Is the Personal Protective Equipment Recommended on the SDS Enough?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) exists to tell you how to protect yourself from chemical product hazards, how to handle the product safely, and what to do in an emergency. The author of an SDS only considers the intended use of the product. They use a GHS-format, product test results and information from health and safety resources and regulatory bodies like NIOSH, NFPA, and ACGIH to provide a recommendation on chemical exposure and appropriate workplace controls.

What is PPE?

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. It refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, gloves, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. PPE is commonly used in workplaces where hazards are present, such as construction sites, laboratories, or medical settings.

How to Select Appropriate PPE for Chemical Handling

There are two sections on the SDS that address personal protective equipment (PPE) required to reduce chemical exposure:

• Section 8: Exposure Controls and Personal Protection – for chemical handling PPE recommendations.
• Section 6: Accidental Release Measures - for PPE requirements in the event of a leak or a spill.

The information on an SDS is just a starting point for choosing safety equipment in the workplace; you also need to consider the work task when choosing PPE. If you are a safety professional or a supervisor, you need to identify the correct personal protective equipment for the job. This process may need to include consulting an occupational hygienist, product and equipment suppliers, or a safety committee.

Perform a Risk Assessment Prior to Choosing PPE

Health and safety legislation requires employers to perform risk assessments to identify hazards before an employee is assigned a task and to train employees on the proper use of PPE and how to read an SDS.  

There may be other necessary controls as part of worker protection, including engineering controls like fume hoods, first aid equipment like eyewash stations, spill kits and fire extinguishing material.

Do I use the PPE recommended directly by the SDS?

The PPE listed on the SDS is a general recommendation. Sometimes it does not recommend specific PPE, like glove type or respirator cartridge. When using an SDS for PPE you need to consider how the product is being used at your workplace. This determination is part of a chemical hazard assessment.

Selecting the appropriate PPE for a task depends on how the product is being used, the quantity being used and the frequency of use, etc. These variables affect the risk of worker exposure. As the risk goes up your controls will need to increase.

Chemical hazard assessment questions may include:

How is the product used?

The risk may increase if the chemical product is sprayed or produces aerosol droplets. If a product is heated or produces harmful vapours or fumes the risk of exposure will increase.

What are the hazards of the product?

The more hazards listed for a product, as indicated by GHS pictograms, the risk of exposure to a hazardous product increases. As the toxicity of a product increases, the risk also increases.

How much of the product will I be using?

Substantial amounts of a chemical product used increases the risk. Smaller, contained amounts decreases the risk.

What is the length of time I will be exposed to the product?

Are workers using the product all day or for 15 minutes or less? There is a significant difference.  

How often will I be using the product?

Do workers use the chemical product every day, once a month or once a year. Do not forget the once a year for a whole week scenario, it counts too.

What are the engineering controls at the workplace?

Engineering controls reduce the risk of exposure while working with a hazardous product. However, if they are insufficient, not maintained or checked for effectiveness worker protection falls back on PPE.

Are there special situations to consider?

Confined space work or simultaneous operations, flammable or noisy environments can potentially expose the worker and add another layer of PPE to consider. The need for workers to retain dexterity and movement are common considerations for wet or cold work, medical professions, and construction.

Examples of when to enhance the recommended PPE on an SDS:

There are many circumstances when the SDS-recommended PPE will differ from what is needed for your workplace. For example, the SDS may list coveralls as a requirement. If you work in the manufacturing industry, regular coveralls may be sufficient for your workplace; but if you work in Oil and Gas, Fire Resistant coveralls are required to step onto a worksite.  

Your workplace may also have simultaneous operations where there may be a risk of exposure to other chemical hazards not directly related to the task. For example, possible accidental exposure to a process gas leak. In this case, you will want to add a personal monitor to the PPE requirements to keep workers protected.  

If the task involves work in a confined workspace, you will need to increase respiratory protection to supplied air.  

These examples should illustrate why it is important to consider the task and workplace, as well as the PPE listed on the SDS. Interpretation of the recommendations based on a hazard assessment for your workplace is a chemical safety best practice.

Which criteria must be satisfied for the quality of PPE?

The PPE provided must meet several criteria to ensure worker safety and compliance. It should be suitable for the specific risks and environment, considering health, ergonomic, and physical factors while effectively controlling hazards without increasing overall risk. Where feasible, a range of PPE options should be offered to accommodate diverse working conditions, ensuring each option provides adequate protection. Training, instruction, and refresher courses should be provided to ensure proper use and maintenance of PPE.

What are the limitations of PPE?

Remember PPE is the last line of defence and has its own limitations, such as:

• PPE does not eliminate the health or physical hazards of the chemical.
• PPE can provide a false sense of security.
• PPE itself can add a new hazard to the job.
• PPE can restrict comfort, breathing, vision and movement.
• PPE increases the risk of heat stress and dehydration.
• PPE can create psychological stress for the worker.  
• PPE needs to be in good working condition to be effective.

If you’re looking to elevate the level of occupational health standards for your company, contact the experts at Chemscape Safety Technologies today.

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