Lesson 3 – Personal Protection

Legal requirements when protecting employees from exposure to risk

Mitigation of risk continued.

• First attempt to remove the risk all together by replacing hazardous or toxic materials with non hazardous or toxic materials.
• Secondly attempt to control the risk with engineering methods for example:

–Extractor fans to remove fumes.

–Fume scrubbers to neutralize fumes.

–Closed systems to limit employee’s exposure to hazardous chemicals.

–Physical barriers for example bunded walls and access control to labs.

• Thirdly provide personal protective equipment as last resort to limit the severity of possible exposure.
• Training to ensure employees know how to avoid contact with hazardous chemical substances.
• Affective use of PPE.

-Train employees how to use and maintain PPE safely.

– Regular inspection and replacement of PPE.

-Personal accountability to ensure PPE is used effectively and decontaminated safely.

Recommended PPE to be used during offloading.

This is the minimum required PPE to be used during off loading of Sodium Cyanide.   

• Hard Hat
• Safety goggles
• Face Shield
• Airline mask or SCBA or a respirator (for emergencies)
• Hearing protection (when required)
• Chemical Resistant one piece suit
• Chemical resistant long sleeve gloves
• Chemical resistant boots

Taking care of PPE and using it safely

Hard hats are used to protect employees from falling objects and liquid sprays from above as well as bumps and collisions.

Inspect your hard hat regularly for:

• Cracks or missing chunks.
• Discoloured material from exposure to chemicals or sunlight.
• The inner lining must be in good condition.
• The sweat band must be clean and in good condition. Replace the sweatband regularly.

Eye protection is used to protect your eyes from flying objects and liquid sprays.

Inspect your goggles regularly and ensure that:

• The lenses are clear.
• It has no cracks or deep scratches.
• The goggles seals properly on your face.
• The elastic band is in good condition.

Full face protection is used to protect your eyes from flying objects and liquid sprays.

Inspect you face shield regularly and ensure that:

• Clear lenses and that your vision not impaired when using a face shield.
• It has no cracks or deep scratches.
• Ensure the attachment fixtures are in good condition and clean face shield regularly.

Hearing protection is used to protect you from Loud / abnormal noise levels (>85 dB)

Inspect your hearing protection PPE regularly and ensure that: 

• It is not damaged or contaminated with product.
• It must fit properly and clean it regularly with disinfectant.
• It must be affective in reducing noise.

Respiratory PPE is used to protect yourself from inhaling hazardous fumes or gasses during emergencies only. Under normal conditions you are not supposed to wear respiratory PPE because there shouldn’t be any fumes present unless this is a management requirement.

     Inspect PPE regularly and ensure that:

• The lenses are clear and not scratched.
• You must get good sealing on your face. Beware of facial hair.
• Use the correct canister for the hazardous substances you will be exposed to.
• Replace canister as and when required.
• You should be properly trained before using a SCBA.
• Ensure there are no damage to the rubber webbing and straps.
• The SCBA will only be used in emergency conditions and the face mask will have to be decontaminated afterwards and the cylinder must be refilled and tested.

Body protection PPE is used to protect the user from contact with hazardous chemical substances. In this case we use it for protection against Cyanide liquid as well as fumes.

 Inspect PPE regularly and ensure that:

• It fits properly and must be decontaminated after use. Cyanide contaminated overalls can’t be washed at your home!
• There are no tears, cuts, loose seams.
• It should have zippers or buttons.
• Full length sleeves and leg bottoms

Hand protection PPE is used to protect the user’s hands form contact with hazardous substances.

Inspect PPE regularly and ensure that:

• It fits properly.
• The sleeve must be tugged over the PVC glove to ensure a double seal.
• There should be no cuts, holes or tears.
• It must be clean and not contaminated. If your leather gloves were contaminated with cyanide dispose of them as per “Plant Procedure”
• If your PVC gloves were contaminated it must be decontaminated safely. Do not wash it in the amenities or kitchen basin.

Foot protection PPE is used to protect feet from contact with harmful chemical substances

Inspect PPE regularly and ensure that:

• Your foot wear fits properly.
• Your trouser sleeves are tucked over your gumboots, not into the boots!
• Your boots have no cuts, holes or tears.
• Your boots are clean and not contaminated.
• Remember to decontaminate your safety boots from cyanide in the cyanide area before you store them in your locker room.

These two illustrations indicate proper footwear and how to cover the footwear