Today, we’ll go over the different levels of personal protective equipment that staff use whenever they need to deal with chemical spills.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) does exactly what the name implies; it protects the person wearing it from all kinds of dangerous materials while handling them. You must be wearing the proper protection before you work with different messes and materials, and much like there are different kinds of hazardous substances, there are also different kinds of PPE that you can wear, depending on the situation. Keep in mind that you might need special training before you can use certain types of PPE. If you require PPE training, AEG Environmental will be ready to help you out. Today, we’ll go over the different levels of personal protective equipment that staff use whenever they need to deal with chemical spills.
Level A
This level of PPE has the maximum protection you can get for your skin and breathing. It includes a self-contained breathing apparatus and a fully-body coverall. The suit people wear includes sealed seams that ensure that nothing is able to penetrate it. As long as you wear it properly, this level offers the highest amount of protection, which is why it is worn to combat the most dangerous types of messes you can face.
Level B
Level B doesn’t offer quite the same level of protection as Level A, but it comes pretty close. You still get a respirator to wear, and you receive industrial-level garment attire that keeps you safe against chemical spills. The difference is that Level B doesn’t offer protection against airborne gasses, which is due to the garment seams being unsealed.
You still get plenty of protection, and as long as there aren’t hazardous gasses where you’re working, Level B personal protective equipment will be sufficient.
Level C
Level C PPE offers garment chemical resistance that’s close to what Level B offers. The difference is that the respiratory protection is reduced. Typically, instead of a self-contained breathing apparatus, you will get a more basic air respirator. Make sure the area in which you’re working has sufficient oxygen levels before you opt for Level C protection.
People in lab, healthcare, and medical settings will typically use PPE at this level. You can also use it if you work in an area in which staff handle pesticides.
Level D
This level offers the fewest protection measures when compared to the other levels of personal protective equipment that are available. It doesn’t offer a respirator mask at all, and in many cases, the protection it offers is just standard work clothing.
People will wear Level D protection if they are in construction and factory settings, or if they are general public health staff.
Choose AEG Environmental as Your Chemical Spill Cleanup Company
Our team can handle any type of waste you put in front of us. Don’t risk your safety and health! If there has been a hazardous mess of any kind, call us today and get the best chemical spill cleanup services available!