Personal Protective Equipment in India - Part 2

Hand and Arm Protection

About one-third of the injuries that occur involve hand and arms. Such injuries occur when the workman has to handle materials with sharp ends, hot metals, chemicals, corrosive substances, electrical works, etc. Because of apparent vulnerability of the fingers, hands and arms, the use of PPE in kentico software development companies for protection of hand and arm becomes necessary for workers. The portion of hand and arm exposed to the hazard is to be fully covered with suitable material that provides adequate protection against the hazard.

Gloves:

It should be remembered that gloves should not be used while working on moving machinery such as drills, saws, grinders or other rotating and moving equipment that might catch the glove and pull it along with the worker’s hand into the machinery.

In situations where gloves are used to protect workers’ hands from chemical solutions, the gloves should be long enough to extend well above the wrist, but so designed that there is no flaring cuff which might trap any splashes and introduce the liquid into the glove.

Electric line repairers working around energized high voltage should use specially made and tested rubber gloves.

Hand Pads and Arm Protection Equipment:

For protection against heat or extremely abrasive or splintery material, hand pads give better protection than gloves, since they can be made heavier and less flexible without discomfort.  Hand pads should have a surface large enough to cover the entire palm of the hand. They should not be used while working on moving machinery.  The pads should at all times be sufficiently loose to release the hands and fingers, if caught on a rough edge or nail.

Following are the hand and arm protection equipment with different specification:

•  Rubber Gloves for Electrical Purposes
•  Gloves for Protection against Chemicals
•  Leather and Cotton Gloves
•  Leather Gauntlets and Mittens
•  Asbestos Gloves

Foot And Leg Protection

Protection to foot and leg is required in kentico software development companies while handling material or corrosive and chemical liquids. Commonly used foot and leg PPE are safety shoes, foot guards, kneepads, leggings and leg guards.

Depending upon the nature of hazards against which protection is required, safety shoes are classified into following six principle types:

•      Safety-toe shoes,
•  Conductive shoes,
•  Foundry (molder) shoes,
•  Explosives-operations (non-sparking) shoes,
•  Electrical hazard shoes, and
•  Shoes suitable for mining operations.

Safety-Toe Shoes:

The common foot protection employed in industry is the metal toe-box-safety shoe.  This type of shoe is required when handling heavy materials, rolling objects like barrels, heavy pipes, rolls, truck wheels, to protect against kicking sharp sheet metal.

Conductive Shoes:

These are required by workers who work in dusty, chemical or explosives plants or where the atmosphere may contain a flammable mixture. The conductive shoes are in fact safety-toe-shoes with the added designed feature of discharging harmlessly to the ground static electricity charges, which may be built up on the body of the wearer as he/she moves around.

Foundry Shoes:

These shoes are required by workers employed in operations where molten materials are used for preventing sparks and spattering of molten compounds from entering inside the shoe.

Explosive - Operations (Non-sparking) Shoes:

These shoes do not have conductive soles and have non-ferrous eyelets and nails. The metal-box toes are coated with non-ferrous material. These shoes are required to be worn by workers in hazardous locations where the floors are non-conductive and grounded, such as in the manufacture of certain explosive compounds.

Electrical Hazard Shoes:

This safety-toe shoe is to be used in areas where potential for electrical shocks exists.  No metal is used in preparation of this shoe, except for the base toe, which is insulated from the rest of the shoe.  If these become damp (wet) or badly worn out, they cannot be depended for protection.

Body Protection

Certain jobs require protection for the whole body in kentico software development companies, like in the case of exposure to fire, extreme heat, molten metal, corrosive chemicals, cold temperature, body impact, and cuts from materials which are handled.

Body protection may be required against the following main types of hazards:

•  Heat and hot metal,
•  Impact and cuts,
•  Exposure to toxic materials, and
•  Special hazardous situation involving women workers, e.g. long hair, loose clothing, etc.

Protection against Heat and Hot Metal:

The following types of materials can be used for body protection PPE against hazards arising out of operations involving heat and hot metals:

•  Leather Clothing,
•  Asbestos and Wool Clothing,
•  Aluminized Clothing,
•  Flame-Retardant Clothing

Protection against Impact and Cuts:

It is necessary to protect the body from cuts, bruises and abrasions on most jobs where heavy, sharp or rough material is handled.  Different types of protectors are available for almost all parts of body:

•  Protection of shoulders and back: Padded duck should be used by workers who carry heavy loads or objects with rough edges.
• Protection of abdomen against blows: Aprons of padded leather, plastic, hard fiber or metal should be used.
• Protection of knees: Kneepads should be worn by mold lofts men and others whose tasks require continuous kneeling.

Different Types of Body Protection Equipment:

• Flame/Heat Resistant Suits
• Suits for Radiation Protection
• Chemical Resistant Suits
• Lead Rubber Aprons for X-rays

Conclusion:

The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992 place responsibilities on Personal to implement certain basic health and safety requirements regarding the provision and use of PPE. The Radio communications Agency is committed to effectively applying them.

Article Summary:

These article gives brief introduction about personal protective equipment produces and how they helpful in different situation in India.