Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

(OSHA Personal Protective Equipment (2004))

Safety: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Adapted from U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA 3151-12R 2004
and
OSHA 3151-12R 2004 Personal Protective
Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• The last line of defense in hazard control

at the work place is the provision of
Personal Protective equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Personal Protective Equipment or PPE, is any

device or appliance intended to be worn or
held by an individual for protection against
one or more health and safety hazards.
–Examples Head Protection (Helmets), gloves, foot and
eye protection, protective hearing devices (earplugs,
muffs), respirators, High Visibility Safety Vests and full
body suits
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE protect workers against physical,

electrical, chemicals, biohazards, and
airborne particulate matter hazards .
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE are provided when engineering, work

practice and administrative controls are not
feasible or do not provide sufficient
protection,
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is considered a last line of resort

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Before issuing PPE it is necessary to
• Perform a “hazard assessment” of the workplace to identify
safety and health hazards that require PPE.
• Identifying the required PPE
• Providing PPE and giving training to workers on their proper
use/care and maintenance ( including replacing worn or
damaged PPE)
• Periodically reviewing, updating and evaluating the
effectiveness of the PPE program.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
While employers are required to provide PPE and
guve training on their proper use, employees are also
required to :
– Properly wear/use PPE,
– Attend training sessions on PPE,
– Care for, clean and maintain PPE, and
– Inform a supervisor of the need to repair or replace
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
(Adapted from OSHA)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
1910.132 General Requirements
Protective equipment, including personal protective
equipment for:
▪ Head,
▪ Eyes,
▪ Mouth and Nose (Respiratory)
▪ Face,
▪ Hands and arms
▪ Legs and feet
▪ Body (Protective clothing) etc
OSHA Personal Protection Equipment
Head Protection
1910.135
Hard hats (Helmets)
• The main risks of head injury in the workplaces are as
follows:
• where there is a possibility that a worker may be struck on
his head by a falling or flying object;
• where a worker may strike his head against a protruded
object or may be struck by a swinging object.
• Electrical hazards etc
• Hard Hats are used as head protection gear (Dept. of Lab HK, 2004)
Hard hats (Helmets): Method of Protection
• A safety helmet protects against impact from overhead by
absorbing energy through –
– (a) partial destruction or damage of the shell;
– (b) stretching of the harness; and
– (c) crushing of the protective padding if any.
• The residual force of the impact is spread over the surface of
the head thus lessening the chance of injury.
Hard hats (Helmets): Method of Protection
• Safety helmets should satisfy requirements, including
– Penetration resistance,
– shock absorption,
– electrical insulation,
– water resistance and
– slow burning, (resistance to flame and various working temperature,
etc.)
• To provide protection for existing work conditions and
associated hazards
https://pksafety.com/blog/types-classes-of-helmets-hard-hats/
Hard hats (Helmets): Classification
• Hard hats are divided into three industrial classes:
– Class A
• hard hats provide impact and penetration resistance along with limited
voltage protection (up to 2,200 volts).
– Class B
• hard hats provide the highest level of protection against electrical hazards,
with high-voltage shock and burn protection (up to 20,000 volts). They also
provide protection from impact and penetration hazards by flying/falling
objects.
– Class C
• hard hats provide lightweight comfort and impact protection but offer no
protection from electrical hazards.
Hard hats (Helmets): Accessories
• There is a wide range of accessories which can be
fitted to a safety helmet to make it more suitable
for variable working conditions. Examples of
accessories are
–chin strap,
–face shield,
–earmuffs, and
–Head lamp.
Hard hats (Helmets): Color
• Safety helmets with lighter colour will be easily seen
(such as in tunneling work) and provide better heat
reflection.
– White helmets are therefore suitable for working
environments with poor lighting conditions.
– the colour of safety helmets should be easily noticeable
against the background
– part of the exterior surface of the helmet should be
retroreflective, or have retroreflective material adhered to it,
at all sides.
Hard hats (Helmets): Selection
• Safety helmets selected should suit the actual working
environment.
– For example, for night work choosing a bright color helmet
fitted with a headlamp
– Where the job involves work in windy conditions, repeated
bending or constantly looking upwards, chin straps should
be provided and used.
Personal Protective Equipment
Eye Protection
Eye and Face Protection
• Some activities in construction sites expose the face and eyes
to potential danger and injury
• Some of the hazards include ….
– flying particles,
– molten metal,
– liquid chemicals, chemical gases or vapors
– acids or caustic liquids,,
– potentially infected material or
– potentially harmful light radiation
Eye and Face Protection
• Examples of potential eye or face hazards include:
– Dust, dirt, metal or wood chips entering the eye from activities such
as chipping, grinding, sawing, hammering, the use of power tools or
even strong wind forces.
– Chemical splashes from corrosive substances, hot liquids, solvents or
other hazardous solutions.
– Objects swinging into the eye or face, such as tree limbs, chains,
tools or ropes.
– Radiant energy from welding, harmful rays from the use of lasers or
other radiant light (as well as heat, glare, sparks, splash and flying
particles)
Eye and Face Protection

• Therefore face and eye protection must

be provided to workers. specific
workplace hazards that threaten
employees’ eyes and faces are identified
and appropriate PPE selected.
Eye and Face Protection
• Face and eye Protection PPE
– aims to protect the wearer's entire face (or part of it) from
hazards such as flying objects , debris, chemical splashes (in
laboratories or in industry), or potentially infectious
materials (in medical and laboratory environments).
– Full face protection is achieved by wearing face shields.
Must have side shields, or a one-piece lens that wraps
around the temple.
Eye and Face Protection

• Face and eye protection PPE include

–Face shields
–Googles
–Safety glasses
Eye and Face Protection: Face Shields
Eye and Face Protection: Face Shields
• Face shields.
– These transparent sheets of plastic (sometimes polarized for glare
protection) extend from the eyebrows to below the chin and across
the entire width of the employee’s head.
– Face shields protect against dust, potential splashes or sprays of
hazardous liquids
– Face shields do not provide adequate protection against impact
hazards.
– Face shields used in combination with goggles or safety spectacles
will provide additional protection against impact hazards.
Eye and Face Protection: Face Shields
Eye and Face Protection: Welding Shields
• Examples of face shields include Welding shields.
–Welding shields are made of vulcanized fiber or
fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens,
–welding shields
• protect eyes from burns caused by infrared or intense
radiant light;
• protect both the eyes and face from flying sparks, metal
spatter and slag chips produced during welding, brazing,
soldering and cutting operations.
Eye and Face Protection: Welding Shields
Eye and Face Protection: Safety Glasses and
Googles
Eye and Face Protection: Safety Glasses and
Googles
• There are four primary types of eye protection
including
–general safety glasses,
–laser safety glasses,
–chemical splash goggles and
–impact goggles.
Eye and Face Protection: Safety Glasses and
Googles
• Some of the most common types of eye and face
protection include Googles and Safety Eye glasses:
– Goggles. These are tight-fitting eye protection that
completely cover the eyes, eye sockets and the facial area
immediately surrounding the eyes and provide protection
from impact, dust and splashes.
– Some goggles will fit over corrective lenses.
Eye and Face Protection: Safety Glasses and
Googles
• Safety spectacles (Eyeglasses).
–These protective eyeglasses have safety
frames constructed of metal or plastic and
impact-resistant lenses.
–Side shields are available on some models.
Eye and Face Protection: Safety Glasses and
Googles
Eye and Face Protection: Safety Glasses and Googles
• Laser safety goggles. These specialty goggles protect against
intense concentrations of light produced by lasers. The type of
laser safety goggles chosen will depend upon the equipment
and operating conditions in the workplace.
Hearing protection PPE
Hearing protection PPE
• When a worker is exposed to noise that may affect
hearing or cause noise induce hearing loss, hearing
protection is required.
❑Examples of high noise areas can be:
▪ Mechanical rooms
▪ Shops
▪ Construction Sites
▪ When working with machinery/power tools
▪ using grinders etc
Hearing protection
• Hearing protection PPE protect the ear by
reducing the noise energy reaching (which may
cause damage to hearing) the inner ear.
• Hearing protection is needed when the average
(over an 8 hour period) noise level of an area
reaches 85 decibels.
–Some of the hearing protection devices include
Ear muffs and earplugs.
Types of Hearing Protection PPE
❑Ear Plugs
❑Ear Muffs
❑Canal Caps
Respiratory Protective Equipment
Respiratory Protective Equipment
Respiratory PPE are needed when work presents an
inhalation hazard, which include
▪ Working in dusty environment.
▪ Painting.
▪ Welding.
▪ Working with uncontained chemicals.
▪ Working with highly toxic chemicals.
Respiratory Protective Equipment
• There are two approaches to respiratory
protection.
–One approach is to ensure that breathing air is of
good quality. This is accomplished by supplying air
that has the right mixture of oxygen and inert gases
and is free of contaminants.
–An alternate approach is to clean the air before it is
inhaled into the lungs. (Ex. usinsg masks)
Respiratory Protective Equipment: Masks
Respiratory Protective Equipment: Masks
Respiratory Protective Equipment: Respirators
Respiratory Protective Equipment
• There are three classes of respirators:
–Self-contained sources of breathable air;
–Supplied-air respirators, which provide breathable air
from other sources through a supply line; and
–Air-purifying respirators, which remove particulates
and gases from inhaled air.
Respiratory PPE : Air-purifying respirators
Respiratory PPE: Self-contained Breathing Apparatus
Respiratory PPE: Supplied-air respirators
Personal Protective Equipment: Hand
Protection
1910.138
Hand Protection: 1910.138(a) General
requirements
• Potential hazards to the arms and hands include
– skin absorption of harmful substances,
– chemical or thermal burns,
– electrical dangers,
– bruises,
– abrasions,
– cuts,
– punctures,
– fractures and amputations
– Harmful temperature extremes
Hand Protection PPE
• If a workplace hazard assessment reveals that employees face
potential injury to hands and arms that cannot be eliminated
through engineering and work practice controls, employers
must ensure that employees wear appropriate protection.
Hand Protection PPE: Selection Criteria
• When selecting PPE for arms and hands the following factors
are considered.
• Type of chemicals handled.
• Nature of contact (total immersion, splash, etc.).
• Duration of contact.
• Area requiring protection (hand only, forearm, arm).
• Grip requirements (dry, wet, oily).
• Thermal protection.
• Size and comfort.
• Abrasion/resistance requirements.
Hand Protection PPE

• Protective equipment includes gloves,

finger guards and arm coverings or
elbow-length gloves.
Hand Protection PPE: Gloves
Hand Protection PPE: Gloves
• Gloves protect hands from various hazards including protection
from chemical exposure to cuts and punctures from sharp
objects.
• Gloves made from a wide variety of materials are designed for
many types of workplace hazards. In general, gloves fall into
four groups:
– Chemical- and liquid-resistant gloves;
– Fabric and coated fabric gloves;
– Gloves made of leather, canvas or metal mesh;
Hand Protection PPE: Gloves
• Disposable: light-weight plastic; can help guard against
mild irritants.
– Chemical Resistance: nitrile, neoprene, vinyl, etc; protect
hands from chemical exposure
• Fabric: cotton or fabric blend; improve grip or insulate
from heat or cold.
• Leather: guard against injuries from sparks or scraping
against rough surfaces. Combine with an insulated liner
when working with electricity, protection from
moderate heat, blows, chips and rough objects.
Hand Protection PPE: Gloves
• Metal Mesh: protect hands from cuts and scratches; used
commonly with sharp instruments.
• Aluminized Fabric Gloves: insulate hands from intense heat;
commonly used with molten materials. Aluminized gloves
provide reflective and insulating protection against heat and
require an insert made of synthetic materials to protect against
heat and cold.
Disposable Nitrile, neoprene, vinyl Safety
Gloves
• The protect hands from contamination by most chemicals and
infectious agents.
• Rubber gloves protect against mild corrosive material.
• Neoprene gloves protect against most solvents, oils, and mild
corrosive materials.
Hand Protection: Fabric and Coated Fabric
Gloves
• Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves:
– Fabric and coated fabric gloves are made of cotton or other
fabric to provide varying degrees of protection.
– Fabric gloves protect against dirt, slivers, chafing and
abrasions.
– They do not provide sufficient protection for use with rough,
sharp or heavy materials. Adding a plastic coating will
strengthen some fabric gloves.
Hand Protection: Fabric and Coated Fabric
Gloves
• Coated fabric gloves are normally made from cotton flannel
with napping on one side. By coating the unnapped side with
plastic, fabric gloves are transformed into general-purpose
hand protection offering slip-resistant qualities. These gloves
are used for tasks ranging from handling bricks and wire to
chemical laboratory containers.
Hand Protection: Fabric and Coated Fabric
Gloves
Leather Safety Gloves
• Leather safety gloves are used for welding, as the leather can
resist sparks and moderate heat. They are also useful in
minimizing cuts and abrasions such as when handling
reinforcement works
Hand Protection PPE: Metal Mesh and
Aluminized Gloves
• Metal mesh and Aluminzed Gloves
– when workers are using sharp objects when working
(Ex. Cutting sheet metals) or are exposed to handling
high temperature materials or using flames to cut
objects Metal mesh gloves and Aluminized gloves are
used respectively
Hand Protection PPE: Metal Mesh and
Aluminized Gloves
Electrical Insulating Gloves
• An electrical glove system consists of:
– Rubber insulating gloves – classified by the level of voltage protection
they provide.
– Liner gloves – reduce the discomfort of wearing rubber insulating
gloves. Liners provide warmth in cold weather and absorb
perspiration in the warm months. They can have a straight cuff or
knit wrist.
– Leather protector gloves – normally worn over rubber insulating
gloves to help provide the mechanical protection needed against
cuts, abrasions and punctures.
Electrical Insulating Gloves
Personal Protective Equipment
Leg and Foot Protection
Personal Protective Equipment
Leg and Foot Protection
• When workers are exposed to hazards that involve danger to leg and foot
injuries protective foot wear must be worn.
• danger of foot injuries include
– falling or rolling objects,
– objects piercing the sole,
– crushing or penetrating materials
– exposure to hot substances or corrosive or poisonous materials
– electrical hazards, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard,
Foot Protection
• Leg and foot hazards also include :
– Sprains to ankles from uneven walking surfaces or rough terrain
– foot injury due to exposure to extreme hot or cold
– slips and falls on slippery walking surfaces
– exposure to water or other liquids that may penetrate the footwear
causing damage to the foot and the footwear
– exposure to rotating or abrasive machinery (e.g., chainsaws or
grinders)
Personal Protective Equipment
Leg and Foot Protection
• Leg and foot hazards also include (Contd…)
– heavy objects such as barrels or tools rolling onto or fall on the
employee’s feet;
– Working with sharp objects such as nails or spikes that could pierce
the soles or uppers of ordinary shoes;
– Exposure to molten metal that might splash on feet or legs;
– Working on or around hot, wet or slippery surfaces; and
– Working when electrical hazards are present
Personal Protective Equipment
Leg and Foot Protection
• The leg and foot hazards are generally
categorized into two major categories
–The first category includes foot injuries from
punctures, crushing, sprains and lacerations.
–The second group of injuries includes those
resulting from slips, trips and falls.
Personal Protective Equipment
Leg and Foot Protection
• Therefore Safety Shoes are needed to protect workers
– 1. Protect from Falling, Flying, rolling Objects
– 2. Protect from Punctures, piercing objects
– 3. Protect from Cutting, compression Hazards
– 4. Protect from Electrical , chemical , biological Hazards
– 5. Prevent Slips, Trips & Falls
– 6. Protect from Extreme Weather
Personal Protective Equipment
Leg and Foot Protection
• Foot and leg protection choices include the following:
– Leggings to protect the lower legs and feet from
• heat hazards such as molten metal or welding sparks.
• Metatarsal guards protect the instep area from impact and
compression. Made of aluminum, steel, fiber or plastic, these
guards may be strapped to the outside of shoes.
• Toe guards fit over the toes of regular shoes to protect the toes
from impact and compression hazards. They may be made of steel,
aluminum or plastic.
Leg and foot Protective Equipment
Leg and foot Protective Equipment
• Therefore depending on the type of risk Select the right
shoe for the job.
• OSHA suggests
– Steel toe shoes for jobs in the construction industry where
the danger of heavy objects dropping on workers’ feet is a
daily concern.
– Heat resistant soles protect feet against hot surfaces in
paving, roofing and hot metal industries.
Leg and foot Protective Equipment
– Electrically conductive shoes protect against static electricity to
reduce the risk of a spark causing a fire or explosion (and
should not be worn with nylon, wool or silk socks).
– Electrical-hazard safety-toe shoes ground the wearer to protect
against open circuits up to 600 volts.
– Foundry shoes have safety toes and are designed to stop hot
metal from lodging in shoe parts and eyelets
Safety Shoe Standards
Toe and Penetration Guard Safety Shoes
• ASTM F2413 requires compression- and impact-
resistant shoes to have built-in toe caps (i.e., the safety
toe caps are not removable). These shoes must be
labeled as I/75/C/75. Beyond compression and impact
resistance, shoes required for different types of jobs will
reflect their own specific list of standards.
Safety Shoe Standards
• ASTM F2412-18a (Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection)
and ASTM F 2413-18 (Standard Specification for Performance
Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear) are the
most current footwear consensus standards.
• ANSI Z41
Safety Shoe Standards
– The following is the requirements that a safety shoe must fulfill
according to OSHA ASTM standards:
• Impact - This standard covers falling objects of varying
weights and heights, which may be dropped onto the
foot.
• Compression - This standard covers a slower crushing
load, such as a vehicle running over the foot.
• Metatarsal - This standard covers protection of the upper,
or metatarsal, region of the foot.
Safety Shoe Standards
– Conduction Rating (Cr) - This standard covers the shoe’s ability to
resist the build-up of static charge, which can be dangerous in areas
that may contain explosive chemicals.
– Electrical Hazard (EH) - This standard covers the shoe’s ability to
protect the wearer from electrical shocks.
– Puncture/Penetration Resistant (PR) - This standard covers the
shoe’s ability to protect the wearer from sharp object puncturing the
sole of the shoe, such as nails, glass, etc.
– Static Dissipative (SD) - This standard rates the shoe’s ability to safely
conduct any buildup of static electricity through the sole and into the
floor.
Leg and foot Protective Equipment
Safety Toed Shoes
• When working in an environment where a worker may be
exposed to injury of the toes, safety-toed shoes must be worn.
These types of shoes are made of steel, alloy or non-metallic toe
caps that cover the toe area and prevent it from getting hurt or
damage.
Safety Toed Shoes
• Safety Toed Shoes
• are shoes a special covering around the toe area that is
capped with a special material to keep the toes safe from
hazardous accidents and mishaps.
• People who work in factories and mills and places where heavy
industrial materials and equipment are being handled every
day usually wear these.
Safety Toed Shoes
Toe and Penetration Guard Safety Shoes
Metal Instep footwear
• Safety footwear ensures that
– the feet are kept protected from all outward injuries, accidents and
harmful objects.
– This type of safety footwear has been designed specially to protect
and safeguard the feet from sharp and pointy objects like nails, glass
pieces and other metal objects.
– People who work in large industrial factories that have to do with
manufacture of machinery, glass objects etc. usually wear these
safety shoes.
– It helps preventing these sharp objects from penetrating to the feet,
causing injury or harm.
Metal Instep footwear
Steel insole shoes
• In Steel insole shoes steel inserts are used as insole
inserts to help in keeping the foot protected from
common joint problems they are specially useful for
people, who operate heavy trucks
• Steel insole shoes help in keeping the foot stabilized and
prevents it from shifting and moving around too much, in
turn preventing joint and bone problems.
Steel insole shoes
Metatarsal Shoes
• These shoes are special safety shoes that have been specifically
designed and created to protect the upper part of the foot and bones.
• These shoes
– reduce and prevents injuries from accidents and mishaps that can
occur due to heavy equipment falling or dropping down on the feet.
Also known as “drop hazards”
– these safety shoes are made to protect the feet internally as well as
externally.
– It also safeguards the toe area as well.
– These are usually worn in construction sites or jobs that involve lifting
of heavy equipment and machines.
Metatarsal Shoes
Metatarsal Shoes
Electrical hazard Safety Shoes
• Employees that work with electricity, circuits, wiring and high
voltage machines and devices, specially wear this kind of
footwear. They are specially made with a sole that helps
reduce the potential of any employee receiving an electric
shock when exposed to high voltage circuits and electricity.
Electrical Safety Shoes
• Safety shoes may also be designed to be
electrically conductive to prevent the buildup of
static electricity in areas with the potential for
explosive atmospheres or nonconductive to
protect employees from workplace electrical
hazards.
Electrical Safety Shoes

• Electrical safety shoes are made

to provide protection against
electrical hazards. These type of
safety shoes have their heels and
soles made of materials that do
not conduct electric currents.
These types of shoes have the
letters “EH” marked on the
tongue)
Chemical Resistant Safety Shoes
Chemical Resistant shoes

• Chemical Resistant shoes

are specifically designed
to protect against
harmful chemicals and
abrasives.
Heat Resistant Asphalt Pavement Work Shoes
Heat Resistant Asphalt Pavement Work Shoes
• According to the OSHA and ASTM standards, heat-
resistant safety shoes are shoes that can withstand the
heat of about 300°C for about 60 seconds.
• It should also be able to protect you from heat emitted
by different sources.
Toe and Penetration Guard Safety Shoes
• Safety shoes have impact-resistant toes and heat-
resistant soles that protect the feet against hot
work surfaces common in roofing, paving and hot
metal industries. The metal insoles of some safety
shoes protect against puncture wounds.
Heat Resistant Asphalt Pavement Work Shoes
Heat Resistant Asphalt Pavement Work Shoes
• Heat-resistant shoes have soles made of rubber
that insulate and can withstand high temperatures.
• Both the upper part and toe cap are made from
materials that do not absorb heat or are resistant.
• The inner linings are usually made with breathable
material that does not trap heat to ensure comfort.
Heat Resistant Asphalt Pavement Work Shoes

• These are soles made from thermal

polyurethane, which is robust, flexible, and
resistant to abrasions.
• It is a derivative from polyurethane(PU), also
used to sole heat-resistant safety shoes.
Combination foot and shin guards
Combination foot and shin guards

• Combination foot and shin guards protect the

lower legs and feet, and may be used in
combination with toe guards when greater
protection is needed.
Body Protection
Body PPE
❑ Needed when work presents a potential for contamination or injury to
other parts of the body such as legs, arms, back, chest.
❑ Examples of hazards:
▪ Heat
▪ Splashes
▪ Hot/cold metals and liquids
▪ Impacts
▪ Sharp objects
▪ Chemicals
▪ Electrical work
▪ Radiation
High Visibility Reflective Vests
(Safety Vests)
Reflective (high visibility) vests
• Reflective (high visibility) vests
–Working in construction sites where there is a
movement of construction equipment exposes
workers a to struck-by, runover and back-over
hazards.
–Therefore any worker exposed to the risks of
moving construction equipment or roadway traffic
must wear high visibility (hi-vis) safety apparel.
Reflective (high visibility) vests

• The purpose of high visibility safety apparel is

to make workers stand out from their
background, to differentiate the wearer as a
person, and to provide greater visibility
during nighttime work.
Reflective (high visibility) vests

• The use of high visibility safety apparel

allows motorists and equipment
operators to see workers distinctly,
reducing the risk of worker fatality or
injury.
Reflective (high visibility) vests
• The workers should be visible when they are
standing, walking, bending, squatting, and turning
sideways.
• The worker should be identifiable as a person by a
motorist approaching from the front, back or side.
• The worker should be visible during day and night
work
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection
• When considering the selection/use of Hi-Vis Garments
the following points should be considered:
–The type and nature of the work being carried out -
including the tasks of both the High Visibility Safety
Apparel (HVSA) wearer and any drivers.
–Whether workers will be exposed to heat and/or flames
(if so, flame-resistant HVSA would be required).
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection
–Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection (Contd…)
• Work conditions, such as indoor or outdoor work,
temperature, work rates, traffic flow, traffic volume,
visibility and traffic speed.
• The workplace environment and the background workers
must be seen in (e.g., is the visual area behind the
workers simple, complex, urban, rural, highway, filled with
equipment).
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection
–Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection (Contd…)
• How long the worker is exposed to various traffic
hazards, including traffic speeds.
• Lighting conditions and how the natural light might
be affected by changing weather (sunlight, overcast
sky, fog, rain, or snow).
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection
–Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection (Contd…)
• Factors that affect warning distances and times,
such as the volume of traffic, the size of vehicles,
their potential speeds, the ability to stop quickly,
and the surface conditions.
• If there are any engineering and administrative
hazard controls already in place (e.g. barriers that
separate the workers from traffic).
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection
–Reflective (high visibility) vests : Selection (Contd…)
• Any distractions that could draw workers attention
away from hazards.
• The sightlines of vehicle operators, especially when
vehicles are operated in reverse.
• If certain tasks need to be "visually" identifiable
from other workers in the area.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Types
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Types
• High-visibility (hi-vis) apparel are designed to
make to make the wearer easier to spot when
working at the site, particularly where there are
moving equipment and vehicles
• There are different classes, different levels and
different types of Hi-vis apparel.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Types
• High visibility apparel consists of a fluorescent colored
base as background material that is intended to be
highly visible. The color of the background material can
either be fluorescent yellow-green or fluorescent
orange-red.
• The retroreflective material is the band of material
placed over the background, intended to reflect light
back to the source when light shines on the apparel.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Types
• The production of reflective fabric uses the principle of
retro reflection.
• Reflective fabric is made of the base cloth, the
adhesives, and the micro glass bead. ... The highly
reflective glass beads coated in the surface of the cloth
works by reflecting light back to the light source only,
such as a car's headlights.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Types

• Retro reflective material is made using tiny

glass beads which reflect light directly back
toward its source, from a much wider angle
than reflective material.
• Traffic signs and pavement markings are retro
reflective. ... They also light the way for the
pedestrian, showing the path ahead.
Reflective Vests
Retro reflective material
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Color Types

• The American National Standards Institute

(ANSI) standards for high visibility clothing
have identified three colors deemed
acceptable for high visibility clothing
backgrounds.
• Fluorescent lime, orange, and red are the
three approved background color options.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Color Types
• Apparel Colors The ANSI 107 standard gives a
choice of clothing colors:
• Fluorescent Orange-red,
• Fluorescent yellow-green or
• Fluorescent red
–fluorescent versions of these colors for daytime work.
Fluorescent lime Color
Yellow Orange color
• Orange is the color between red and yellow in the spectrum of
light, this is a yellow orange color
Red Color
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Color Types
• These three colors offer the greatest visibility
during daylight hours, which is one of the primary
functions of hi vis clothing.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Color Types
• High visibility clothing works best when it has the
greatest contrast to a workers’ environment.
• For example, if you there are a lot of orange equipment
at a job site, choosing fluorescent lime will be a better
choice as it will offer more contrast to the other
elements that a workers will be adjacent to.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Classes of Apparel:
– There are three classes of garments based on the
wearer’s activities.
–The classes are differentiated by the amounts of
retroreflective material, the placement of the
material and the design and color of the vest used.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Class 1 - This apparel provides a minimal amount
of retroreflective material,.
• Used when there is ample clearance between
vehicle and wearer, or for areas that are removed
from traffic
• Speed of vehicles less than 40 km/h
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Class 2 - This type of garment has less background and
retroreflective materials than Class 3 garments. They are
appropriate for most daytime activities, working off the roadway,
where there is a physical barrier between the worker and traffic, on
lower speed, lower volume roads and secondary road
environments.
• These garments are required as a minimum where traffic exceeds 40
km/k. Wearers include:
• Road construction workers, surveyors etc
– (MUTCD: Manual on uniform traffic control Devices)
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Class 3 - This type of garment offers the greatest visibility. It allows
workers to be seen at a minimum of 400 m.
• These garments have sleeves and pants and therefore have a larger
amount of both background and retroreflective materials.
– Class 3 garments are used in high risk environments, such as high
speed roadways (in excess of 80 km/h), highly congested areas,
complex lane shifts, a wide range of weather conditions, and/or
complex work zones.
– Class 3 garments are recommended for nighttime work, when there
is no physical barrier between the worker and traffic, working on the
roadway, urban areas and high crash areas.
Class 3 Safety Garments
Class 3 Safety Garments
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Class 3 Vests are used for
– Traffic moving faster than 80km/h
– Night time work
– When there is no physical barrier between vehicle and worker
– Urban areas and high crash areas
– Flagging operations
– Temporary traffic control set up and removal
– Setup and removal of work zones
– Construction laborer and vehicle operators
– Survey crews
– Incidence response particularly at night
– Emergency utility crews dispatched at night
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• A Class 3 shirt must have sleeves, with retroreflective
material between the shoulder and elbow.
• A Class 2 shirt can be used in a Class 3 setting if
retroreflective pants are worn together with the Class 2
shirt. This is referred to as a Class 3 ensemble (Class E).
Note that the pants cannot be worn without a Class 2 or
3 shirt.
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Class E – Designed for pants.
• A Class E pair of pants adds additional background
material and reflective tape so that, when
combined with a class 2 vest, coat or jacket, will
make a Class 3 assemble
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Additional Classification also includes “Type” including Type
“O’, “P” and “R”
• “Type” Classification of Hi-vis Garments is designed to reflect
the environment in which they are used.
– Type O – The “O” stands for “Off-road”.
– Type R – The “R” stands for “Roadway”
– Type P – The “P” stands for “Public Safety”
Reflective (high visibility) vests : Classes
• Type “O”
– Type O apparel is designed for workers who aren’t required by OSHA
to wear hi-vis garments, but who still work in hazardous
environments where visibility is a concern.
• Type “R”
– Type R garments are for workers who are exposed to traffic or those
who work in a place with moving equipment or vehicles.
• Type “P”
– Type P apparel is typically designed for police, fire and EMS
personnel who deal with roadway hazards and other hazards.
Precautions when using Reflective Vests
• Reflective Vests…
– Workers must not wear same colors as traffic cones…
– Workers must not wear versts same color as vehicles colors
– workers must be identifiable as person to all (vehicle
operators..etc)
– Workers must be identifiable as persons at least from 300
meters distance
– vests must contrast with surrounding environment…
• (orange vets in green environment…etc)
Precautions when using Reflective Vests
• For nighttime work, these garments must also be
retroreflective.
• The retroreflective material shall be orange,
yellow, white, silver, strong yellow-green, or a
fluorescent version of one of these colors and
shall be visible at a minimum distance of 300
meters.
Reflective Vests
• Reflective Vests…
– Workers must not wear same colors as traffic cones…
– Workers must not wear versts same color as vehicles colors
– workers must be identifiable as person to all (vehicle operators..etc)
– Workers must be identifiable as persons at least from 300 meters
distance
– vests must contrast with surrounding environment…
• (orange vets in green environment…etc)
Reflective Vests
• For nighttime work, these garments must also be
retroreflective.
• The retroreflective material shall be orange, yellow, white,
silver, strong yellow-green, or a fluorescent version of one of
these colors and shall be visible at a minimum distance of 300
meters.
FDRE Ministry of labor and Social Affairs
Occupational Safety and health Directive May
2008
(selected sections)
Fall Protection
What is Fall Protection?

• Fall protection is the process of taking steps

to eliminate or control unintentional fall of
workers while accessing or working at height
MoLSA:
Occupational Safety and health Directive May 2008 (Contd..)
• Article 146. working at height
• (1) whenever workers are engaged in the removal of a part of a building or
structure more than 3 m above a floor, platform or grade , there shall be
provide for the protection of workers suitable scaffolds , lifelines, safety belts
or life nets
• (2) every floor opening into which a worker may fall or slip shall be protected
by a guardrail and toe-board or be securely covered
• (3) head, hand and foot protection, appropriate to exposure, shall be worn by
workers on demolition projects
• (4) Construction sheds and tool boxes shall be so located as to not expose
workers to the danger of falling walls and other falling objects
MoLSA:
Occupational Safety and health Directive May 2008 (Contd..)
• Article 121. Ladders
– (2) where portable wooden ladders are constructed on the job site ,
they shall be of sound construction and maintained to withstand the
stresses of their use
– (3) if protective coatings are applied to wooden ladders, only
transparent coatings or preservatives shall be used so that any
defects become visible
• Article 122. portable ladders
– (4) a ladder shall be of sufficient length to project approximately
90cm above the level of the upper landing to which it provides access
MoLSA:
Occupational Safety and health Directive May 2008 (Contd..)
• Article 124. Scaffolds and stages
– (1) except otherwise stated all scaffolds shall be designed , erected
and maintained in accordance with the specification and
requirements of standards acceptable to the competent authority
– (2) wood used for scaffolds shall be of a grade suitable for structural
purposes and shall be inspected and tested for defects before use.
– (3) the vertical supports of scaffolds shall rest on a firm foundation
or sills
– (4) all scaffolds 3m more above ground shall be equipped with a
guard rail not less than 1 m in height and an intermediate rail
Fall Protection Systems

• Generally, fall protection can be provided

through the use of
– guardrail systems,
–safety net systems, or
–personal fall arrest systems.
Fall Protection Methods
• Fall protection includes
– Fall Prevention- A system that will prevent a person from falling to a
lower level. Example: Hole covers, Railings

– Fall Restraint: (Work Positioning)- A system that will allow the worker to
approach a fall hazard and work but will not allow
the worker to fall to a lower level.

– Fall Arrest- A system that will protect a person from crashing on to a

lower level after a fall. Example: Fall Arrest
Harness/lanyard
Fall Protection Systems
• Fall Prevention-
– A system that will prevent a person from falling to a lower
level. Example: Railings
• Work Positioning or Fall Restraint-
– A system that will allow the worker to approach a fall hazard
and work but will not allow the worker to fall to a lower
level.
• Fall Arrest-
– A system that will protect a person from crashing on to a
lower level after a fall. Example: Fall Arrest Harness/lanyard
Hole Covers
• Hole Covers can be used to prevent workers from falling through holes.
– Hole covers must be Secured to prevent displacement, and designed to support 2
times the maximum intended load ( Vehicular traffic /foot traffic)
– Hole covers must also be marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” or color
coded
Fall Prevention Systems: rails
• Fall Prevention systems include, Guard rails, Wall Brackets
Fall Prevention Systems: rails wall bracket

example of a wall bracket, or top plate, scaffold system

Guardrails

Top Rail
Mid- Rail
Toeboard

Top rails between 39 and 45 inches tall (98 and

112 cm )
Toeboards at least 3 1/2 inches (8.75 cm) high
Fall Protection Systems

Personal Fall Guardrails Safety Net

Arrest System
(PFAS)
OSHA Office of Training & Education 180
Guardrails

Top Rail
Mid- Rail
Toeboard

Top rails between 39 and 45 inches tall (98 and 112

cm ) Toeboards at least 3 1/2 inches (8.75 cm) high
Conventional Fall Protection Systems

• Guardrail Systems
• 1926.502(b)
• example of a wall bracket, or top plate, scaffold
system
Fall Protection Systems
Fall Restraint Systems
Fall Restraint Systems
• Fall restraint Systems prevents the worker from
being able to reach fall hazards.
• Fall restraint equipment normally includes a
–fixed-length lanyard
–suitable anchorage point
–Safety harness
Safety Harness
Chest strap tightened
at mid chest “D” ring between
shoulder blades

Proper snugness
shoulder to hips

Butt strap
Leg straps snug but
supports the load
not binding

• Harnesses must be sized for the worker. Workers must

weigh more than 130 lbs. and less than 300lbs.
Personal Fall Arrest System Full Body Harness
• A full body harness
distributes the force of the
fall over the thighs, pelvis,
waist, chest and shoulders.
The attachment point on a
full body harness is a D-ring
in the center of your upper
back.
• ensure to use a size that
fits properly
Fall Protection Systems
Fall Arrest Systems
Fall Arrest Systems
• A personal fall arrest system is a kind of fall protection system
designed to arrest a worker's fall, preventing him from striking
the next lowest level and minimizing the chances of serious
injury.
• Fall arrest system includes the safe stopping of a person
already falling.
• There are two major types of fall arrest systems
– General fall arrest, such as Safety nets; and
– Personal fall arrest (PFAS), such as lifelines.
Fall Protection Systems
• Personal Fall Arrest Systems
–A personal fall arrest system is a system used to safely
stop (arrest) a worker who is falling from a working
level.
–It consists of an anchorage, connectors, and a body
harness. It also may include a lanyard, deceleration
device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these.
Personal Fall Arrest System
• A Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) must include
the following components:
– Anchorage
– Body Harness
– Connector/Lanyard
Harness Fitting
Chest strap tightened
at mid chest “D” ring between
shoulder blades

Proper snugness
shoulder to hips

Butt strap
Leg straps snug but
supports the load
not binding

• Harnesses must be sized for the worker. Workers must

weigh more than 130 lbs. and less than 300lbs.
Harness Pressure Points
Spread load
across butt strap
and belt strap if
on the harness

Excess pressure here can

cut blood flow to the legs
Some studies have indicated permanent damage to the lower extremities
when the worker hangs for more than twenty (20) minutes
Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

• PFAS = anchorage, lifeline and body harness

OSHA Office of Training & Education 197

Fall Protection Systems
Life lines
Fall Arrest Systems: Life lines

• A lifeline system, when used as a personal fall

protection system, typically includes a
flexible lifeline, an anchor point, a harness, and
a lanyard.
• Lifeline systems are used to mitigate falls while
working at height
Fall Protection Systems

• Life lines (Vertical and Horizontal)

• Warning Line Systems
Fall Arrest Systems: Life lines
• Lifelines are the part of a fall protection system that connects
to an anchor on one end. On the other end, they connect to
the user through a rope grab (fall arrester) and lanyard, which
connects to the full-body harness. In some cases, especially in
travel restraint systems, they can be attached directly to the
full-body harness. There are three basic types:
– 1. Vertical lifelines
– 2. Horizontal lifelines
– 3. Self-retractable lifelines (SRLs
Fall Arrest Systems: Life lines
Fall Arrest Systems: Life lines
Fall Arrest Systems
Safety Line Anchorages

Must be independent of any platform

anchorage and capable of supporting at
least 5,000 lbs. (2500kg) per worker
Fall Arrest Systems: Life lines
Safety Net Systems
Safety Nets
• Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the
surface on which employees are working
• Safety nets must be installed with sufficient clearance to
prevent contact with the surface or structures under
• Safety nets and safety net installations must be drop-tested at
the jobsite
Fall Arrest Systems: Safety Nets
Fall Protection Systems
• Safety Net Systems When safety nets are used, they must be
installed as close as practicable under the walking or working
surface on which workers are working and never more than 30
feet (10meters) below that level.
– When nets are used on bridges, the potential fall area from the
walking or working surface to the net must be unobstructed.
– All safety nets must be installed with sufficient clearance underneath
to prevent a falling body from hitting the surface or structure below
the net.
Safety Nets
• Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the
surface on which employees are working
• Safety nets must be installed with sufficient clearance to
prevent contact with the surface or structures under
• Safety nets and safety net installations must be drop-tested at
the jobsite
CONVENTIONAL FALL PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
Safety Nets
1926.501(c)
Controlled Access Zones
Fall Protection Systems
• Controlled Access Zones
– A controlled access zone is a work area in which certain types of work
may take place without using conventional fall protection systems.
Worker access to these areas must be carefully controlled.
– For example, a controlled access zone would be designated where
overhand bricklaying was occurring without the protection of
guardrails. In this example, only masons and other workers actually
engaged in the bricklaying would be allowed in the controlled access
zone
Summary (OSHA Office of Training & Education)

• If you can fall more than 6 feet,(2 meters) you

must be protected
• Use fall protection on:
➢walkways & ramps, open sides & edges, holes, concrete
forms & rebar, excavations, roofs, wall openings, bricklaying,
residential construction
• Protective measures include guardrails, covers,
safety nets, and Personal Fall Arrest Systems