Selection, Care and Use of Chemical Protective Clothing

Jason Cole

Director of R&D

Kappler, Inc.

• OSHA Low Hanging Fruit – Top Violations of OSHA Regulations

• # 1 - Failure to Perform Hazard Assessment for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• # 2 – Failure to Document Hazard Assessment

• #15 – Failure to Train Employees in Use of PPE

• 50% of companies did not perform assessment

• Of the 50% that did, 70% did not document

Introduction

Introduction • How do we select chemical protective clothing?

– Review rules, regulations & standards

• OSHA • EPA Levels of Protection • NFPA, ANSI, ISEA

– Test and evaluate performance characteristics • Chemical Barrier • Physical Properties

– Perform Hazard Assessment – Select Chemical Protective Clothing

• As the responder, we have to: – Perform a hazard assessment for PPE

• Specific to chemical hazards

– Document the assessment

– Specify chemical protective clothing for appropriate protection

– Train in care and use of the chemical protective clothing

Introduction

Rules and Regulations& s

•OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 - PPE Personal Protective Equipment for General Industry

•OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 - ‘HAZWOPER’ - Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

•OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 – Blood-Borne Pathogens

Rules and Regulations • Hazwoper Scope

– Cleanup operations required by a governmental body involving hazardous substances at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites

– Cleanup operations at RCRA sites

– Operations involving hazardous waste at TSD sites

– Emergency response operations

– Large scale storage facilities

Rules and Regulations • PPE Program – A WRITTEN PROGRAM

– PPE selection based on site hazards – PPE use and limitations of equipment – Work mission duration – PPE maintenance and storage – PPE decontamination and disposal – PPE training and proper fitting – PPE donning and doffing procedures – PPE inspection procedures prior to, during and after use – Evaluation of effectiveness of PPE program – Limitations during temperature extremes, heat stress, and other

appropriate medical considerations

Rules & Regulations • EPA Levels of Protection

– Originally applied to personnel at EPA Superfund Sites

– Adopted and specified in HAZWOPER

– First guidance that addressed garment design

– Recognized the different types of hazards in the

workplace

Rules & Regulations • EPA Level A • Highest level of respiratory, skin and eye protection available • Recommends:

– Supplied breathing air – Fully encapsulated chemical suit – Inner chemical resistant gloves – Chemical resistant boots – Two way radio

• Should be worn when:

– potential for high concentrations of vapors, gases, or liquids – high potential for splash, immersion or exposure to unexpected chemicals

that are harmful to the skin or capable of being absorbed through the skin

Rules & Regulations • EPA Level B • Same level of respiratory protection as Level A, but less skin protection • Recommends:

– Supplied breathing air – Chemical resistant clothing providing total skin protection – Inner and outer chemical gloves – Hard hat – Two way radio

• Should be worn when: – Type and concentration of substances have been identified and are

not suspected of containing high concentrations of chemicals harmful to the skin or can be absorbed through skin contact.

Rules & Regulations • EPA Level C • Same level of skin protection as Level B but a lower level of respiratory protection

• Recommends:

– Air purifying respirator

– Chemical resistant clothing

– Inner and outer chemical gloves

– Hard hat and communication

• Should be worn when:

– Contact with chemical contaminants will not adversely affect any exposed skin

– The atmospheric concentration of chemicals must not exceed IDLH levels

Rules & Regulations • EPA Level D • No respiratory protection, minimal skin protection

• Recommends: – Coveralls – Safety Boots

– Safety glasses or goggles – Hard Hat

• Should be worn when:

– Atmosphere contains no known hazards

– Work functions have no splashes, immersion or the potential for contact with hazardous levels of any chemicals

Rules & Regulations • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

• Technical Committee for Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing & Equipment

• Primary Standards: – NFPA 1991 Vapor-Protective Ensembles

– NFPA 1992 Splash-Protective Ensembles

– NFPA 1994 First Responders to CBRN Incidents • Class 2

• Class 3

• Class 4

Test & Evaluate • American Society for Testing and Materials

• F 23 Committee on Protective Clothing

– ASTM F 739 – Chemical Permeation

– ASTM F 903 – Chemical Penetration

– ASTM F 1052 – Positive Pressure

– ASTM F 1001 – Chemical List

– ASTM D 751 – Physical Properties

• Chemical Resistance of Garment Materials

• Permeation – Transmission of vapor through material

• Penetration – Transmission of liquid through material

• Degradation – Physical change in material from chemical contact

Test & Evaluate

Diffusion Evaporation Solution

Permeation - Chemical Barrier Material Test & Evaluate

Test & Evaluate • ASTM F 739

• Liquid/Vapor Permeation Testing

• Material is clamped between two chambers.

• One is filled with chemical.

• Once the chemical is detected, the rate of permeation through the fabric is measured over time.

Fabric

Fill Level

Chemical To Analyzer

Test & Evaluate

Test & Evaluate • ASTM F 903 Liquid Penetration Testing

– The physical movement of a chemical from one side of the material to the other through holes and micro-pores etc.

– Test determines if a material is porous to a potentially hazardous liquid

– Can be applied to seams, closures and interfaces

– Test is typically run for one hour with a one minute long 2 psi pressure pulse after five minutes

– Visual observation of pass/fail

Test & Evaluate – ASTM D 751

– Physical Properties

– Tensile Strength

– Tear Resistance

– Bursting Strength

Test & Evaluate • ASTM F 1358 • Flammability Resistance • Sample is suspended in the flame

for 3 seconds – Sample must not ignite

• Sample re-enters flame for an additional 12 seconds – Sample can ignite but must self

extinguish in 4 seconds – Char length must be less than 10

inches

• Pyroman

– http://www.kappler.com/index.php/resources/frontline_500_pyrom

an_6sec_test

Overview of Hazard Assessment • What is the substance?

• What is the physical state of the substance?

• How is the substance a hazard?

• What is the result of contact to the skin?

• What is the potential exposure?

• What task or operation is being performed?

Selection

Selection • Solids as Hazards

– Inhalation, ingestion and skin contact

• Liquids as Hazards

– Primarily skin contact

– Nuisance, irritant, burn and skin absorption

– Some liquids produce vapors

• Vapors as Hazards

– Inhalation and skin contact

Selection • Carcinogens

– Many compounds are known or suspected to cause cancer from exposure

– In many cases, cancer results from repeated long term exposure

– Hygienists typically treat carcinogens in the same way as toxic skin absorbers

– “Avoid all contact”

• The Exposure Scenario – The most critical aspect of the hazard assessment

• Exposure is defined by three things: – Potential for contact with the substance – If contact is expected, what is the level of contact – If contact is expected, what is the length of contact

• Determine the task or operation being performed

Selection

Selection • Fabrics, Seams and Styles • Types of Fabrics

– Impermeable film based fabrics – Semi-Permeable (micro-porous) fabrics – Absorptive fabrics – Reactive Fabrics

• Types of Seams – Serged – Bound – Ultrasonic Welded – Heat Sealed/Taped

• Garment Styles

Selection • Impermeable film based barrier fabrics

• Food Packaging

• High O2 barrier

• Flexible

• Long shelf life

Fabrics

Selection

Sewn Seam - A seam produced when three threads are interlocked around the raw edges of two pieces of fabric.

Bound Seam - A clean-finished binding which totally encloses the raw edges of two pieces of fabric. The binding is then sewn through all layers with a chain stitch.

Ultrasonic Seam - A sealed seam produced when fabrics are lapped, then thermally welded. There are no fillers, sealants, thread or bindings.

Heat Sealed/Taped Seam - A very strong tight seam produced by covering a sewn seam with a strip of material compatible with the garment, either by hot air.

Seams

Selection • Coveralls

– Hood, booties

• Totally Encapsulated – Front or Rear Entry

• Multi-piece ensembles – Mix and match

Styles

Care & Use • Train the user in care and use

– Limitations of use – Cautions and warnings – Additional equipment required – Performing garment inspections – Donning and doffing – Proper storage and handling – Retirement and disposal procedures

• Limitations of Use

– There are uses, environments and chemicals for which these garments and/or fabrics are unsuitable. It is the responsibility of the user to review available data and verify that the garment and/or fabric is appropriate for the intended use and meets all specified government and/or industry standards.

Care & Use

• As a responder, we have to: – Perform a hazard assessment for PPE

• Specific to chemical hazards

– Document the assessment

– Specify chemical protective clothing for appropriate protection

– Train the employee in care and use of the chemical protective clothing

• If the situation changes… Do a new hazard assessment!

Care & Use

Care & Use • Cautions and Warnings

– In a totally encapsulated garment, you cannot wear a cartridge respirator

– Wearers of these garments must be physically fit

– Precautions are in place for managing and preventing heat stress

Care & Use • Additional Equipment Required

– Respiratory Protection

– Gloves/Hand Protection

– Hearing Protection

– Communications

– Footwear

– Decontamination Equipment/Facilities

Care & Use • Performing Garment Inspections

– Level A (Gas Tight) require pressure testing

– Recommended annually or between uses

– Visual inspection should consider:

• Inspect seam, closures and interfaces

• Inspect for visible holes, abrasion, rips, tears, discoloration

Care & Use • Donning and Doffing the Garment

– Should be performed with assistant/buddy

– Perform brief inspection

– Ensure proper sizing

– Do not wear shoes/boots inside bootie feet

– Special precautions if contaminated during doffing process

Care & Use • Proper Storage and Handling

– It is preferable to store chemical protective garments in a cool, dry location, away from direct sunlight and extreme hot/cold

– Studies show the garments can withstand these conditions – temperature service range from -85°F to 200°F.

– Not to be confused with temperature storage range

Care & Use • Retirement and Disposal Procedures

– Field decontamination for safe doffing – Decontamination for reuse

• Garments are designed for multiple use, single exposure (MUSE)

– Decontamination procedures should be established by safety professional

– Safely disposed, severe contamination may require special handling

Care and Use • The Shelf Life of Kappler garments is determined by the user • Under proper storage conditions, there is no evidence to

indicate that film composite fabrics lose their protective characteristics or physical properties over time.

• This conclusion is based on testing aged fabric • Certain suit components such as gloves or exhaust valves

may show degradation over time – Proper inspection and testing ensures integrity

Hazmatch® • Interactive software for performing and

documenting hazard assessment for chemical protective clothing

• Available online at kappler.com, from the App Store for the iPad and iPhone, and Google Play for Android devices.

Questions?