Personal Protection

What are you trying to protect?

Eyes, skin and membranes Hands and feet Fingers and toes Respiratory System Digestive system

Routes of exposure

Absorption Injection Ingestion Inhalation – most common route

Physical hazards

Flying particles – explosion or impact Very cold materials – cryogens Molten metals and other very hot materials Radiation Falling or flying heavy objects – gas

cylinders Electric shock Noise

Hazard Control

Administrative – training and choices of activities and experiments

Appropriate attire – closed toes shoes, long hair tied back

Engineering – hoods, shields Protective equipment – goggles,

gloves, lab coats, aprons

Fume hoods – purpose of baffles

Non-bypass fume hood

Bypass fume hood

Auxiliary or “make up” air

Minimizes loss of conditioned air Non-conditioned air enters top of

hood at by-pass area Technical problems have

decreased usage…..

The eye

Eye and face protection

Simulation of chemicals in the eye6 M HCl6 M NaOHHousehold chemicals

Adapted from Chem Fax 801, Flinn Scientific, 1996

Laws and Regulations

OSHA Face and Eye Protection29 CFR 1910.133“employers must provide appropriate face

and eye protection” Washington State requires eye

protectionRCW 70.100.010 to .040

Contact Lenses in the Lab Generally considered acceptable

because:- better peripheral vision- more comfortable- soft contacts absorb UV,

protecting cornea- some very limited protection

from chemicals

“You can eat with false teeth, you can dance with a wooden leg, but you can’t see with a glass eye.”

Skin Protection

The largest organ in the body! About 3’ x 7’ for the average adult Regulates gody temperature Acts as a barrier to bacteria Excretes salts and liquids Provides sense of touch

Three layers

- epidermis- dermis- hypodermis

OSHA Skin Protection Standard

Hand Protection Standard29 CFR 1910.138

No one material is suited for all applications

Exposures include chemicals, cuts, abrasions, heat, cold

Latex gloves can trigger allergies….

Clothing selection

Clothing, hair and jewelry – Shoes Protective clothing

- lab coats and aprons

Properties of common clothing fibers

Personal Protection

Suitable for the hazard Provides the appropriate level of

protection Properly maintained Meets the regulatory requirements