Safety in the Plant

Macho Wear for the Woodworker

Fighting the temptation to go without PPE - personal protective equipment - is sometimes just as difficult as fighting the temptation to take that extra helping of food. But in both cases, you’ll be healthier if you fight the temptation. It’s not macho? Tell that to football linebackers who use all the personal protective equipment they can. Linebackers are pros and so are production line workers.

In January, Modern Woodworking outlined different types of protective equipment used in the furniture industry based on a video series produced by the American Furniture Manufacturers Association. This included PPE for the face, eyes and ears. If you have already passed your copy on, you can review it on the MW web site at www.modernwoodworking.com. This month we conclude the coverage of PPE with a review of equipment designed specifically for individual worker safety for other parts of the body. If you are a production line worker, make sure your company is providing you with the equipment you need for the job. If you are a production supervisor, make sure your workers are well protected.

Gloves

Protective Gloves:

Sometimes called "rubber gloves," these are made from nitrol, neoprene, Gore-Tex or latex (used mostly by health-care professionals to protect against bloodborne pathogens. Contact with anyone’s blood should be avoided and a company’s health-care professional should be called should that occur.) These gloves must be worn at all times when handling harsh and hazardous chemicals. Each type of material protects against a different type or level of chemical hazard. Check to make sure you are using the right glove for the job. Yes, it matters! If you do get chemicals on your skin, wash the exposed area immediately, and always wash before going on break or to lunch. If you go back and forth between a chemical and a machine operation, remove the gloves before you approach any moving machine. Clean gloves with soap and water and replace them when they become too worn for protection.

Leather Work Gloves:

Use these to protect against sharp edges, splinters and abrasion such as with rough, unsanded lumber, glass, paper packaged or banded stock and in filling liquid propane tanks. Do not wear them around operating machinery.

Cut-resistant Gloves:

Often used in cloth and leather cutting, they protect the operator who often works with one hand close to the blade. These are made from metal mesh or have metal mesh woven into the textile of the glove. These, however, do not provide complete protection, but do protect against brief contact with the moving blade.

Gloves and Electricity:

Keep in mind that nitrol, neoprene, latex, Gore-Tex, leather and cut- resistant gloves are NOT rated to protect a worker from electricity and that area of the plant should be left to the electrical experts.

Aprons

Liquid Resistant Aprons:

These are made from such materials as rubber or neoprene and should be used where harsh or hazardous chemicals splash, drip or spray. Make sure the apron is large enough and remember if it isn’t, it does not protect fully.

Kick-back Aprons:

These protect the body from tummy to groin and must be worn snuggly. They are made from cloth or canvas over a leather pad and can be cleaned with a cloth.

Hardhats

Head injuries account for the largest number of workplace deaths in America each year, according to the AFMA. Wear a hardhat in lumberyards and around kilns, sometimes in warehouses, around lifts carrying stock or product above head height and in maintenance operations where people are working overhead. Even these are designed for limited protection against shock and penetration of a falling object, but they’re better than nothing at all. Inner liners should be snug. Never wear a cap under a hardhat because it reduces protection. Check every day for cracks, dents and cuts which weaken the hat. Don’t use non-approved stickers or paint on the hat - they could weaken it.

Leather Protective Shoes

Some companies require leather or steel-toed shoes, designed to protect feet from medium crushing force and shock. Many styles are available - even fashionable and sporty styles.

Respirators

If the job requires you to mix or work with especially hazardous materials, you may be required to wear a respirator. There are various types for different jobs. Check out what is most appropriate for the work at hand. Respirators designed to filter out dust provide NO protection against fine mist sprays or fumes.

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