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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 istrative 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 4 hazard assessment to determine
<br /> 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 jolt area to identify sources of hazards
<br /> Over-gloves are sometimes worn to provide supplemental in the following categod.es: impact,penetration,compres-
<br /> protection to the wearer and to protect more-expensive Sion,chemicals,heat,hakrnful dust,light radiation,and fall-
<br /> chemical-protective gloves worn underneath from abrasion, ing objects.The hazard&ssessment should be documented
<br /> tears,and contamination.Where contamination is a con- in writing,and a reassessment of the hazards should be
<br /> cem,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 assssment process.
<br /> Many glove materials provide chemical protection, CPC selectionfactors.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 /> 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 hazarls may be present under certain
<br /> tories,food service establishments,and other industries conditions. For instances 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 chez ical exposure.The selection of
<br /> gloves when chemical gloves are required.While latex
<br /> ° loves have proven to be effective as chemical barriers for
<br /> example, in preventing the transmission of many infectious "k,' IDefine 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 Doi ermine Hazards
<br /> Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)rec-
<br /> ommends that employers adopt policies to protect workers Gather Information
<br /> from latex exposure in the workplace(2). ( azards,PPS
<br /> CPC selection
<br /> A•`
<br /> i The potential hazards associated with modern technol- P E Capabilities
<br /> Copare Hazards to
<br /> I 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 f: Select PPE
<br /> hazards,as well as physical stresses in the workplace. Each
<br /> employee and his or her supervisors must be diligent in
<br /> recognizing hazards associated with the activities of a job. dirimm nicate Haxard's'arid
<br /> ,t.., '
<br /> � This requires a review of the health and physical hazards Required PPE
<br /> inherent in the tasks or operations to be conducted.
<br /> I Employers must evaluate the hazards associated with '..r identify Hazards Relined to
<br /> i 'Nearing PPI! .
<br /> each procedure and process to determine where exposures
<br /> exist or may occur;evaluate actual exposures through air
<br /> I sampling and analysis or other techniques as necessary;Y; ' Reassess Hazards
<br /> conduct medical monitoring of employees exposed to haz-
<br /> ardous materials as necessary;and control hazards through ®Figure 3.A hazard assessment to determine the need for PPE Involves
<br /> substitution or elimination of materials,modification of these eight steps.
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<br /> ! 30 www,afche.org/cep September 2013 CEP
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