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<br /> Safety
<br /> CPC for the hands equipment,addition of ventilation,use of personal protec-
<br /> Hazards to the hands may be presented by chemicals, tive equipment,or admi iistrative changes.
<br /> sharp objects,hot surfaces,moving parts of machines or Hazard assessment. or each workplace,employers
<br /> tools,heavy equipment,etc. Gloves can be used to pro- are required to perform a hazard assessment to determine
<br /> n tect hands from burns,cuts,electrical shock,amputation, whether hazards requiring the use of PPE are present or are
<br /> and absorption of chemicals, Gloves may be integral to, likely to arise.This assessment usually involves a walk-
<br /> attached to,or separate from other protective clothing, through survey of the job area to identify sources of hazards
<br /> Over-gloves are sometimes worn to provide supplemental in the following categories: impact,penetration,compres-
<br /> protection to the wearer and to protect more-expensive sion,chemicals,heat,harrnful dust,light radiation,and fall-
<br /> chemical-protective gloves worn underneath from abrasion, ing objects.The hazard assessment should be documented
<br /> tears,and contamination.Where contamination is a con- in writing,and a reassessment of the hazards should be
<br /> cern,disposable gloves are often layered over other inner performed as necessary. The flowchart in Figure 3 summa-
<br /> gloves to reduce the need to decontaminate the inner gloves. rizes the PPE hazard ass ssment process.
<br /> Many glove materials provide chemical protection, CPC selection facto s.Several factors must be con-
<br /> such as PVC,nitrile, butyl rubber,neoprene,and natu- sidered when choosing chemical protective clothing,
<br /> ral rubber.Breakthrough time and permeation rate are including:
<br /> t important parameters for choosing gloves for chemical •health implications of a chemical exposure
<br /> protection. Other important factors to consider are com- •type of work
<br /> fort,dexterity,glove thickness,the glove interface with the •conditions under which the work will be done
<br /> chemical protective clothing,available sizes,duration of •body coverage needed
<br /> use,and frequency and degree of exposure. •simultaneous hazards.
<br /> Workers in the healthcare industry,research labora- Simultaneous hazards may be present under certain
<br /> tories,food service establishments,and other industries conditions.For instance a confined-space entry may sub-
<br /> commonly use latex gloves.Environmental professionals ject the CPC to abrasion,cuts,tears,heat,or cold condi-
<br /> and emergency response personnel also often use latex tions,in addition to chemical exposure.The selection of
<br /> gloves when chemical gloves are required.While latex
<br /> gloves have proven to be effective as chemical barriers,for
<br /> example,in preventing the transmission of many infectious y Define Task
<br /> diseases to healthcare providers, in some people,exposure
<br /> to latex may cause allergic reactions that result in skin <-
<br /> rashes,sinus symptoms,asthma,and shock,The National Ilk"
<br /> De ermine Hazards
<br /> �;
<br /> Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)rec-
<br /> ommends that employers adopt policies to protect workers
<br /> Gather Informatiori.
<br /> from latex exposure in the workplace(2). (Hazards,PPj;'
<br /> CPC selection i
<br /> The Compare Hazards o
<br /> potential hazards associated with modern technol- N_, :,
<br /> p °i _.,_. PPE Capabilities
<br /> ogy and with the increasing use of new biological and
<br /> chemical reagents require a proactive approach to the
<br /> anticipation, recognition,evaluation,and control of health x Select PPE
<br /> hazards,as well as physical stresses in the workplace,Each
<br /> employee and his or her supervisors must be diligent inbmm nicate Hazrtlsetid
<br /> recognizing hazards associated with the activities of a job.
<br /> VI
<br /> `_ Required PPS
<br /> i This requires a review of the health and physical hazards
<br /> inherent in the tasks or operations to be conducted,
<br /> i Employers must evaluate the hazards associated with ;u identify Hazards ReNde f to
<br /> s_ Baring PPIr=
<br /> each procedure and process to determine where exposures
<br /> f j exist or may occur;evaluate actual exposures through air
<br /> sampling and analysis or other techniques as necessary; ; Reassess Hazards
<br /> conduct medical monitoring of employees exposed to haz-
<br /> ardous materials as necessary;and control hazards through A Figure 3.A hazard assessment to determine the need for PPE involves
<br /> substitution or elimination of materials,modification of these eight steps.
<br /> 30 www.alche.org/cep September 2013 CEP
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