September 14, 2011

When selecting personal protective equipment (PPE), you want to make sure that you provide adequate protection without overkill.

One example? Aprons are often a better choice than chemical protective overalls. Here are some tips for choosing between the two:

Is your PPE actually protecting your employees? Find out next Tuesday at our webinar: PPE Assessments: How To Make Sure Your Protective Equipment Is Actually Protecting Your Employees

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Aprons

Aprons can provide protection from chemical exposure from spills or splashing during activities like mixing and loading. They are generally worn over regular work clothes. Bib aprons protect the chest and knees. Some aprons come with attached sleeves or can be used with separate sleeve covers for some level of arm protection. Some aprons may be split below the waist to tie around the legs to provide leg protection.

Most aprons cover only the worker's front and don't provide protection for the head or neck. They also provide little protection against dusts or mists. Aprons come in different materials, both disposable and reusable, for use with a variety of chemicals. As with any other type of PPE, the apron material should be matched to the chemical hazard present.

One of the primary advantages of using an apron is the ease of donning and doffing, which can up the odds of employee compliance. In situations where only small splash hazards are present, and the duration of the exposure is short, an apron is likely a better selection than coveralls.

Coveralls

Coveralls provide protection for more of the body than aprons do—including head and neck protection for coveralls with hoods.

In situations where there is potential exposure to more than just minor splashing, coveralls are the better choice. Like aprons, coveralls come in a variety of materials to protect against different chemical hazards. Unlike aprons, coveralls that protect against dusts and mists are available (look for coveralls where seams are lapped or sealed, including lapped zippers and closures, rather than snaps or buttons that can gap open).

Besides donning/doffing issues, a major disadvantage of coveralls is that they are hot and can be very uncomfortable to wear in high temperatures. In warm weather or warm work environments, to improve employee comfort and to help prevent possible heat injury risks, it's a good idea to closely evaluate the chemical hazard and determine whether an apron can be used in lieu of coveralls.

You're Providing PPE…But Is It Effective?

OSHA recently released a new enforcement directive relating to PPE. The directive is meant to provide general enforcement guidance related to PPE, and to assist OSHA inspectors.

PPE is one part of your safety program you want to be particularly sure you're up to speed on, as you can now be fined on a per-employee basis per violation!

But it can be an awful lot to keep track of: How often do you need to assess the effectiveness of your PPE? Do you have to do an assessment for every piece of equipment? How do you handle the recordkeeping and assessment process when employees provide their own PPE? Do you need to include the brand and/or product number for a given piece of equipment?

The questions may seem daunting, but fortunately we've got the answers for you. Join us on September 20—next Tuesday!—for an in-depth webinar all about conducting effective, compliant PPE assessments.

You'll learn:

• How to set up a manageable system for PPE assessment
• The costly penalties you can face if your PPE is not up to snuff
• How to make sure employee-provided PPE is appropriate for the job and sufficiently protective
• What you need to include in your PPE assessment recordkeeping
• How to know when it's time to replace common types of PPE
• How often you need to conduct an assessment of your PPE
• Tips for keeping PPE in good shape and extending its useful life

Register today for this informative webinar!

Can't make it on Tuesday? Order the CD and learn at your leisure.