Personal Protective Equipment

Healthcare Workers

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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Why You Need to Wear Assigned PPE

• • • You could face a variety of workplace hazards Safety controls don’t always eliminate hazards When hazards can’t be eliminated, PPE serves as a barrier between you and the hazards • OSHA regulations and our policy require appropriate PPE © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

OSHA Requirements

• • • • What PPE is needed for each task How to use it correctly Limitations of PPE How to maintain PPE properly © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Common Healthcare Hazards Requiring PPE (cont.)

• • • • • Mechanical hazards Heat X rays Light radiation (e.g., lasers or UV) Any other identified hazard © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

PPE Is Your Personal Defense Against Hazards

• • • • • • Eyes and face Skin Respiratory system Feet Hearing Head © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Eye and Face Protection

• Shatterproof safety glasses • • • • Goggles Filtered lenses Face shields Eye protection with prescription glasses © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Skin Protection

• Gloves • Disposable • Cotton • Leather • Rubber, neoprene, or vinyl • Heat resistant • Protective clothing © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Respiratory Protection

• • • Masks Respirators Respirator fit testing and training © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Foot Protection

• Sensible, sturdy shoes with nonslip soles • • • Safety shoes Boots Shoe covers © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Hearing Protection

• • • • Earmuffs Earplugs Canal caps Homemade hearing protection IS NOT effective and should NOT be used © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Hazards and Protections

• Do you understand the information that has been presented so far? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Select the Right PPE for the Job You’re 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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Select the Right PPE for Chemical Hazards

• • • Read the label Check the MSDS Ask your supervisor if you have any questions © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Inspect PPE Before Use

• • • Inspect before each use Look for holes, tears, cracks, wear, or other problems Don’t use defective, worn, or damaged PPE. Turn it in and get an effective replacement. © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Remove and Dispose of PPE Correctly

• • Remove PPE when it’s 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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Maintain PPE Properly

• Clean PPE before you put it away • Store PPE in a safe place where it won’t be damaged or lost © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Selection, Use, and Maintenance

• Do you understand the information in the previous slides? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

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 © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609

Key Points to Remember

• • • • • OSHA requires the use of PPE when workplace hazards can’t 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 there’s anything about PPE you don’t understand, ask your supervisor © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609