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INTRODUCTION
The following provides general guidelines and requirements for using personal protective equipment. This section covers the following topics:

• Personal Protective Equipment Defined
• Arm and Hand Protection
• Back Belts and Lifting
• Body Protection
• Eye and Face Protection
• Eye Wash Stations / Safety Showers
• Foot Protection
• Head Protection
• Hearing Conservation Program
• Respiratory Protection Program

IMPORTANT: Always remove protective clothing before leaving the work area. Do not wear PPE in public elevators, classrooms, restrooms, break-rooms, etc.

Arm and Hand Protection
Arms and hands are vulnerable to cuts, burns, bruises, electrical shock, chemical spills, and amputation. The following forms of hand protection are available for employees:

* Disposable Latex exam gloves
* Rubber gloves
* Nitrile gloves
* Neoprene gloves
* Leather gloves
* Nonasbestos heat resistant gloves
* Metal mesh gloves for meat cutters
* Cotton gloves

Always wear the appropriate hand and arm protection. Double your hand protection by wearing multiple gloves when necessary (e.g., two pairs of disposable gloves for work involving biological hazards). For arm protection, wear a long sleeved shirt, a laboratory coat, chemical resistant sleeves, or gauntlet length gloves.

Follow these guidelines to ensure arm and hand safety:

* Inspect and test new gloves for defects.
* Always wash your hands before and after using gloves. Wash chemical protective gloves with soap and water before removing them.
* Do not wear gloves near moving machinery; the gloves may become caught.
* Do not wear gloves with metal parts near electrical equipment.

IMPORTANT: Gloves are easily contaminated. Avoid touching surfaces such as telephones, door knobs, etc. when wearing gloves.

Back Belts and Lifting
All employees must use proper lifting techniques to avoid injury when lifting heavy objects. In general, employees should seek assistance when lifting objects that weigh 50 pounds or more. Use your good judgement to determine if you need assistance, a dolly, back support belt, or other tool to safely lift an object.
The back supports the weight of the entire upper body. When you lift objects or move heavy loads, your back has to support even more weight. If you exceed your body's natural limits, your back cannot support both your body and the extra load. The excess, unsupported pressure is transferred to the lower back, where injury is imminent. By using the muscles in your arms and legs and exercising proper lifting techniques, you can move loads safely and protect your back from possible injury.

Follow these guidelines to help avoid back injuries:

* Avoid moving objects manually. Plan jobs and arrange work areas so that heavy items may be moved mechanically.
* Keep in good physical condition. If you are not used to lifting and vigorous exercise, do not attempt difficult lifting tasks.
* Think before you act. Use proper lifting techniques and lifting aides such as back support belts, dollies, etc. Get help if you need it.

When lifting heavy objects, follow these steps:

1. Test the object's weight before handling it. If it seems too heavy or bulky, get assistance.
2. Face the object, place one foot behind the object and one foot along its
side.
3. Bend at the knees.
4. Get a firm, balanced grip on the object. Use the palms of your hands, and use gloves if necessary.
5. Keep the object as close to your body as possible. (Pull the load in close before lifting.)
6. Lift by straightening your legs and slightly unbending your back.
If the object is too heavy or bulky, get help.
Do not twist the back or bend sideways.
Do not perform awkward lifts.
Do not lift objects at arm's length.
7. When moving objects, proceed with caution through doors and around corners.

The Texas A&M University System, Office of Risk Management and Safety provides back belts at no cost to employees. The belts are available in sizes small to XXX Large. Contact TAMU-CC Safety Office to request a back belt.

Body Protection
Hazards that threaten the torso tend to threaten the entire body. A variety of protective clothing, including laboratory coats, long pants, rubber aprons, coveralls, and disposable body suits are available for specific work conditions.

* Rubber, neoprene, and plastic clothing protect employees from most acids and chemical splashes.
* Laboratory coats, coveralls, and disposable body suits protect employees and everyday clothing from contamination.
* Welding aprons provide protection from sparks.

Launder reusable protective clothing separate from other clothing.

Eye and Face Protection
Employees must wear protection if hazards exist that could cause eye or face injury. Eye and face protection should be used in conjunction with equipment guards, engineering controls, and safe practices.
Always wear adequate eye and face protection when performing tasks such as grinding, buffing, welding, chipping, cutting, or pouring chemicals. Safety glasses with side shields provide protection against impact and splashes, but safety goggles provide protection against impact, splashes, and hazardous atmospheres.

* If you wear prescription glasses, or contact lenses, wear goggles, or other safety protection over the glasses.
* Safety glasses with sideshields provide primary protection to eyes and are four times as resistant as prescription glasses to impact injuries.
* Goggles protect against impacts, sparks, chemical splashes, dust, and irritating mist. Wear full goggles, not just safety glasses, when working with chemicals.
* Eyecup welding goggles with filter lenses give protection from glare and sparks.
* A welding helmet protects from flashburn due to welding, soldering, or brazing, but does not provide primary eye protection; safety glasses or goggles should be worn with the helmet.
* A face shield is designed to protect the face from some splashes or projectiles, but does not eliminate exposure to vapors. A face shield should be worn with goggles or safety glasses.
* Sunglasses are useful to prevent eyestrain from glare and to minimize ultraviolet light exposure.

Eye Wash Stations / Safety Showers
Eye wash stations provide emergency eye treatment for people exposed to hazardous materials. There are three common types of eye wash stations:
* Eye Wash Bowls: These stations are American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved and are usually attached to emergency showers. They provide a continuous water flow and are recommended for laboratories and other locations with hazardous materials.
* Drench Hoses at Sinks: These stations provide a continuous water flow, but they are easily contaminated with sediment, and they do not allow the free use of both hands; the use of both hands may be necessary. Drench hoses are not ANSI approved, and they are not preferred for laboratory usage. If you have a drench hose in your work area, flush the hose regularly to remove any sediment.
* Plastic Eye Wash Bottles: These stations do not provide a continuous water flow, and they do not allow free use of both hands. They are not approved in laboratories or other hazardous areas. Plastic eye wash bottles are ideal, however, for portable eye wash needs and short term operations where continuous flowing water is not immediately available. If you have a plastic eye wash bottle in your work area, make sure it is filled with sterile water or changed weekly.

IMPORTANT: If the eyes are exposed to hazardous materials or irritating elements, immediately flush the eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. Contact a physician.

Foot Protection
To protect feet and legs from falling objects, moving machinery, sharp objects, hot materials, chemicals, or slippery surfaces, employees should wear closed toed shoes, boots, foot guards, leggings, or safety shoes as appropriate. Safety shoes are designed to protect people from the most common causes of foot injuries -- impact, compression, and puncture. Special foot protection is also available for protection against static electricity, sparks, live electricity, corrosive materials, and slipping.

NOTE: Foot protection is particularly important in laboratory, agricultural, and construction work.

IMPORTANT: Do not wear sandals or open toed shoes in laboratories, shops, or other potentially hazardous areas.

Head Protection
Accidents that cause head injuries are difficult to anticipate or control. If hazards exist that could cause head injury, employees should try to eliminate the hazards, but they should also wear head protection.
Safety hats protect the head from impact, penetration, and electrical shock. Head protection is necessary if you work where there is a risk of injury from moving, falling, or flying objects or if you work near high voltage equipment.
Hard hats should be water-resistant, flame resistant, and adjustable. Wear one of the following hard hats as appropriate for your work situation:

* Class A General service, limited voltage protection
* Class B Utility service, high voltage protection
* Class C Special service, no voltage protection

Follow these guidelines for head safety:

* Check the shell and suspension of your headwear for damage before each use. Look for cracks, dents, gouges, chalky appearance, and torn or broken suspension threads. Discard damaged hats or replace broken parts with replacements from the original manufacturer.
* Discard any hat that has been struck or dropped from a great height, even if there is no apparent damage.
* Do not wear a hard hat backwards, unless this is necessary to accommodate other protective equipment (e.g., welders face shield).
* Do not paint the plastic shell of a hard hat or alter it in any way.

Hearing Conservation Program
Excessive noise levels may permanently or temporarily damage a person's hearing. Whenever possible, employees should reduce noise levels to an acceptable level.

The following table outlines OSHA limits for acceptable noise exposure indicated as decibels (dB).

Duration/Day Sound Level

Before using personal protective equipment, such as ear plugs or muffs, to reduce noise exposure, try to reduce noise levels by changing work procedures. Maintenance practices such as the following can reduce noise levels:

* Replacing worn or loose machine parts.
* Performing high noise operations during hours when people are less likely to be affected.
* Maintaining and lubricating equipment to eliminate rattles and squeaks.

Engineering controls, such as the following, can also reduce noise levels:

* Replacing noisy materials.
* Using large, low speed fans.
* Considering the noise level of new equipment or processes before purchasing or implementing.
* Placing heavy machines on rubber mountings.
* Using sound absorbing acoustical tiles or baffles.

* Placing noisy machinery or operations in a separate area or room.
* Enclosing noisy conveyors.

Areas that may require hearing protection include machine shops, the power plant, etc. Observe all warning signs and wear hearing protection whenever necessary. Do not interfere with, remove, or modify noise abatement equipment. Keep all equipment properly maintained, and report any malfunctions immediately.

Refer to the chapter on Personal Protective Equipment for more information on hearing protection. Direct all questions regarding hearing conservation to the University Safety Office. When requested and necessary, the University Safety Office monitors noise levels.

Hearing Protection
If you work in a high noise area, wear hearing protection. Most hearing protection devices have an assigned rating that indicates the amount of protection provided. Depending on your level of exposure, you may choose from the following devices:

* Disposable earplugs
* Reusable earplugs
* Headband plugs
* Sealed earmuffs

Earplugs may be better in hot, humid, or confined work areas. They may also be better for employees who wear other PPE, such as safety glasses or hats. Earmuffs, on the other hand, may be better for employees who move in and out of noisy areas, because the muffs are easier to remove. Before resorting to hearing protection, attempt to control noise levels through engineering or operational changes.

To avoid contamination, follow these guidelines when using earplugs:

* Wash your hands before inserting earplugs.
* Replace disposable earplugs after each use.

Respiratory Protection Program
TAMU-CC uses engineering, administrative, and procedural controls to protect people from dangerous atmospheres, including harmful mists, smoke, vapors, and oxygen deficient atmospheres. When these controls cannot provide adequate protection against harmful atmospheres, respiratory protection is necessary.

The Environmental Health & Safety Office can provide training and fit testing for personnel who need respiratory protection. A copy of the Respiratory Protective Program is available from the Environmental Health & Safety Office.

Usage Requirements
People who use respiratory protection must be physically capable of using and wearing the equipment. In some cases, a physician must determine if an employee is healthy enough to use a respirator. In addition, all people required to wear respirators must be formally trained and instructed in proper equipment usage. This training should include instruction on common respiratory hazards and symptoms of exposure.

Types of Respirators
It is important to select the right respirator for the job. There are many types of respirators and each type protects against different hazards. Respirators are classified according to these factors:

* Air source: supplied air or ambient air.
* Pressure: positive or negative.
* Mask configuration.

The following lists information on various respirators:

Supply Air Respirators: Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) use supplied air from a cylinder carried by the user.
Airline respirators require a compressor or cylinder(s) and an airline hose to the user.
Supply air respirators are necessary in oxygen deficient atmospheres.
When using a supply air respirator, have a back up person with a SCBA standing nearby.

Air Purifying Respirators
Air purifying respirators use ambient air and cannot be used in oxygen deficient atmospheres, IDLH atmospheres, or areas where the identity or concentration of a contaminant is unknown.
Ambient air is purified by a chemical cartridge, canister, or particulate filter.
Users must select the proper cartridge/canister/filter.
Cartridges and canisters must be replaced if the user notices an odor, taste, or throat irritation. Wet, damaged, and grossly contaminated cartridges/ canisters must also be replaced.
Powered air purifying respirators use filtered ambient air in a positive pressure continuous flow mode.
Disposable or single use respirators are made of cloth or paper and are primarily used for nuisance dusts.
All filters (HEPA, dust pads, and disposable respirators) must be replaced if any of the following conditions occur:
Breathing becomes difficult.
Filter or dust respirator becomes damaged, visibly dirty, wet, or contaminated on the inside.

Mask Types: Full-face mask covers the face from the hairline to below the chin. This type of mask provides eye protection.

Half face mask covers the face from above the nose to below the chin.