NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ROURKELA

DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING

Personal Protective Appliances, Safety

Aspects: Case Examples
Mine Legislation and Safety Engineering

I Introduction

Personal protective equipment (PPE) consists of respiratory protection, hearing

protection, protective clothing, and other items worn by miners to protect against
hazards. MSHA does not consider PPE to be an engineering or administrative control
for enforcement purposes.

During an inspection or investigation, document the use of PPE to ensure that

miners are positively and reliably protected. Whenever personal protective
equipment is required by an MSHA standard, the inspector should thoroughly
evaluate all aspects of the mine operators program. Common problems observed in
the field include:
Failure to enforce the use of PPE when overexposures or hazards exist;
Wearing a respirator when facial hair interferes with the face piece seal;
Wearing a respirator with expired or incorrect cartridges or filters:
Wearing the wrong PPE for the contaminant in question; and
Using PPE that is damaged, contaminated or beyond its service life.

Definitions

Breakthrough - A term applicable to protective equipment (respirator cartridge,

clothing, gloves, etc.) when contaminant contact overwhelms the ability of the
device to filter or resist the contaminant and provide protection. This can be a
function of contaminant concentration and/or the duration of exposure.

Breakthrough time - the time elapsed from the initial contact of the chemical on
the outside surface of the barrier material until detection on the inside surface;
the longer the breakthrough time, the greater the protection.

Escape-Only Respirator - a respirator designed for use only during escape from
hazardous atmospheres. The capacity of the unit must be sufficient to allow
escape.

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) Conditions that pose an

immediate threat to life or health, and conditions that pose an immediate threat
of severe exposure to contaminants likely to have adverse delayed effects on
health (such as radioactive materials).

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes all items or materials worn by a

miner to prevent injury or illness from exposure to a chemical or physical agent,
or from physical trauma. Examples include (but are not limited to): hard hats,
protective footwear, safety glasses, face shields, goggles, respirators, hearing
protectors, safety belts, harnesses and lanyards, gloves, chemical resistant
clothing, vibration resistant gloves, and clothing or aprons which reflect heat or
protect against contact with hot materials.

Fit Check A functional test of a respirators integrity and the face-to-face piece
seal performed each time a respirator is donned. Fit check techniques can vary
with respirator type. The manufacturers guidance should be followed.

Qualitative Fit-Test - A pass/fail evaluation of the fit of a respirator using a

challenge agent to test the integrity of the components and the face-to-face
piece seal. This test relies on the wearers subjective response. If the wearer
detects the presence of the challenge agent, then the respirator is inadequate
and others must be tested until one respirator proves to be suitable for the
wearer. The four most common types of qualitative fit-testing (based on the
challenge agent used) are: irritant smoke; isoamyl acetate (banana oil);
saccharin (sweet taste); and Bitrex (bitter taste).

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protection is an interim measure used to protect miners from inhaling

hazardous airborne contaminants while engineering and administrative controls are
being established. Serious injury or illness can occur if a respirator, even though
properly selected, is not fitted as required by the standard. Inspectors should refer
to the Program Policy Manual for instructions on how to combine standards
56/57.5001 and 56/57.5005 as one standard when issuing citations and for
guidance on enforcement of these requirements. For respirators provided for
protection from diesel particulates refer to the specific guidance provided in the
compliance directive for that rule.

Respirator Types
Respirators are grouped by the way that they fit to the face, the type of treatment
the breathing atmosphere receives, and relation of the pressure inside the face
piece to the atmosphere during inhalation. Components of a respirator include the
face piece, inhalation and exhalation valves, headband(s), and a connection for an
air purifying filter or cartridge or a source of supplied air.

Face pieces are classed as either:

1. Loose-fitting, such as hoods or helmets that cover the head completely, or
2. Tight fitting, including half masks which cover the mouth and chin, and full face
pieces which cover the face from the forehead to the chin.

Filtering face piece respirators or dust masks are considered tight fitting. As a
general rule, tight fitting units provide more protection than loose fitting face pieces.
Full face pieces provide greater protection than half masks.

Breathing air is either supplied or filtered:

3. Air purifying respirators filter contaminants from the air.
4. Supplied air respirators provide breathable air from an uncontaminated source.

Supplied air is typically selected when the concentration of contaminant is high,

unknown, or not appropriate for filters (e.g., oxygen deficiency).

Facial movements and the reduction in pressure inside the face piece during
inhalation may allow contaminants to infiltrate into the respirator.
5. Negative pressure respirators - the pressure inside the respirator during inhalation
is less than the pressure outside the respirator.
6. Positive pressure respirators - the pressure inside the respirator always remains
greater than the pressure outside the respirator.
Positive pressure face pieces are less likely to allow any infiltration of contaminant.

Air-Purifying Respirators (APR) include negative pressure, tightfitting respirators and

powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs). These respirators remove contaminants
from the outside air prior to inhalation, by passing it through a filter or cartridge
containing a solid sorbent such as activated charcoal. Air-purifying respirators do not
provide oxygen and must never be used in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.

Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR) may be either positive or negative pressure. There are
two types of SARs: the Air-Line Respirator (ALR) and the Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA). Only SARs are safe for use in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. In IDLH
atmospheres, Air-Line Respirators must have auxiliary self-contained breathing
capability for escape purposes. Bottled air must be of Grade D (American National
Standards Institute Compressed Gas
Association Commodity Specification for Air G-7.1.1989) quality and compressors must
be protected from contaminating the air supply with engine exhaust or the thermal
decomposition products of lubricating oils (e.g., carbon monoxide). Current NIOSH
certifications also limit hose length as a function of approved assemblies.

Escape-Only Respirators are intended for use only during escape (emergency exit)
from a hazardous atmosphere. No one should use an escape-only respirator to enter or
re-enter a hazardous atmosphere for any purpose.

IV Respirator Approval

Respirators must be approved by NIOSH or have a joint MSHA/NIOSH approval*.

Approved respirators bear a certification number on the filter, filter package,
respirator box, or some part of the respirator assembly (usually the filtering
element, if present). Any modification to an approved respirator while in use,
such as the substitution of another manufacturer's part, voids the approval.
Approvals are given to the entire assembly submitted by a manufacturer.
Therefore, all of the parts of the assembly must be from the same manufacturer.
A respirator can be modified to allow quantitative fit-testing as long as the unit
is returned to its original condition prior to use.

Types of Personal Protective Equipment

The following pages contain information about different types of PPE to help you in
selecting appropriate and effective protection:
Head protection
Eye and face protection
Hand and arm protection
Foot and leg protection
Torso (body) protection
Protection from drowning hazards

Many suppliers and manufacturers have not only information about their own
products but good general information about personal protective equipment as well.
Contact your supplier or the manufacturer; often they will be able to help you with
deciding on the appropriate PPE for your work place conditions and hazards. Many
manufacturers also have web sites with detailed information and pictures.

Head Protection
A head injury can occur by
An object impacting with a person
A person making contact with an object
Contacting an electrical source
Getting hair caught and pulled into machinery with revolving or moving parts.

Long hair that was caught in moving Keeping the hair back by using a cap or
machine part.
other device would have prevented such
an incident.

(1) Wear hair net, hat, or cap if

1. Length of hair is twice as long as the circumference of the exposed revolving
shafts or tools in fixed machines
2. Length of hair is as long as the radius of the pressure rolls with exposed inrunning nip points
(2) Wear hair covering of solid material if exposed to an ignition source, e.g.
3. welding
4. cutting with a torch
5. working with a flame or hot surface that could ignite the hair and if the
potential exists to run into a combustible/flammable atmosphere, such as
6. class-1 flammable liquid (e.g., ether, benzene)
7. combustible atmosphere
(3) Construction standard WAC 296-155-205-6 allows hair nets for hair-catching or for
fire hazards.

Protective helmets are designed to prevent penetration of the object and also to
absorb the shock of impact. It is important to know the potential for exposure to
falling or flying objects, contact with overhead objects, and electrical hazards (must
know the voltage) in order to select the most appropriate type of helmet:


Eye and Face Protection

Provide your employees with appropriate protection if they are exposed to

hazards that could injure their eyes and/or faces, such as
1. Flying particles
2. Molten metal splashes
3. Liquid chemicals
4. Acids or caustic liquids
5. Chemical gases or vapors
6. Harmful light radiation or any light that could injure the eyes such as
lasers, ultraviolet, or infrared light
7. Blood and other potentially infectious body fluids that might splash, spray,
or splatter

Wear your safety glasses to keep objects - like this staple - out of your eye!


Generally,
Safety glasses/goggles are the primary protection for eyes
Side shields (such as clip-on or slideon side shields) are required for flying objects
Masks and face shields are the primary protection for the face; secondary protection
for the eyes

Prescription safety glasses with side

shields.

A face shield is not sufficient

protection for both the face and
eyes. If eye protection is
required, appropriate eye PPE
must also be worn.

What contributes to eye injuries at work?

Not wearing eye protection

The BLS reported that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing
eye protection at the time of their accident

Wearing the wrong kind of protection for the job

About 40 percent of the injured workers were wearing eyeglasses without side shields,
although some injuries still can occur when full-cup and flat-fold side shields are
worn. Tight-fitting goggles offer the most complete protection and should be worn for
liquid chemical hazards.

Flying particles
The BLS found that almost 70 percent of the accidents studied resulted from flying or
falling objects striking the eye. Injured workers estimated that nearly 60 percent of
the objects were smaller than a pin head. Contact with chemicals caused about 20
percent of the injuries. Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed
or attached position such as tree limbs, ropes, and chains or tools that contacted the
eye while the worker was using them.

How can eye injuries be prevented?

Always wear effective eye protection

WISHA standards require that employers provide, and workers wear, suitable eye
protection. To be effective, the eyewear must be the appropriate type and properly
fitted. For example, the BLS survey revealed that 94 percent of injuries to workers
wearing eye protection resulted from objects or caustics going around or under the
protector. Only 13 workers injured while wearing eye protection reported breakage of
the protective device. Nearly 20 percent of the injured workers with eye protection
wore face shields or welding helmets. But less than six percent of the injuries
happened to workers wearing goggles, which generally offer a tighter fit around the
eyes.

Better training and education

BLS reported that most workers were injured while doing their regular jobs. Workers
injured while not using protective eyewear most often said they believed that
protection was not required in that situation. Even though the vast majority of the
employers furnished eye protection at no cost to employees, about 40 percent of the
workers received no information on where and what types of eye protection should be
used. If you are afraid that an eye injury could occur at your job, don.t is hesitant
about asking your employer for eye protection and training.

Hand And Arm Protection

Hazards requiring hand protection

Provide your employees with the appropriate hand protection if they are exposed or
likely to be exposed to any of the following hazards that may result in potential hand
injury:

Severe cuts, lacerations, or abrasions

Punctures
Thermal burn
Harmful temperature extremes
Chemical hazards
Absorption of harmful substances
Chemical burns
Rashes, irritation

Foot and Leg Protection

Provide your employees with appropriate protection if they are exposed to hazards
that could injure their feet, such as
Objects which could
Fall (impact hazard)
Roll (compression hazard)
Pierce or cut the sole or uppers (puncture hazard)
Electrical hazards
Chemical hazards
The foot protection must meet the requirements listed in WAC 296-800-16060. Look at
the ANSI label, which is typically located on the underside of the tongue.


Torso/Body Protection
Provide your employees with appropriate protection if they are exposed to hazards
that could injure their torso, such as
1. Intense heat
2. Splashes of hot metals and other hot liquids
3. Impacts from tools, machinery, and materials
4. Cuts
5. Hazardous chemicals
6. Contact with potentially infectious materials, like blood
7. Radiation
Some types of PPE for the body include
8. Vests
9. Aprons
10.Coveralls
11.Jackets
12.Body Suits
13.Welding Leathers
14.Protective clothing for temperature extremes:
Heat Cold
15.Cooling vests - Parkas
16.Long-sleeved shirt - Heavy gloves
and pants - Hoods
17.Insulated protective
outer wear

Case Examples
Mining Safety- A business imperative
Deloitte

Safety has always been a vital issue within mining operations. Globally there is
increased pressure for mines to operate safely and move towards zero harm. Best
practices have used programmes such as behavior-based safety to produce significant
improvements. However, it seems that improvements have plateaued and that new
insight is required for the next breakthrough.

Executive Summary
Mining in South Africa is a technically challenging environment. Over the years many
technical solutions have been developed to overcome the barriers. These technical
solutions have been guided by an army of technical experts, including miners,
engineers, geologists and chemists. Management disciplines have planned and directed
the various resources, often using a commandant- control style to achieve results.
However these approaches are no longer adequate for the demands of a mining
operation today. The demands for the social license to operate are global and mining
safety is a key business imperative.
The Cynefin Sense-Making Framework
TheCynefin Sense-Making Framework (ku-nev-in) was originally developed as part of a
knowledge management tool by Professor Dave Snowden as a lens through which to
see problems and systems with fresh perspectives. Subsequently the award-winning
model, published in the Harvard Business Journal, has been extended as a strategic
tool. In a world of increasing complexity, the framework helps leaders distinguish
between five types of issues facing leaders defined by the varying nature of the
relationship between cause and effect. The emphasis of the framework encourages
leaders to diagnose and understand situations and to then act in contextually
appropriate ways. The main benefit of using the Cynefin Sense-Making Framework is in
the assistance gained by individuals, teams, leaders and organizations to understand
in which context they are operating within so that they can make better decisions and
avoid the problems associated with applying solutions that are not contextually
relevant.

Complicated Order: The Domain of Experts

If one were to increase the complexity of the relationship between cause and effect a
notch, the context of the situation elevates to the complicated domain. Unlike
problems in the Simple domain, Complicated problems may contain multiple right
answers, and though there is a clear relationship between cause and effect, not
everyone can see it. The operating modality in the Complicated domain is sense,
analyze and respond. In continuing the driving metaphor, a problem that is
Complicated in nature arises when your vehicle breaks down suddenly. Multiple
signals light up on the dashboard. Opening the bonnet does not change the problem
either. You do, however, know that the problem can be fixed - you may not have the
expertise or knowledge, but there is someone who you know has encountered
problems like this before and who knows how to resolve them the mechanic.

Case Study - Implementing a Safety Programme through Empowered Employees

So how do we deal with complex problems? Some organizations are starting to look at
these issues differently and experiment with very different and sometimes
counterintuitive solutions. Though they havent compromised the integrity of the
safety basics that have to be in place such as compliance to codes of practice,
protection equipment and regular maintenance of equipment, they have augmented
these programmes by safe-fail experimental projects to attempt to address these
inherently complex issues. Here is a case study as an example: As a response to safety
issues, a gold mine started the Masiphephe (Lets Be Safe) programme. The
programme has similar themes found in many safety initiatives, including a focus on
training, visible leadership and risk awareness.

Thank You