| Whatever your level of responsibility in a | | | | than Level C. When a spill involves chemicals that |
| hazardous spill emergency having an extensive | | | | are a significantly more serious. This level of |
| knowledge of the proper use and need for | | | | protection should be worn by employees who will |
| personal protective equipment is critical. Personal | | | | work closely with a released substance that has a |
| protective equipment can save lives and injury | | | | skin or respiratory hazard. The equipment used |
| and allow employees to properly contain and clean | | | | includes all the equipment from level D with the |
| up during a hazardous spill situation. | | | | addition of a chemical splash suit with a hood and |
| Personal protective equipment is anything you | | | | an air-purifying respirator. |
| wear to prevent exposure to a hazardous | | | | Level B equipment is used in situations where skin |
| substance. Whenever you come in contact with a | | | | and respiratory hazards are present but where |
| hazardous spill personal protective equipment | | | | the air is too contaminated to be filtered by an |
| needs to be used. Personal protective equipment | | | | air-purifying respirator. This level of equipment |
| can be as simple as a pair of gloves or as | | | | includes an air-supplying respirator to protect |
| complex as a fully-encapsulating, | | | | employees from contaminated air. |
| chemical-protective suit. The equipment is grouped | | | | Level A equipment is used in extreme situations |
| into four levels... A, B, C and D based on how | | | | where the employee must be completely isolated |
| much protection the equipment provides. | | | | from the outside air. The equipment required is |
| Level D is the least level of protection and is worn | | | | the same as level B plus a totally-encapsulating |
| by employees who do not come close to the spill. | | | | chemical protection suit. This suit combined with |
| Level D equipment does not provide respiratory | | | | the air-supplying respirator provides the maximum |
| protection or protection against corrosive | | | | possible protection. |
| materials. It does, however provide limited | | | | Whatever level of personal protection equipment |
| protection again injury. Some of the equipment | | | | your situation requires it is critical that you know |
| used in the level D are coveralls and hard hat, | | | | when to use the equipment and exactly what the |
| cloth or rubber work gloves, boots with steel | | | | equipment protects you from. It could save you |
| toes and safety glasses or chemical splash | | | | from death or injury and help you protect your |
| goggles. | | | | facility and the people in it from hazardous spills. |
| Level C provides a great deal more protection | | | | |