Office of Security, Safety and Risk Management
Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
The intent of this section is to reduce exposure of the laboratory worker to the hazardous chemical. Exposure controls include engineering controls like fume hoods, ventilation, and glove boxes. Exposure controls also includes administration controls such as training, labeling and warning devices.
This sections provides the important information about personal protective equipment (PPE). Some of the PPEs are respirators, safety goggles, gloves, aprons and boots. The PPE recommendations include both normal use and emergency response during a fire, spill, leak, or accidental release. The description of the PPE often include details about what materials the PPE should be made of or the best type of respiration for vapor of the hazardous chemical.
Sometimes exposure limits like the OSHA PELs or ACGIH TLVs are listed here rather than in section 2. This information is important because there are many types of PPEs available and the employer should have available the PPE that will provide the best protection for their employees. The employees are responsible to use the PPE provided to ensure safe working conditions.
To maintain a safe exposure level, the engineer controls are extremely important. If a laboratory has poor ventilation, then the exposure limits can be exceeded if the chemical is used repeatedly throughout the day. If the fume hood is cluttered with unnecessary items, the hood will not pull the vapors away properly. Therefore, the administrative controls come into play here. The trained professional (e.g., industrial hygienist, safety engineer, chemistry professor) should determine how to most effectively minimize hazards through exposure controls.
To see examples of protective equipment sections click on: