards  PPE devices alone should not be relied on to provide protection against hazards, but should be used in conjunction with guards, engineering controls, and sound work practices. Assessment and Selection  It is necessary to consider certain general guidelines for assessing the foot, head, eye and face, and hand hazard situations that exist in an occupational operation or process, and to match the protective devices to the particular hazard. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to exercise common sense and appropriate expertise to accomplish these tasks. Assessment Guidelines  Conduct a walk through survey of the areas in question. The purpose of the survey (or field observation) is to identify sources of hazards to workers and co workers. Hazard Sources  sources of MOTION  sources of EXTREME temperatures  types of chemical exposures  sources of harmful dust  sources of light radiation  sources of falling objects or potential for dropping objects  sources of sharp objects  sources or rolling or pinching objects  layout of workplace and location of co workers  any electrical hazards In addition.... injury/ accident data should be reviewed to help identify problem areas. Organize data  Following the walkthrough survey, it is necessary to organize the data and information for use in the assessment of hazards. The objective is to prepare for an analysis of the hazards in the environment to enable proper selection of protective equipment. Analyze data  Having gathered and organized data on a workplace, an estimate of the potential for injuries should be made. Each of the basic hazards should be reviewed and a determination made as to the type, level of risk. and seriousness of potential injury from each of the hazards found in the area.  The possibility of exposure to several hazards simultaneously should be considered. Selection guidelines  Become familiar with the potential hazards and the type of protective equipment that is available, and what it can do; i.e.., splash protection, impact protection, etc.  Compare the hazards associated with the environment; i.e.., impact velocities, masses, projectile shape, radiation intensities, with the capabilities of the available protective equipment  Select the protective equipment which ensures a level of protection greater than the minimum required to protect employees from the hazards.  Fit the user with the protective device and give instructions on care and use of the PPE.