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I1� sa Safety o Select APPropqC1L%;;; Protectivehemrca MICHAEL H.ZISKIN From gloves, goggles, and safety shoes, to total FIELD SAFETY CORP. a encapsulating ensembles, protective clothing provides a barrier, to chemical exposure. Follow these guidelines to determine the most-effective protection for your work environment and task. kin exposure to chemicals in the workplace is a sig- assessments,using job hazard analysis(JHA)or job safety nificant health and safety issue.According to a U.S. analysis(JSA)approaches,to determine and document Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS)survey of 3 million the relative risks associated with performing specific nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses that occurred work tasks where rotective clothing is required,as well in 2011,more than 33,000 involved skin exposure. (This as to determine the training required to use PPE within compares to about 18,000 that involved a respiratory the employee's de ined role. Figure 2 is a sample hazard condition.)Such a finding indicates the importance of assessment form. safeguards such as chemical protective clothing(CPC)to minimize or eliminate skin hazards. 1 Chemical protective clothing(Figure 1)can be an effec- tive barrier when it is applied appropriately within the bier- archy of controls and strategies in place to protect workers - from hazards.This hierarchy typically begins with engi- Eye Protection neered controls(e.g.,ventilation,enclosures,remote handling of hazardous chemicals),followed by administrative controls (e.g.,limiting contact by procedure),and finally the selection Ear Protection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment(PPE) as the last line of defense.Since the use of a personal protec- tion barrier is the last line of defense,a failure of the barrier Respirators will result in chemical exposure to the skin. I Beyond OSHA standards rY The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Aprons i (OSHA)standards provide general guidance on protecting workers from skin exposure,but do not specify the type of clothing that must be used. However,OSHA does require facilities that handle hazardous chemicals to conduct Gloves process hazard analyses before issuing personal protec- tive equipment,including chemical protective clothing. Foot Protect€ n While fairly general,this requirement does provide the Figure 1.PPE incl es a variety of devices and garments,such as face employer with specific enough directions to prepare written shields,safety glasses.earplugs.and respirators. 26 www.alche.org/cep September 2013 CEP