1.4 Personal Protective Equipment

Safety always comes first !! – it is of outmost importance that the operators and any person in contact with a CPP are protected. Thus, wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory, be it for mixing, filling or applying the product. Pictograms on the product labels indicate exactly the PPE that is necessary when handling a CPP.

Dermal absorption represents the most frequent form of contamination. When the skin is unprotected (arms, hands, feet and face), penetration can occur rather rapidly. Also, high temperatures and perspiration of the skin increase the penetration.

The distribution of exposure differs according to the operation carried out

PPE Elements and How to Wear them

All persons in contact with CPPs must protect themselves by using protective equipment.The users must always have sets of protective equipment available to be used and in a good state of repair to reduce the risk of exposure.

There are different Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) elements available:

and do you know how to take off gloves correctly without contaminating the skin ?

Wearing and Removing Personal Protective Equipment

It is important to put on and take off the PPE in the right order. Failing to do so might complicate the process and expose the users to contamination. For example, if the gloves are put on before the coverall, it is not so easy to put the sleeves into the gloves; or if the gloves are taken off first, the hands would be contaminated when taking off the rest of the PPE.

Maintenance and cleaning of PPE

The personal protective equipment must be cleaned regularly and washed separately from private clothing. Single-use items have to be disposed of after one use.

• PPE must be kept in a good state with no tears or wear
• PPE has to be washed after each use with soap or detergent. It must be washed separately from other clothing and kept in a separate place
• Do not wash near, or discard washing water into, watercourses such as streams and lakes
• Footwear must be inspected regularly for any signs of damage and be repaired or replaced accordingly