From worker protection to safety training - SARP VEOLIA

Case Study

A subsidiary of VEOLIA, SARP Group provides a full range of services in wastewater treatment, hazardous waste collection, cleaning, and industrial maintenance. In all these applications, keeping workers safe is the top priority.

This is why SARP relies on DuPont Personal Protection’s expertise to conduct its risk assessments. The objective is to select protective clothing that is matched to the hazardous materials workers are exposed to while carrying out specific tasks, for both task duration and full shift applications. The other aim is to make workers aware of the value of proper donning and doffing to prevent any accidental contamination following contact exposure.

Tyvek® 500 used when handling powdery products

For several years, SARP Centre Ouest employees have been visiting one of the sites of Lhoist, the world leader in slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). Based in Neau, in Mayenne (Western France), the plant specializes in the production of lime, which is then used in many industries (e.g. construction, agriculture, glassmaking, manufacturing, etc.)

SARP provides monthly cleaning and pumping services at this location with the help of a special vacuum truck. This delicate operation consists of removing the lime in case of overflow and recovering lime dust from the various production tools such as silos, sieves, crushers, and belt conveyors.

Quicklime is a highly aggressive product, solid at room temperature, that exposes SARP Ouest workers to various hazards. Besides irritation of the respiratory tract and mucous membranes, there is also a risk of chemical and thermal burns. Combined with water, lime gives off heat that can reach 212°F. It is therefore vital to reduce risks related to perspiration by avoiding any skin contact. Each technician is therefore outfitted, among other things, with a Tyvek® 500 hooded coverall from DuPont, which:

provides a high-performance barrier and strong mechanical strength through unique high-density polyethylene (HDPE) spunbonded nonwoven technology from DuPont
provides high comfort and barrier protection against powdery materials down to 1 micron in diameter, thanks to its design and construction, throughout the entire operation, even after abrasion
provides a good fit when moving, by protecting not only the skin but also the respiratory tract with its ergonomic cut and elastic at the wrists, ankles and waist; lightweight and breathable, DuPont™ Tyvek^® 500 coveralls help prevent inhalation exposure to secondary aerosolization of particles that are invisible to the human eye.

To work safely, Tyvek^® 500 coveralls can be complemented by hand protection such as nitrile gloves, chemical protective boots, as well as eye, head, and respiratory protection.

Tychem® 6000 suits, suitable for cleaning chemical tanks

Among the many industrial cleaning and maintenance services provided by SARP is hazardous waste capacity pumping and scouring

"These interventions expose our workers to all kinds of chemicals that can be corrosive, flammable, and toxic. They are therefore facing a variety of chemical or biological hazards related to using high pressure and working in confined spaces. Our priority is therefore to provide them with head-to-toe protection by equipping them with a complete PPE product range that is adapted to the specific nature of the materials they come across."

Axelle Abid, Safety, Quality and Environment Manager, SARP Centre Ouest.

For instance, when pumping and cleaning tanks containing hazardous waste such as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), SARP Centre Ouest workers are outfitted with DuPont™ Tychem^® 6000 coveralls. Featuring a respirator-fit hood with a self-adhesive flap at chin level, it provides effective protection against concentrated organic or inorganic chemicals, as well as maximum biological protection by preventing hazards from coming into contact with the body. The elasticated wrist provides a secure fit of the suit and a good adjustment of the protecting gloves.

To minimize any risk of splashing to the body, technicians also wear chemical protective boots, neoprene gloves, and respiratory equipment. Furthermore, to ensure optimum sealing, DuPont™ Tychem^® 2000 Tape is applied to all PPE interfaces (ankles, wrists, around the face).

For outdoor cleaning activities that do not require intervention in a confined space, SARP recommends its agents wear a DuPont™ Tyvek^® 800 coverall. This suit has the unique feature of remaining light and breathable, while protecting during exposure to diluted acidic, alkaline, or water-based liquids under limited pressure.

Regardless of the protective equipment, it is critical that donning and doffing procedures be followed to avoid accidental contamination as a result of contact exposure. Here again, SARP has partnered with DuPont Personal Protection to raise awareness of potential hazards and to train all its employees (supervisors, technicians, and subcontractors) on best practices.

From prescription to training: ongoing support at all times

"Beyond a complete range of solutions that offer comprehensive protection for our operations while providing comfort, mechanical strength, and breathability to our workers, we have been working for several years with DuPont Personal Protection because they provide effective support in the field."

Veronique Godart, Safety Prevention Manager at SARP

Involved at every stage, DuPont Personal Protection started working with SARP very early on, to advise them on suits perfectly matched to the various hazardous materials (liquid, solid, gas) to which employees may be exposed in the course of their work. Satisfactory performance is then checked in real conditions thanks to samples made available and feedback from users before validation.

“Today, DuPont Personal Protection is helping us to train all our employees so that they can select the right PPE for their work and also strictly comply with the dressing and undressing procedure, which is essential to guarantee their safety. Therefore, we decided to work closely with DuPont Personal Protection to shoot tutorial videos that will be integrated into all our training courses,” adds Veronique Godart.

To learn more about proper PPE donning and doffing, watch videos here: