EPA GUIDELINES
Following is a brief summary of the US EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) "Level's of Protection (LOP)" as applicable to those individuals involved in handling hazardous materials. LOP's are based on the type of respiratory protection required to ensure the safety of the user under the specified conditions of use.
Along with respiratory protection, EPA's LOP's recommend the protective ensemble that the user should wear to ensure adequate protection. Also LOP's describe what this recommended protective ensemble should consist of and look like, but not necessarily how the various components should perform. NFPA standards specify actual performance criteria for the protective clothing that might be recommended under a LOP.
LEVEL A (Vapor or Gas Protection)
The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.
LEVEL B (Liquid Splash Protection)
Exposure situations will typically be at lower chemical concentrations (below established exposure limits).
LEVEL C (Particle or Liquid Splash Protection)
Chemicals are not hazardous via skin absorption and are typically well below established exposure limits.
LEVEL D (No Hazard Protection)
NOTE: PEL's, REL's, etc. all are Recommended or Permissible Exposure Limits and are set by organizations such as NIOSH and OSHA.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. published a listing of guidelines for these different levels of protection. These guidelines are listed on the following pages.
The type of equipment used and the level of protection should be reviewed from time to time. As the amount of information increases about the chemicals being used, the work environment, and the work being done, ----the level of protection required should be evaluated in order to know that it is still correct.
EPA GUIDELINES
Level A
(1) Respirator (supplied air)
(2) Fully encapsulating chemical resistant suit.
(3) Gloves, chemical resistant
(4) Boots, chemical resistant, steel toe and shank
Level B
(1) Respirator (supplied air)
(2) Chemical resistant clothing
(3) Gloves, chemical resistant
(4) Boots (outer) chemical resistant, steel toe and shank
Level C
(1) Air purifying respirator (NIOSH approved)
(2) Chemical resistant clothing, splash suit, one or two piece.
(3) Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.
(4) Boots, outer, chemical resistant, steel toe & shank
Level D
(1) Coveralls
(2) Boots/shoes, leather or chemical resistant
(3) Misc. (i.e. head, eyewear, hearing protection, etc.)
There are several different companies that provide information and sell copies of standards and test methods. One of these companies is ILI Infodisk Inc. ILI can be reached in the United States at:
ILI Infodisk Inc.
610 Winters Avenue
Paramus , NJ 07652
Tel: 888 454 2688
Fax: 201 986 7886
Web: www.ili-info.com
ILI can be reached in the United Kingdom at:
ILI
Index House
Ascot
Berks SL5 7EU
Tel: 44 1344 636 300
Fax: 44 1344 291 194
Web: www.ili.co.uk