Human organs are very vulnerable to external harmful factors. How to protect them in a production environment, and in such a way as to enable them to do business? This is achieved by the use of protective equipment, both individual and collective, although the latter, as a rule, are not particularly distinguished.
What is PPE?
These are technical means for the full protection or reduction of the impact on workers of production factors characterized by harmfulness and (or) danger to humans (Labor Code, Article 209).
PPE is needed when the safety of the worker is not ensured by the design of technological equipment, the technology of the production itself, or collective protective equipment (for example, general shop ventilation, dust removal systems, etc.).
All PPE must meet the requirements of the technical regulation of the Customs Union "On Safety of PPE" TR CU 019/2011.
Traditional classification of personal protective equipment
There are two approaches to this classification. According to the first of them, the human organ or system of the body for which PPE is intended to protect is selected as a classification feature. So, respiratory protective equipment (PPE) protect the respiratory system, eyes - SIZG, skin - SIZK. Further, in each of these classes of personal protective equipment, subclasses are distinguished according to the principle of the protective action (for example, filtering personal protective equipment, isolating personal protective equipment, etc.). This is a traditional classification dating back to the old Soviet labor protection system.
Modern classification of PPE
The new classification of personal protective equipment in the aforementioned technical regulation of the TS is built on the basis of harmful factors for which they are intended to be protected. Here is a list of these factors, for each of which a specific PPE protection group is intended:
1. Mechanical factors.
1.1. Actually mechanical factors:
- punctures and cuts;
- abrasion;
- noise;
- vibration;
- possible capture by moving parts of mechanisms;
- strokes in different parts of the body;
- falling from height.
1.2. General industrial pollution.
1.3. Water and aqueous surfactant solutions.
1.4. Non-toxic dust:
- fiberglass and asbestos dust;
- explosive, fine and coarse dust.
1.5. Slippery surfaces:
- coated with oily and oily film;
- icy.
2. Chemical factors:
2.1. Toxic chemicals in all states of aggregation.
2.2. Acidic solutions.
2.3. Alkaline solutions.
2.4. Organic solvents, as well as paints and varnishes.
2.5. Oil, petroleum products, fats and oils.
3. Biofactors:
3.1. Microbes.
3.2. Insects.
4. Radiation factors:
4.1. Pollution
4.2. Radiation.
5. Temperature factors, sparks and spatter of molten metal.
6. Electric arc, thermal radiation (including open flame), electric shock, exposure to electromagnetic fields and static electricity.
7. Reduced visibility.
By the way, in each of the above groups, the classification of personal protective equipment is carried out on the basis of the protected human organ or body system. So, in the group of PPE for protection against chemical factors appear PPH and SIZH, and in the group of protection against mechanical factors - PPE for legs, arms, head, face.
Special protective equipment
If we consider PPE for workers, there are various types of workwear and safety shoes. Such overalls can simply be designed to protect the worker from industrial pollution of a general nature or specially designed in such a way as to prevent it from being caught by moving parts of machine tools and industrial settings, or to be sewn from abrasion resistant fabric.
Overalls for protection group 5 should not burn and smolder in an open flame for 30 seconds, should be resistant to splashes of molten metal for 30-50 seconds. Safety shoes in protection group 5 must prevent metal from getting inside and not burn from short-term contact with an open flame.
Overalls for protection against radiation have a special design . It should not unduly hamper the movement, and when removed and donned - create a risk of infection by radioactive fallout. When decontaminated with water and special solutions, such clothing is designed to prevent them from flowing up to 10 minutes. The materials from which it is sewn must be resistant to several consecutive soiling and decontamination procedures.
Modern respiratory protection
Personal respiratory protection is the most common type of PPE in industry and in everyday life. Among them, along with all the well-known respirators and industrial gas masks (filtering, insulating and hose), new RPDs have appeared today. These include self-rescuers and breathing apparatus - special devices to protect the respiratory system from various aggressive environments. Self-rescuers can rightfully be assigned to special RPDs, since they are not intended for industrial use, but are used in emergency evacuations from areas of technological disasters, smoke and fires, as well as in emergencies caused by toxic substances, radioactive dust and hazardous biological substances.
Varieties of self-rescuers
Filtering self-rescuers are advanced filtering gas masks equipped with a fireproof hood with a viewing window. They are adapted for use by people with long hair, high hairstyles, wearing glasses.
Isolating self-rescuers divert expiratory products from the body and supply purified and suitable air for inspiration. Such devices can operate from portable cylinders with oxygen or compressed air. Such personal respiratory protective equipment is intended for use both in liquid media and in oxygen-free gas environments in an open cycle with the release of expired products into the atmosphere.
There are closed loop insulating self-rescuers with the absorption of respiratory products by a chemical regenerator. In this case, chemically bound oxygen for respiration is released from the regenerative product. Such a device can be stored for a long time in a state of full readiness and constantly carry with you.
Electrical protective equipment
The classification of personal protective equipment belonging to protection group 6 and united by the common name "electrical protective equipment" has its own characteristics. Here, as a classification feature, the method by which the tool protects the employee from external influences is selected. So, if protection is carried out by electrical isolation of the employee’s body from the conductive parts of the equipment, then the tool belongs to the group of insulating PPE, which, in turn, is divided into two subgroups: basic and additional means.
If the tool makes it impossible or difficult for the employee to access these parts of the equipment, then it belongs to the group of enclosing PPE. Creating obstacles to the propagation of electromagnetic fields in the form of various screens is a sign of the screening group of PPE. And finally, if the task of the tool is to warn the employee about the danger that threatens him or his colleagues, then it belongs to the group of warning PPE.
Obligations of employers regarding PPE
Employers are required by law to acquire and lease personal protective equipment for workers. At the same time, personal protective equipment should be suitable for employees taking into account their growth, size and gender, and the appointment should correspond to the conditions and nature of work.
One of the main standards that determine the requirements for the acquisition process, the procedure for issuing, the rules for use and storage, as well as for the care of personal protective equipment, is the Intersectoral Rules for Providing Workers with Workwear, Special Footwear and Other Personal Protective Equipment, approved by Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia dated 01.06.2009 No. 290.
Standard rules governing the free issuance of PPE
Both for the entire economy and for its individual industries, the norms for issuing personal protective equipment are defined in a number of standards issued by the federal executive authorities of the Russian Federation, the main of which are orders and decrees of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, as well as orders and decrees of its predecessor represented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. A complete list of these standards can be found on the website of the current Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.
The Labor Code of the Russian Federation allows employers, in agreement with the trade union committees of enterprises, to establish their own standards for issuing personal protective equipment in order to improve the degree of protection of workers.
State inspectors for labor protection and trade union committees of enterprises have the right to coordinate the replacement by employers of the types of PPE included in the standard norms with others in order to ensure greater protection of workers. Those types of personal protective equipment, the issuance of which are not provided for by the standard norms of personal protective equipment, may be issued by employers to employees at workplaces certified for compliance with labor law requirements .
Rules for the use of PPE
Legislation on labor protection in the Russian Federation requires workers to correctly apply the PPE issued to them, and for employers to take measures to prevent them from working without PPE or with faulty PPE, as well as in malfunctioning and dirty workwear and safety shoes. Workers must protect personal protective equipment issued to them for use. The application implies that employees must inform employers of the need to repair or test personal protective equipment, put in order protective clothing and special footwear by carrying out procedures provided for by Intersectoral Rules No. 290.
Giving out to workers an RPH, as well as PPE, which prevent them from falling from a height, the employer must give instruction on the rules for using them, as well as train workers in their use.
Electrical protective equipment for workers' personal protection must be subjected to mechanical and electrical operational tests strictly within the time periods stipulated by the rules for their use.