Personal Protective Equipment

1
Personal Protective Equipment

• Healthcare Workers

2
Session Objectives

• You will be able to
• Recognize the importance of PPE
• Identify job hazards that require PPE
• Select appropriate PPE
• Inspect and fit PPE properly
• Remove and dispose of PPE safely
• Maintain PPE in good, safe condition

3
What You Need to Know

• Why using assigned PPE is essential
• Common healthcare hazards that require PPE
• Types of PPE that could be necessary
• Proper selection, inspection, use, and
  maintenance of PPE
• When new or different PPE might be required

4
Why You Need to Wear Assigned PPE

• You could face a variety of workplace hazards
• Safety controls dont always eliminate hazards
• When hazards cant be eliminated, PPE serves as a
  barrier between you and the hazards
• OSHA regulations and our policy require
  appropriate PPE

5
OSHA Requirements

• What PPE is needed for each task
• How to use it correctly
• Limitations of PPE
• How to maintain PPE properly

6
Common Healthcare Hazards Requiring PPE

• Skin penetration by sharps
• Chemicals
• Antineoplastic and other potentially harmful
  drugs
• Blood and other potentially infected materials
• TB or other airborne bacteria

7
Common Healthcare Hazards Requiring PPE (cont.)

• Mechanical hazards
• Heat
• X rays
• Light radiation (e.g., lasers or UV)
• Any other identified hazard

8
PPE Is Your Personal Defense Against Hazards

• Eyes and face
• Skin
• Respiratory system
• Feet
• Hearing
• Head

9
Eye and Face Protection

• Shatterproof safety glasses
• Goggles
• Filtered lenses
• Face shields
• Eye protection with prescription glasses

10
Skin Protection

• Gloves
• Disposable
• Cotton
• Leather
• Rubber, neoprene, or vinyl
• Heat resistant
• Protective clothing

11
Respiratory Protection

• Masks
• Respirators
• Respirator fit testing and training

12
Foot Protection

• Sensible, sturdy shoes with nonslip soles
• Safety shoes
• Boots
• Shoe covers

13
Hearing Protection

• Earmuffs
• Earplugs
• Canal caps
• Homemade hearing protection IS NOT effective and
  should NOT be used

14
Head Protection

• Hard hats protect your head in two ways
• Hard outer shell resists blows and penetration
• Shock-absorbing suspensions act as a barrier
  between the outer shell and your head to absorb
  impact

15
Hazards and Protections

• Do you understand the information that has been
  presented so far?

16
Select the Right PPE for the Job Youre Performing

• We will provide you with PPE that
• Protects from identified hazards
• Is of safe design and construction and gives you
  a good fit
• Is sanitary and reliable
• Provides more than minimum protection
• Meets required safety and health standards

17
Select the Right PPE for Chemical Hazards

• Read the label
• Check the MSDS
• Ask your supervisor if you have any questions

18
Inspect PPE Before Use

• Inspect before each use
• Look for holes, tears, cracks, wear, or other
  problems
• Dont use defective, worn, or damaged PPE. Turn
  it in and get an effective replacement.

19
Get a Good Fit

• PPE fits well when it
• Provides you with the protection you need
• Is comfortable enough to allow you to move and
  perform your job well
• Remember to check fit before each use

20
Remove and Dispose of PPE Correctly

• Remove PPE when its contaminated
• Remove PPE from the top down, wearing gloves to
  protect your skin
• Grasp contaminated gloves on the inside and peel
  down without touching the outside
• Place contaminated PPE in assigned containers
• Wash thoroughly after removing PPE

21
Maintain PPE Properly

• Clean PPE before you put it away
• Store PPE in a safe place where it wont be
  damaged or lost

22
Selection, Use, and Maintenance

• Do you understand the information in the previous
  slides?

23
When New or Different PPE May Be Required

• When tasks change, hazards may change too
• When new equipment or substances are introduced,
  you may face new hazards
• When hazards change, new or different PPE may be
  required
• When technology changes, you may be assigned new
  and improved PPE
• Your supervisor will explain any changes and
  prepare you to use new PPE

24
Use PPE Responsibly

• Know the job hazards
• Use the equipment provided
• Check the equipment
• Take care of your equipment
• Remove equipment carefully and clean or dispose
  of it properly

25
Key Points to Remember

• OSHA requires the use of PPE when workplace
  hazards cant be eliminated
• PPE provides you with a barrier of protection
  against job hazards
• You need to know how to select, inspect, use, and
  maintain your PPE correctly
• Always use assigned PPE
• If theres anything about PPE you dont
  understand, ask your supervisor