Personal Protective Equipment (Eyes, Face, Hands, & Feet)

Common Causes of Eye Injuries:

• Injurious gases, vapors, and liquids
• Dusts, powders, fumes, mists
• Flying objects or particles
• Glare
• Splashing metal
• Thermal and radiation hazards
• Lasers
• Electrical hazards
• Any combination of these

Engineering Controls:

• Plant equipment and machinery is a major source of eye injuries. To guard against this, use:
• Guards
• Screens
• Shields

Eye and Face Protection:

• Safety glasses
• Polycarbonate lenses
• Tinted lenses
• Safety frames
• Side shields
• Goggles
• Fit closer to the eyes
• Some models fit over prescription glasses
• Face shields
• Provides full-face protection
• Always wear eye protection under a face shield

When Foot Protection is Necessary:

• A hazard assessment determines the need for foot protection
• Foot protection is not a substitute for:
• Engineering controls
• Work practice controls
• Administrative controls
• To provide complete safety and health coverage, foot protection is used in conjunction with
• Engineering controls
• Work practice controls
• Administrative controls
• Protects the foot against:
• Skin diseases
• Cuts
• Punctures
• Burns
• Sprains
• Fractures
• Compression
• Electricity
• Slipping
• Chemicals
• Molten metal
• Extreme heat or cold
• Wetness

Types of Foot Protection:

• Safety shoes
• Metatarsal guards
• Conductive shoes
• Safety boots
• Electrical hazard shoes
• Sole puncture resistant
• Static dissipative
• Foundry shoes
• Add-on foot protection
• Rubber spats
• Steel puncture-proof inserts

Donning, Doffing, Adjusting, and Wearing:

• Must be comfortable
• Must be worn properly
• Understand the shoe's purpose and limits
• Shoes must not be altered

Limitations of Foot Protection:

• Creates false sense of security
• Loses protective ability over time

Care, Maintenance, and Use:

• Perform periodic inspection
• Cracks
• Splits
• Follow cleaning and maintenance procedures

Types of Hand Protection:

• Mitts
• Finger cotts
• Thimbles
• Hand pad
• Sleeves or forearm cuffs
• Gloves:
• Chemical resistant
• Leather
• Metal mesh
• Plastic film
• Aramid

Safe Glove Use:

• Proper donning, doffing, adjustment, use
• Inspect gloves for defects
• Apply powder to hands
• Be cautious when wearing gloves near machinery
• Wash or rinse reusable gloves
• Pull glove off by cuff, not by the fingers
• Turn glove inside out when removing
• Store reusable gloves away from heat sources
• Contaminated gloves may need special disposal

Limitations of Hand Protection:

• Use proper glove for the job
• Gloves break down over time
• Proper fit is essential
• Limits dexterity

Care, Maintenance, Use, Disposal:

• Requires proper fit
• maintain in clean, serviceable condition
• Keep clean
• Inspect at regular intervals
• Follow manufacturer's instructions

Hand Protection is Needed to Protect Against:

• Mechanical injuries
• Extreme heat or cold
• Electric shock or burns
• Skin irritation from chemicals or germs