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MODULE 5
PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT
Construction Occupational Safety and Health
Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
35
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the student will able to:
1. Identify the uses of PPE
2. distinguish the appropriate type of PPE need in a workplace
3. know the limitation of PPE.
Introduction
The PPE must be considered only after engineering and administrative controls have
been found ineffective, not feasible or insufficient. It must be used only as a last resort. The
selection of PPE must comply with the existing OSH standards and using these in the
workplace must be combined with training and orientation on their proper use, limitations and
advantages.
You must monitor proper usage and maintenance of PPE in order to attain satisfactory
performance and properly administer the PPE program in your area of responsibility.
This module thus aims to impart the proper usage of PPE to the learner in order to
prevent accidents at work.
What is PPE?
PPE – these are considered as the last line of defense. These devices provide limited
protection to the ones using them.
Uses of Personal Protective Equipment
You can check out many websites on the Internet that describe and sell various
PPE. Commonly used PPE in the workplace include: helmet, respirator, spectacles,
earplugs, gloves, safety shoes, etc. The following are the functions and uses of PPE.
1. Head Protection
A safety hat is a device that provides head protection against impact from falling
objects and protection against electrocution. Safety hats should be inspected prior to
each use. Any one of the following defects is a cause for immediate removal of the
PPE from service:
Suspension systems that show evidence of material cracking, tearing, fraying or
other signs of deterioration. Suspension should provide a minimum clearance of
1 to 1.25 in. (2.5 – 3.2 cm) between the top of the worker’s head and the inside
crown of the hat.
Any cracks or perforations of brim or shell, deformation of shell, evidence of
exposure to excessive heat, chemicals or radiation. Shells made of polymer
plastics are susceptible to damage from ultraviolet light and gradual chemical
degradation. This degradation first appears as a loss of surface gloss called
chalking. With further deterioration, the surface will begin to flake away.
Construction Occupational Safety and Health
Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
36
2. Eye Protection
A device that provides eye protection from hazards caused by:
Flying particles
Sparks
Light radiation
Splashes
Gases
Goggles come in a number of different styles for a variety of uses such as
protecting against dust and splashes: eye cups, flexible or cushioned goggles,
plastic eye shield goggles and foundry men’s goggles.
Eye protectors must meet the following minimum requirements:
Provide adequate protection against the particular hazards for which they are
designed
Be reasonably comfortable when worn under the designated conditions
Fit snugly without interfering with the movements or vision of the wearer
Be durable
Be capable of being disinfected
Be easily cleaned
Be kept clean and in good condition
3. Face Shields
` Face shields should only be used as eye and face protection in areas where
splashing or dusts, rather than impact resistance is the problem. In the case of grinding
operations (plus other operations), a face shield is only secondary protection to other
protective devices, such as safety goggles.
4. Ear Protection
Hazard:
excessive noise - Noise exceeding 85-90 dB or more on eight hour
exposure.
Examples: Ear plug
Ear muffs
Canal caps
The prevention of excessive noise exposure is the only way to avoid hearing
damage. Engineering and administrative controls must be used if acceptable sound
levels are exceeded. If such controls fail to reduce the sound levels to acceptable limits,
personal hearing protection must be used.
Earmuffs must make a perfect seal around the ear to be effective.
5. Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protection is required when engineering improvements and
administrative controls can’t eliminate risk. Engineering controls include, isolation of the
source of contaminants; design process or procedural changes, etc. Administrative
controls on the other hand include, monitoring, limiting worker exposure, training and
education, etc.
Construction Occupational Safety and Health
Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
37
Hazards:
o Mists or Vapors
o Gases
o Smoke
o Fumes
o Particulates or dust
o Insufficient oxygen supply
Types of respirators are divided into two categories:
A. Air purifying respirators
Particulate respirators or mechanical filters - screen out dust, fog, fume, mist
spray or smoke. Such filters need to be replaced at frequent intervals.
Chemical cartridge devices - remove contaminants by passing the tainted air
through material that traps the harmful portions. There are specific cartridges for
specific contaminants. These should be used and no substitutions should be
made.
B. Air supplying devices
Self-contained are those where the air supply is easily transportable and they
protect against toxic gases and lack of oxygen. A common example is the self-
contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), where the air tank is strapped to the
wearer’s back.
Supplied-air respirators get air through an air line or hose. The breathable air is
supplied by an air compressor or uncontaminated ambient air.
Air Contaminants – are divided into four types, gaseous, particulate, combination of
gaseous and particulate and oxygen deficiency.
o Gaseous contaminants include gases and vapors.
o Particulate contaminants include dust, fumes, mist, fog and smoke.
o Combination contaminants usually consist of gaseous materials and
particulates and result from operations such as paint spraying.
o Oxygen-deficient atmospheres are those that have less than 19.5 percent
by volume. They often occur in confined spaces and are considered to be
immediately dangerous to life and health.
6. Hand and Arm Protection
Hand and arm protection is required when workers’ hands are exposed to
hazards such as harmful substances that can be absorbed by the skin, severe cuts or
lacerations, severe abrasions, chemical burns, thermal burns, and temperature
extremes.
Examples of hand protection
o appropriate gloves
o hand pads
o barrier cream
o sleeves (for arm protection)
Construction Occupational Safety and Health
Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
38
Hazards:
Pinch points
Hot surfaces
Chemical substances
Sharp objects
Electrical
The following is a guide to the most common types of protective work gloves and
the types of hazards they can guard against.
a. Metal mesh, leather or canvas gloves - Provide protection against cuts, burns, and
sustained heat.
b. Fabric and coated fabric gloves - These gloves are made of cotton or other fabric
to provide varying degrees of protection.
c. Chemical and liquid-resistant gloves - Gloves made of rubber (latex, nitrile, or
butyl), plastic, or synthetic rubber-like materials such as neoprene protect workers from
burns, irritation, and dermatitis caused by contact with oils, greases, solvents, and other
chemicals. The use of rubber gloves also reduces the risk of exposure to blood and
other potentially infectious substances.
7. Foot and Leg Protection
Hazards:
Falling or rolling objects
Sharp objects
Hot surfaces
Wet, slippery surfaces
Electricity
Conductive Shoes protect against the buildup of static electricity or equalize the
electrical potential between personnel and the ground. These shoes should be worn
only for the specific task(s) for which they are designed, and should be removed at task
completion and not used as general purpose footwear. This type of shoes must not be
used by personnel working near exposed energized electrical circuits. Personnel must
avoid wearing 100 percent silk, wool, or nylon hose of socks with conductive hose
because these materials are static producers. Likewise, foot powders must be avoided
because they are insulators and interfere with electrical conductivity.
Electrical Hazard Safety Shoes are non-conductive and protect against open circuits
of 600 volts or less under dry conditions. The insulating qualities may be compromised if
the shoes are wet, the rubber sole is worn out, or metal particles are embedded in the
sole or heel. Electrical hazard shoes are not intended for use in explosive or hazardous
locations where conductive footwear is required. This footwear should be used in
conjunction with insulated surfaces.
8. Fall Protection
Travel restraint system is an assembly composed of body belt and proper accessories
that prevent a worker in a high elevation working area from traveling to an edge where
the occurrence of fall may happen.
Fall arrest system is an assembly composed of full-body harness, safety lanyard and
proper accessories or a safety net which protect a worker after a fall by stopping the fall
before hitting the surface below.
Construction Occupational Safety and Health
Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
39
Lifelines shall be secured above the point of operation to an anchorage or other
structural member.
9. Torso/ Full Body Protection must be provided for employees if they are threatened
with bodily injury of one kind or another while performing their jobs, and if engineering,
work practices, and administrative controls have failed to eliminate these hazards.
Workplace hazards that could cause bodily injury include the following:
o Intense heat
o Splashes of hot metals and other hot liquids
o Impact from tools, machinery, and other materials
o Cuts
o Hazardous chemicals
o Contact with potentially infectious materials, like blood
o Radiation
As with all protective equipment, protective clothing is available to protect against
specific hazards. Depending upon the hazards in the workplace, it may be needed to
provide the workers with one or more of the following:
o Vest
o Jacket
o Apron
o Coverall
o Surgical gowns
o Full-body suits
These protective clothing come in a variety of materials, each suited to particular
hazards. These materials include the following:
o Paper-like fiber - Disposable suits made of this material provide protection against
dust and splashes.
o Treated wool and cotton - Adapts well to changing workplace temperatures and is
comfortable as well as fire resistant.
o Duck - This closely woven fabric protects employees against cuts and bruises while
they handle heavy, sharp, or rough materials.
o Leather - Leather protective clothing is often used against dry heat and flame.
o Rubberized fabrics, neoprene, and plastics - protective clothing made from these
materials protect against certain acids and other chemicals.
Be aware that different materials will protect against different and physical hazards.
When chemical or physical hazards are present, check with the clothing manufacturer to
make sure that the material selected will provide protection from the specific chemical of
physical hazards in the workplace.
Rule 1080
Rule 1080 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) requires
employers to provide appropriate personal protective equipment to workers. Employers
can be held liable if they fail to furnish their workers with the necessary PPE.
Construction Occupational Safety and Health
Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
40
1081 General Provisions:
1081.01
Every employer shall at his/her own expense furnish his/her workers with
protective equipment for the eyes, face, hands and feet, protective shields and
barriers whenever necessary by reason of the hazardous nature of the process
or environment, chemical or radiological or other mechanical irritants or hazards
capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body
through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.
1081.02
All protective equipment shall be of approved design and construction
appropriate for the exposure and the work to be performed.
1081.03
The employer shall be responsible for the adequacy and proper maintenance of
personal protective equipment used in his workplace.
1081.04
No person shall be subjected or exposed to hazardous environmental condition
without protection.
ACTIVITY: WRITE YOUR ANSWER ON A PAPER
1. Enumerate the uses of PPE
2. Why PPE is important?
3. Site atleast five types of PPE used in a workplace and discuss each limitations.
Feedback
Hello there, my dear students! How are you coping with the lessons? Do you still
have some difficulty understanding the lessons? If yes, then go back to page 1 and start
reading again.
References
Occupational Safety and Health (As Amended 1989)
DOLE s. 2016
Fundamental Principle of Occupational Health and Safety,
Benjamin O. Alli, 2nd Ed, 2008
Fundamental of Occupational Safety and Health (2018)
Mark A. Friend, 7th Edition, 2018
Construction Occupational Safety and Health
Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD