2015 ISOSWO APWA Spring Conference

1. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT
The last line of defense against
workplace injuries

2. Iowa Municipalities Workers
Compensation Association
• Founded in 1981
• Member owned association that provides
workers compensation coverage and loss
control services to Iowa municipalities
• 520 members (cities, counties, 28E entities
• Governed by IMWCA Board of Trustees
• Endorsed and administered by the Iowa
League of Cities
• Endorsed by the Iowa State Association of
Counties

3. Today’s Presentation
• We will cover:
• Eye Protection
• Hearing Protection
• Head, Hand, Arm and Leg Protection
• Foot Protection
• High Visibility Clothing
• Not covered:
• Respiratory Protection
• Fall Protection

7. POINTS OF DISCUSSION
• Identify the appropriate PPE for
specific hazards
• Train employees on proper use of PPE
• Screen employees for PPE use
• Limitations of PPE
• How to properly maintain PPE

8. PPE SELECTION
• Conduct a hazard
assessment of all
tasks performed by
employees
• What are the
hazards of the job?

9. PPE SELECTION
• SDS recommendations
• Equipment manufacturer
recommendations
• OSHA requirements
• Recommendations from an advisory or a
consensus standards group
• Previous claims

10. PPE SELECTION
• Screen employees that will use PPE
• does employee have a condition that
would prevent them from safely wearing
the equipment
• respirators/ latex gloves/safety shoes
• Comfort is big issue that must be
considered

12. Eye Protection

13. The Numbers
• Each day about 2000 U.S. workers have a
job-related eye injury that requires medical
treatment.
• About one third of the injuries are treated
in hospital emergency departments and
more than 100 of these injuries result in
one or more days of lost work.

14. Causes of Eye Injuries
• The majority of these
injuries result from small
particles or objects
striking or abrading the
eye. Examples include
metal slivers, wood
chips, dust, and cement
chips that are ejected by
tools, wind blown, or fall
from above a worker.

15. Causes of Eye Injuries
• Some of these
objects, such as
nails, staples, or
slivers of wood or
metal penetrate the
eyeball and result
in a permanent
loss of vision.

16. Causes of Eye Injuries
• Large objects may also strike the eye/face,
or a worker may run into an object causing
blunt force trauma to the eyeball or eye
socket.
• Chemical burns to one or both eyes from
splashes of industrial chemicals or
cleaning products are common.

17. Causes of Eye Injuries
• Thermal burns to the
eye occur as well.
Among welders, their
assistants, and
nearby workers, UV
radiation burns
(welder’s flash)
routinely damage
workers’ eyes and
surrounding tissue.

18. Causes of Eye Injuries
• In addition to common eye
injuries, health care
workers, laboratory staff,
janitorial workers, animal
handlers, and other
workers may be at risk of
acquiring infectious
diseases via ocular
exposure.

19. The OSHA Standard for
Eye Protection
• OSHA standard 1910.133 sets forth the
personal protective equipment standards
for eye protection.
• Safety glasses, goggles, etc. must meet
ANSI Z87.1 standards.

20. The Standards Require:
• The employer shall ensure that each
affected employee uses appropriate eye or
face protection when exposed to eye or
face hazards from:
• Flying particles
• Molten metal
• Liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids
• Chemical gases or vapors, or
• Potentially injurious light radiation

21. Eye Safety Checklist #1
• Create a safe work environment
• Minimize hazards from falling or unstable
debris.
• Make sure that tools work and safety features
(machine guards) are in place.
• Make sure that workers (particularly
volunteers) know how to use tools properly.
• Keep bystanders out of the hazard area.

22. Eye Safety Checklist #2
• Evaluate safety hazards.
• Identify the primary hazards at the site.
• Identify hazards posed by nearby workers,
large machinery, and falling/shifting debris.

23. Eye Safety Checklist #3
• Wear the proper eye and
face protection.
• Select the appropriate Z87
eye protection for the hazard.
• Make sure the eye protection
is in good condition.
• Make sure the eye protection
fits properly and will stay in
place.

24. Eye Safety Checklist #4
• Use good work practices.
• Caution—Brush, shake, or vacuum dust and
debris from hardhats, hair, forehead, or the top
of the eye protection before removing the
protection.
• Do not rub yes with dirty hands or clothing.
• Clean eyewear regularly.

25. Eye Safety Checklist #5
• Prepare for eye injuries and first aid
needs.
• Have an eye wash or sterile solution on
hand.

26. Don’t let what
happened to Ralphie
happen to you!

27. Hearing Protection

28. The Numbers
• Every year, approximately 30 million people in the United
States are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise.
• Noise-related hearing loss has been listed as one of the
most prevalent occupational health concerns in the United
States for more than 25 years.
• Thousands of workers every year suffer from preventable
hearing loss due to high workplace noise levels.
• Since 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that
nearly 125,000 workers have suffered significant,
permanent hearing loss. In 2009 alone, the BLS reported
more than 21,000 hearing loss cases.

29. Decibels and Duration
• Hearing conservation focuses on two
primary elements:
• Decibel Levels
• Duration of Exposure

30. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/noisemeter.html

31. OSHA Standard
• In 1981, OSHA implemented new
requirements to protect all workers in
general industry (e.g. the manufacturing
and the service sectors) for employers to
implement a Hearing Conservation
Program where workers are exposed to a
time weighted average noise level of 85
dBA or higher over an 8 hour work shift.

32. • Hearing Conservation Programs require
employers to measure noise levels,
provide free annual hearing exams and
free hearing protection, provide training,
and conduct evaluations of the adequacy
of the hearing protectors in use unless
changes to tools, equipment and
schedules are made so that they are less
noisy and worker exposure to noise is
less than the 85 dBA.
OSHA Standard

33. The Regulations
1910.95(b)(1)
When employees are subjected to sound exceeding those listed
in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls
shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels
within the levels of Table G-16, personal protective equipment
shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the
levels of the table.
1926.52(b)
When employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding those
listed in Table D-2 of this section, feasible administrative or
engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to
reduce sound levels within the levels of the table, personal
protective equipment as required in Subpart E, shall be provided
and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.

34. Hearing Protection PPE
• The preferred strategy to protect hearing
is through noise and engineering controls.
However, this may not be enough to
protect workers against hearing damage.
• Types of PPE required vary depend on
level of exposure. This determined
through Workplace noise sampling
including personal noise monitoring which
identifies which employees are at risk
from hazardous levels of noise.

35. • Hearing protection devices (HPDs), such
as earmuffs and plugs, are considered an
acceptable but less desirable option to
control exposures to noise and are
generally used during the time necessary
to implement engineering or
administrative controls, when such
controls are not feasible, or when worker's
hearing tests indicate significant hearing
damage.
Hearing Protection PPE

36. Types of Hearing PPE
• PPE and Noise Reduction Ratings
• Ear Plugs:
• Disposable: NRR of 29 dB to 33 dB
• Reusable: NRR of 21 dB to 30 dB
• Ear Muffs: NRR of 20 dB to 30 dB
• When plugs and muffs are used in
combination, NRR can be increased by 5 dB.
• Above ratings assume PPE is properly used.
• It is especially important to protect those
employees that already have impaired hearing.
• Whatever type is used it must be put in place
CORRECTLY!

37. Head, Hand, Body, Leg, and
Foot Protection

38. Head Protection
• 29 CFR 1910.135(a)(1) states, "Each affected
employee shall wear protective helmets when
working in areas where there is a potential for
injury to the head from falling objects." The
standard also covers conditions where electrical
hazards are present. 1910.135(a)(2) states,
"Protective helmets designed to reduce electrical
shock hazard shall be worn by each such
affected employee when near exposed electrical
conductors which could contact the head."

39. ANSI Standard Z89.1
• This standard separates protective hard hats into different types and classes.
• “Type” is used to designate whether a hard hat provides protection strictly from
blows to the top of the head (Type I) or protection from blows to both the top and
sides of the head (Type II).
• Under Z89.1-1997, the following three classes are recognized:
• Class G (general) helmets: Class G helmets are proof tested at 2,200 volts
• Class E (electrical) helmets: Class E helmets are proof tested at 20,000 volts
• Class C (conductive) helmets: This class provides no electrical insulation.
• According to the ANSI/ISEA standard, hard hats must also contain user information
such as instructions pertaining to sizing, care and service life guidelines.
• Every hard hat conforming to the requirements of ANSI Z89.1-1997 must be
appropriately marked to verify its compliance. The following information must be
marked inside the hard hat:
• The manufacturer's name or identifying mark
• Date of Manufacture
• The legend, "ANSI Z89.1"
• The Type and Class Designation
• The approximate head size range

40. ANSI Z89.1-2009
• ANSI published a revision in January of 2009. The significant
changes from the 2003 version include three non-mandatory tests.
• The three optional hard hat test criteria are:
• Reverse donning: Hard hats marked with a "reverse donning
arrow" can be worn frontward or backward in accordance with
the manufacturer's wearing instructions. They pass all hard hat
testing requirements, whether worn frontward or backward.
• Lower temperature: Hard hats marked with an "LT" indicate that
the hard hat meets all testing requirements of the standard when
preconditioned at a temperature of -30°C (-22°F).
• High visibility: Hard hats marked with an "HV" indicate that the
hard hat meets all testing requirements of the standard for high
visibility colors. This includes tests for chromaticity and
luminescence.

41. Inspection/Replacement
• Hard hats should be inspected prior to each use.
• Manufacturers will typically provide a suggested
replacement schedule for suspension and shell
components
• Once a hard hat has incurred a significant impact
and/or penetration, replacement should be made.
• Hard hats do not last forever.
• Remember that many plastics deteriorate when
exposed to sunlight.
• Do not paint a hard hat as the paint may
negatively impact the plastic.

42. Hand Protection

43. Types of Hand PPE
• The type of PPE is dependent upon the
type of activity.
• Activities in solid waste that warrant hand
protection:
• Equipment operation and maintenance
• Household Hazardous Waste
• Building maintenance
• Site maintenance and chainsaw operation
• Leachate collection

44. Body, Leg and Arm Protection

45. Don’t Be Like This Guy….

46. Or This Guy…

47. Body, Arm and Leg PPE
• Solid waste related operations do include
activities that warrant body, arm and leg
protection:
• Chainsaw operation
• Welding
• Torching
• Grinding
• Household Hazardous Waste

48. Foot Protection

49. OSHA Standard
1910.136(a)
•General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses
protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to
falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective
footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-
discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other
necessary protective measures.
ASTM F-2412-2005, "Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection," and ASTM F-2413-2005,
"Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear," which
are incorporated by reference in § 1910.6;
ANSI Z41-1999, "American National Standard for Personal Protection -- Protective
Footwear," which is incorporated by reference in § 1910.6; or
ANSI Z41-1991, "American National Standard for Personal Protection -- Protective
Footwear," which is incorporated by reference in § 1910.6.

50. Solid Waste Concerns
• Various types of protective footwear may
be required for activities such as:
• Landfill active face and transfer station
tipping floor
• Recycling center floors
• Working in wet and/or muddy conditions
• Working with pressure washers
• Household Hazardous Waste

51. And For The Record – This is NOT
What We Mean by Having a Steel
Toed Shoe.

52. High Visibility PPE

53. Why Wear High Vis at
Solid Waste Facilities?
• High traffic areas
• Construction zones
• On road activities
• Collection
• Vehicle breakdowns
• Inclement conditions
• Rain, snow, fog, dust
• Vehicle Unloading/Loading Areas
• AVOID THE CRUSH ZONE!!

54. ANSI Standard for High Visibility
Safety Apparel and Headwear Devices
• ANSI/ISEA 107-2010: This standard specifies performance
requirements for high visibility safety apparel and headwear PPE.
For the purpose of this standard, the term "garment" shall be used
to mean apparel and headwear PPE. These garments are intended
to provide conspicuity to the user in hazardous situations under
any light conditions by day and under illumination by vehicle
headlights in the dark. Performance requirements are included for
color, retroreflection, and minimum areas, as well as the
recommended configuration of the materials. Performance,
requirements are also provided for the physical properties of
background materials used in the construction of high-visibility
safety apparel and headwear. Test methods are provided in the
standard to help ensure that a minimum level of visibility is
maintained when garments are subjected to ongoing care
procedures.

55. OSHA and FHWA – MUTCD concur
with ANSI/ISEA Standards

56. Wearer/Activities Garment Class Type
Class 1: Workers where traffic does not exceed 25
mph and there is ample separation from the traffic.
These workers often include parking service
attendants, warehouse workers in traffic, shopping
cart retrievers and those doing sidewalk
maintenance.
Class 1: Garment must be relatively conspicuous,
with background material equal to 217 in. in total
area and retroreflective bands not less than 25mm
wide.
Class 2: Workers who work near roadways where
traffic exceeds 25 mph and workers who need
greater visibility in inclement weather. In general,
railway workers, school crossing guards, parking
and toll gate personnel, airport ground crews and
law enforcement personnel directing traffic.
Class 2: Greater visibility than the Class 1
garments. Background material must equal 755 in.,
and the minimum width of retroreflective bands is
35mm.
Class 3: Workers with high task loads in a wide
range of weather conditions where traffic exceeds
50 mph. The standard recommends these
garments for all roadway construction personnel,
vehicle operators, utility workers, survey crews,
emergency responders, railway workers and
accident site investigators.
Class 3: Superior visibility–the highest level of
conspicuity. Background material must total 1240
in. Garment must have sleeves with retroreflective
material between the shoulders and elbows. The
width of retroreflective bands shall not be less than
50mm wide.
Class E: When high-visibility pants are worn without other high-visibility garments, they are considered
Class E. When pants are added to Class 2 or 3 garments, the ensemble is considered Class 3.

59. Solid Waste Industry Suggestion
• Solid waste and recycling facilities that
require high visibility safety vests should
consider using vests of a “break away”
design.
• Break away vests minimize entanglement
hazards associated with solid waste and
recycling equipment.
• This also applies to wood chipping
operations.

60. Solid Waste Concerns
High visibility PPE should be utilized with
the following activities:
•Construction activities
•Equipment operation
•Traffic direction
•Anywhere where staff will be in vicinity of
vehicles or moving equipment

61. Be aware and use common sense!
Information for this presentation provided by:
OSHA, the CDC, NIOSH, International Safety
Equipment Association and ANSI.

62. Contact Information:
scottsmith@iowaleague.org
515.330.9397