Page 3 - Chemical Protective Footwear

UNDERSTAND THE APPLICATION
How are the boots going to be used?
• Will you be standing in puddles of chemicals or is protection just from accidental contact (spills/splash etc), or perhaps the chemical exposure comes from cleaning/sanitising agents (food industry, pharmaceuticals etc)
• Is contact going to be over a long or short period?
Other environmental factors to consider
• Falling objects/crushing - Toecaps
• Sharp objects - Puncture resistant midsole
• Slip resistance - Wet areas
• Extreme heat or cold - Contact with extremely hot or cold surfaces, heat or flame resistance, low temperature flex cracking
• Potentially explosive environments - ATEX, ESD
• Potential of static damage to sensitive products or equipment - ESD
ASSES THE RISK
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH BOOTS TO CHOOSE?
What is the state and temperature of the chemical(s)? ?
- Are they a solid, liquid or gas (this directly affects the type of PPE required)? Temperature is also critical as it significantly affects the permeation rate, but extremes of heat and cold pose their own risks
Establish what the safe exposure levels are for the chemicals you are working with
- Look at chemical permeation data for the boot to asses if it provides sufficient protection
How corrosive are the chemicals
- Look at degradation data to asses if boots will stand up to prolonged exposure without damage. Degradation can result in the material swelling, stiffening, wrinkling, changes in colour and other physical deterioration
How will boots be safely cleaned/decontaminated
-What needs to be done to ensure the boots are safe and clean for the next use. Can boots be washed/laundered? Are there process risks from cross contamination which mean that boots should be isolated to one particular process or area. Note: Some highly toxic or aggressive chemicals are extremely difficult to decontaminate safely and boots may need to be disposed of after contact.
How do boots fit into the overall protective solution
-What is the risk to the wearer from exposure; is respiratory protection required, does clothing need to be gas, liquid or splash tight. How do the boots interface with the suit or trousers, are there outer ‘splash guard’ legs to prevent chemical splash entering the boots or are the boots attached to the suit/ trousers. The PPE selected needs to be sufficiently protective without placing unnecessary burden on the wearer, increasing fatigue and reducing dexterity.
Establish safe decontamination and doffing procedures
-Wearers need to be able to get out of used PPE safely, without
risk of contact with chemical contaminants and feel confident that when reusing PPE that it is safe to handle. Training, backed by regular audits and reviews, is key to ensuring safe doffing processes, decontamination and cleaning regimes.
CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR 3