_RP_98-2013.pdf

Personal Protective Equipment Selection for Oil Spill RespondersAPI RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 98FIRST EDITION,AUGUST 2013Special NotesAPI publications necessarily address problems of a general nature.With respect to particular circumstances,local,state,and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed.Neither API nor any of APIs employees,subcontractors,consultants,committees,or other assignees make anywarranty or representation,either express or implied,with respect to the accuracy,completeness,or usefulness of theinformation contained herein,or assume any liability or responsibility for any use,or the results of such use,of anyinformation or process disclosed in this publication.Neither API nor any of APIs employees,subcontractors,consultants,or other assignees represent that use of this publication would not infringe upon privately owned rights.API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so.Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure theaccuracy and reliability of the data contained in them;however,the Institute makes no representation,warranty,orguarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss ordamage resulting from its use or for the violation of any authorities having jurisdiction with which this publication mayconflict.API publications are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven,sound engineering and operatingpractices.These publications are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound engineering judgmentregarding when and where these publications should be utilized.The formulation and publication of API publicationsis not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices.Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements of an API standardis solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard.API does not represent,warrant,or guarantee that such products do in fact conform to the applicable API standard.Classified areas may vary depending on the location,conditions,equipment,and substances involved in any givensituation.Users of this Recommended Practice should consult with the appropriate authorities having jurisdiction.Users of this Recommended Practice should not rely exclusively on the information contained in this document.Sound business,scientific,engineering,and safety judgment should be used in employing the information containedherein.API is not undertaking to meet the duties of employers,manufacturers,or suppliers to warn and properly train andequip their employees,and others exposed,concerning health and safety risks and precautions,nor undertaking theirobligations to comply with authorities having jurisdiction.Information concerning safety and health risks and proper precautions with respect to particular materials andconditions should be obtained from the employer,the manufacturer or supplier of that material,or the material safetydata sheet.All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced,translated,stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted by any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise,without prior written permission from the publisher.Contact the Publisher,API Publishing Services,1220 L Street,NW,Washington,DC 20005.Copyright 2013 American Petroleum InstituteForewordNothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right,by implication or otherwise,for themanufacture,sale,or use of any method,apparatus,or product covered by letters patent.Neither should anythingcontained in the publication be construed as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent.Shall:As used in a standard,“shall”denotes a minimum requirement in order to conform to the specification.Should:As used in a standard,“should”denotes a recommendation or that which is advised but not required in orderto conform to the specification.This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropriate notification andparticipation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard.Questions concerning theinterpretation of the content of this publication or comments and questions concerning the procedures under whichthis publication was developed should be directed in writing to the Director of Standards,American PetroleumInstitute,1220 L Street,NW,Washington,DC 20005.Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any partof the material published herein should also be addressed to the director.OSHA specifically notes in their report,“Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill:OSHAs Role in the Response,May 2011,”thatpersonal protective equipment(PPE)was“essential for protecting workers.,”but they(OSHA)“stressed throughoutthe response that decisions about PPE should be based on a scientific characterization of the hazards,including airsampling”On their PPE Matrix used during Deepwater Horizon,it is footnot