Personal protective equipment is not a substitute for good engineering, work practice, and administrative controls, but should be used in conjunction with these controls to provide for a safe and healthy workplace.

Issue - Personal Protective Equipment was not standardized and was often inappropriate for the work being performed.

Most employees performing sorting operations wore gloves. However, many were observed wearing gloves that were too big, or too wide at the top opening.  Many wore loose fitting rubber gloves.

Shoes were variable as well. Many were observed wearing sneakers, and at least one employee wore open-toe shoes while working in the packing plant.

Loose fitting clothing was common among employees working around conveyors and other moving machinery.

Recommendations - Personal Protective Equipment should be in good repair, correctly sized for the worker, and appropriate for the task. OSHA has some very good guidelines available online entitled Personal Protective Equipment, with information on choosing and using PPE. These guidelines should be used as a reference to determine the PPE needs for each job involving potato harvesting and packing.

A single free copy of the guidelines can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA/OSHA Publications, P.O. Box 37535, Washington DC 20210 by sending a self-addressed mail label with your request.

Some general information about the various types of PPE available is listed below:

Safety Glasses And Goggles

Protective eye wear is required when flying particles, dusts, fumes, vapors or harmful rays are apt to expose the worker to potential eye injury.

• Safety Glasses - Standard safety glasses look very much like normal glasses, but are designed to protect against flying particles. Safety glasses have lenses that are impact resistant and frames that are far stronger than regular eyeglasses. Safety glasses must meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety glasses are also available in prescription form for those persons who need corrective lenses. Safety glasses can be equipped with side shields, cups, or tinted lenses to offer additional protection.
• Safety Goggles, like safety glasses, are impact resistant and are available in tinted lenses. Goggles provide a secure shield around the entire eye area to protect against hazards coming from many directions.

Protective Hats

Head injuries are caused by falling or flying objects, or by bumping the head against a fixed object. Head protectors, in the form of protective hats, must resist penetration and absorb the shock of a blow. The shell of the protective hat is hard enough to resist the blow and the headband and crown straps (suspension unit) keep the shell away from the wearer's skull. Protective hats can also protect against electrical shock.

Protective hats are made in the following types and classes:

• Type I - Helmets with a full brim.
• Type 2 - Brimless helmets with a peak extending forward from the crown.
• Class A - General service, limited voltage. Intended for protection against impact hazards. Used in mining, construction, and manufacturing.
• Class B - Utility service, high voltage. Used by electrical workers.
• Class C - Special service, no voltage protection. Designed for lightweight comfort and impact protection. Used in certain construction, manufacturing, refineries, and where there is a possibility of bumping the head against a fixed object.

Safety Shoes And Boots

There are many types and styles of protective footwear and it is important to realize that a workers job may require additional protection other than listed here. Whatever the specific requirements are, ensure that the footwear meets established safety standards by checking for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) label inside each shoe.

• Steel-Reinforced Safety Shoes - These shoes are designed to protect feet from common machinery hazards such as falling or rolling objects, cuts, and punctures. The entire toe box and insole are reinforced with steel, and the instep is protected by steel, aluminum, or plastic materials. Safety shoes are also designed to insulate against temperature extremes and may be equipped with special soles to guard against slip, chemicals, and/or electrical hazards.
• Safety Boots - Safety boots offer more protection when splash or spark hazards (chemicals, molten materials) are present.

When working with corrosives, caustics, cutting oils, and petroleum products, neoprene or nitrile boots are often required to prevent penetration.  Foundry or "Gaiter" style boots feature quick-release fasteners or elasticized insets to allow speedy removal should any hazardous substances get into the boot itself.  When working with electricity, wear special electrical hazard boots which are designed with no conductive materials other than the steel toe (which is properly insulated).

Gloves

Work gloves cannot prevent hand accidents - only safe and conscientious work practices can do that. But, choosing the right work gloves for the job can help protect from unnecessary injury and disability if an accident should occur. When protective hand wear is required for the job, make sure that the gloves fit well, are comfortable to wear, are rated to guard against the particular hand hazards present, and are checked often for degradation.

The following is a guide to the most common types of protective work gloves and the types of hazards they can guard against.

• Disposable - Disposable gloves, usually made of light-weight plastic, can help guard against mild irritants.
• Fabric - Made of cotton or fabric blends are generally used to improve the workers grip when handling slippery objects. They also help insulate hands from mild heat or cold.
• Leather - These gloves are used to guard against injuries from sparks or scraping against rough surfaces. They are also used in combination with an insulated liner when working with electricity.
• Metal Mesh - These gloves are used to protect hands from accidental cuts and scratches. They are used most commonly by persons working with cutting tools or other sharp instruments.
• Aluminized - Gloves made of aluminized fabric are designed to insulate hands from intense heat. These gloves are most commonly used by persons working molten materials.
• Chemical Resistance - These gloves may be made of rubber, neoprene, polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl, etc. The gloves protect hands from corrosives, oils, solvents.

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protective equipment limits exposure to atmospheric concentrations of hazardous dusts, mists, vapors, fumes, and gases when engineering controls cannot eliminate the hazard. Respirator types include self-contained breathing apparatus, supplied air, and chemical cartridge.

Hearing Protection

Hearing protection, including plugs and muffs, should be worn in noisy environments.