Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) BNL: Departments | Science | ESSHQ | Newsroom | Administration | Visitors | Directory
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C-AD Specific PPE RequirementsProtective clothing helps shield people from hazardous chemicals and physical agents and must be worn when it may help prevent injury. Cryogenic work, welding operations, and hazardous waste handling are tasks that typically require protective clothing. Examples of commonly used protective clothing include coveralls that provide a barrier to toxic substances, flame-retardant aprons, rubber aprons to protect against chemical liquids, welding aprons, and special flame-resistant clothing to protect from electrical flash burns.
C-AD managers and supervisors are responsible for purchasing the appropriate protective clothing, and for ensuring it is readily available prior to performing a task. See Personal Protective Equipment Subject Area. Please note that BNL policy prohibits shorts, short sleeves and all other garments that leave arms and legs exposed to hazards in laboratories, shops and industrial work areas. If no hazard to the skin on the arm is present, then short sleeve shirts may be worn in C-AD industrial work areas. Long pants and closed-top shoes are required as a minimum in C-AD industrial work areas. The following list of specific PPE requirements at C-AD will help you determine the expected attire for your work.
OSHA has a booklet that describes PPE as it applies to their standards. The booklet is in the public domain and is intended to help the worker and employer understand the different types of PPE, the required training, and how to select the appropriate PPE for a variety of circumstances.
Cryogenic Liquid Protection
Working with cryogenic liquids may involve transferring the material from one storage container to another. This activity can be hazardous if proper precautions are not taken. These hazards can include frostbite from handling containers or coming in contact with the cryogen, splashes or spills, loud noises from working with pressurized lines/vessels, and the creation in oxygen-deficient environments. These hazards can often be mitigated by personal protective equipment. See Cryogenic Liquid Protection Requirements. Electrical Hazards
For PPE requirements for operating any manual breaker or disconnect switch, MCC starters, meter switches or plugs, please see C-AD OPM 1.5.3. Eye and Face Protection
The appropriate safety eyewear must be worn when work exposes personnel's eyes to impact, chemical exposure, foreign bodies, intense light or heat, flame, or electrical arcs. Safety Glasses can be obtained from the Safety Shoe and Eyeglasses Office. Certain operations require face protection in addition to eye protection. Unless specifically designed for such uses, face shields are not to be worn in lieu of safety eyewear. (See Eye Protection Requirements) Fall Protection Equipment
For guidance on full body harnesses and associated equipment, contact the C-AD ESSHQ Division Head, x5272.
Foot Protection
Safety shoes or boots with impact protection are required to be worn in work areas where carrying or handling materials such as packages, objects, parts or heavy tools, which if dropped, could injure the feet. Safety shoes or boots with compression protection (steel-toed) are required for work activities in which materials or equipment could potentially roll over an employee's foot.
Steel-toed boots are required at all construction sites. Safety shoes or boots with puncture protection are required where sharp objects such as nails, wire, tacks, screws, large staples, scrap metal etc., could be stepped on by employees causing a foot injury. To obtain protective footwear see Safety Shoes. Hand Protection
Suitable gloves must be worn when hazards from chemicals, sharp or abrasive objects, heat, cold, bio-hazards, radioactive material, etc. Glove selection is based on performance characteristics of the gloves, conditions, durations of use, and hazards present. One type of glove will not work in all situations, and gloves should not be used when operating rotating equipment. For example, lathes, drills, or drill presses. (See Hand Protection Requirements and Gloves for Chemical Protection) Head Protection
When personnel are exposed to working environments where they might be struck on the head or strike their head against an overhead hazard, head protection is required. Two common types of head protection are hard hats and bump caps. Hard hats are more protective and must be worn where objects can fall from above and strike the head. Bump caps are lighter and more comfortable, but only protect against stationary overhead hazards.
Motorcycle helmets must be worn when riding motorcycles, scooter, and mopeds on BNL grounds. Bicycle helmets are required while on bicycles. See Traffic Safety Subject Area. Hearing Protection
Disposable earplugs or earmuffs are available locally at posted Noise Areas. Personnel may use either type of hearing protection. Laser Eyewear
Laser protective eyewear must be worn whenever operational conditions may result in a potential eye hazard. See Eye Protection Requirements and Laser Safety Subject Area. Radiological Hazards
Managers and supervisors must consult with the Radiological Control Division Representative, Paul Bergh, x5992, for advice about PPE to protect against radiological hazards. More information about PPE and radiological hazards can be found in the BNL Radiological Control Manual. Respiratory Protection
Whenever possible, engineering controls such as modification of industrial processes, fume hoods, or proper ventilation are used to prevent occupational exposure to air contaminated with harmful dusts, mists, fumes, gases, vapors, or radioactive or toxic particles.
For complete information on respiratory protection, refer to the Respiratory Protection Subject Area.
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