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