Question 5 of 7: Personal Protective Equipment

Question 5: Personal Protective Equipment (20 marks: 6/7/7)

Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.

(i) Principles for Selecting PPE

• Use only after higher controls — apply elimination, substitution, engineering and administrative controls first; PPE is the last line of defence and supplements, not replaces, them.
• Match to the hazard — base selection on a hazard assessment; the PPE must protect against the specific hazard(s) and be rated/certified for it.
• Proper fit — sized and fit-tested to the individual (especially respirators); poor fit means poor protection.
• Comfort and compatibility — comfortable enough to be worn correctly for the whole task; different PPE items must not interfere with each other.
• Not create new hazards and not unduly impair mobility/communication.
• Training, maintenance and enforcement — users trained in use/limits/care; inspected, cleaned, stored and replaced; use supervised and enforced.

(ii) Eye and Face Protection Devices

• Safety glasses/spectacles — with side shields, for impact from flying particles.
• Goggles — sealed against dust, splash or chemical hazards (direct/indirect vented).
• Face shields — full-face protection against splash and flying debris (used over glasses/goggles).
• Welding helmets/goggles — with appropriate shade filters against optical radiation and sparks.
• Laser safety glasses — wavelength-specific filters. Hoods for combined protection.

(iii) Respiratory Protection in Industry

• Air-purifying respirators (APR) — filter contaminants from ambient air:
  • Particulate filtering facepieces (dust masks, N95).
  • Half- or full-face respirators with particulate filters and/or chemical cartridges.
  • Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR).
• Atmosphere-supplying respirators — provide clean air from an independent source, for oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmospheres:
  • Supplied-air (airline) respirators.
  • Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
• Selection depends on the contaminant, its concentration, oxygen level and the required protection factor; APRs must never be used in oxygen-deficient or unknown atmospheres.