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Dermal Exposure |
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| Control and
Prevention |
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Dermal exposure can be controlled and prevented.
Many times it is as simple as changing the chemicals being used.
When that is not an option, there are many types of personal protective
equipment (PPE) that are available. Being familiar with the material on
this page will help in the effort to lessen hazardous dermal exposure.
- Substitution to a less toxic chemical is almost always a good
option, unless the alternative chemical is much more volatile.
- Consideration should be given to re-designing the work process
to avoid splashes or immersion. Where that is not feasible, personal
protection in the form of chemical protective gloves, an apron,
or clothing should be selected. Good housekeeping can avoid the
accumulation of stable, low volatility, dermally toxic contaminants
on horizontal surfaces. Enclosure and isolation may be feasible
for both liquid and solid large aerosols.
- Published breakthrough information from glove manufacturers
and lab test data should be
used with caution. Glove breakthrough can occur in considerably
less time than expected based upon many factors.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Hand contact is a significant route of exposure. Therefore,
proper glove selection is a major means of controlling dermal
exposure. Factors that affect glove selection include:
- type of chemical(s) to be handled (or used)
- frequency and duration of chemical contact (often
to rarely)
- nature of contact (total immersion, splash, mist,
contaminated surfaces)
- concentration of the chemical
- temperature of the chemical
- abrasion, puncture, tear resistance requirements of
the job or task
- length to be protected (hand only, forearm, arm)
- dexterity requirements of the job or task
- grip requirements (dry grip, wet grip, oily)
- glove features (e.g. cuff edge, lining, color (to show
contamination))
- thermal protection
- size and comfort requirements
- price
- Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE). OSHA Safety and Health Topics
Page. Addresses the importance of using
PPE and implementing a PPE program in the workplace.
- Personal protection is a last option or a supplemental option
to help control all of the above exposure mechanisms. OSHA
guidance in selecting appropriate personal protective clothing may
be found in
29 CFR 1915 Subpart I, Appendix A.
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Emergency Response Resources - Personal Protective Equipment.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Safety and Health Topic. Covers respirators, protective clothing, latex allergy and
eye safety.
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Chemical
Glove Selection. Electronic Library of Construction
Occupational Safety and Health (eLCOSH) and The University of Delaware
Cooperative Extension (Ronald C. Jester), (1991, March). Oriented toward agricultural pesticides, but is well
organized and informative to any reader. Covers qualitative
description of selection criteria, glove material and feature
options, and use/care guidelines.
- Many examples of generic glove selection charts are available.(31) More
quantitative charts (involving "breakthrough time" and "permeation
rate" data) are available from manufacturers. A similar,
although less quantitative, procedure is appropriate for chemical
protective clothing. As the importance of dermal exposures to
occupational chemical hazards grows, so too will the tools to
evaluate and control these hazards improve.
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