ASTM_E_1716_-_95.pdf

Designation:E 1716 95Standard Guide forSelection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment forHumans Working With Respirable Silicon Carbide Whiskers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1716;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide describes special considerations for selectionand use of personal protective devices for work situations thatpresent a risk of exposure to respirable silicon carbide whis-kers.1.2 This guide is intended to provide supplementary infor-mation for equipment selection and use and does not take theplace of other standards and requirements such as OSHAregulations,ANSI standards,manufacturer recommendationsas listed on material safety data sheets,or other ASTMstandards that relate to personal protective equipment.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:E 1437 Practice for Handling Silicon Carbide Whiskers2E 1451 Guide for Disposal of Wastes Containing SiliconCarbide Whiskers and Fibers22.2OSHA Standard:3Title 29 CFR 1910 Personal Protective Equipment,Subpart12.3ANSI Standard:4Z88.2 Respiratory Protection3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 respirable silicon carbide whiskersa crystalline sili-con carbide material,approximately cylindrical in shape,withan aspect ratio equal to or greater than 5,and a diameter lessthan or equal to 3.0 m with the potential to become airborne.3.1.2 HEPAhigh-efficiency filtration,tested to be 99.97%efficient for 3.0-m test particles.4.General Considerations for Selection and Use ofProtective Devices4.1 Where feasible,protective devices should be selectedthat have a color that contrasts with the silicon carbidewhiskers(or the whisker-containing materials).PracticeE 1437 is recommended for guidance in handling siliconcarbide whiskers.4.2 Outer garments should be selected for their ability towithstand penetration of whiskers.4.3 Outer garments should be easy to decontaminate orshould be disposable.4.4 Contaminated protective equipment should be stored ordisposed of in a manner that will prevent or minimize thespread of whiskers to street clothing or to other work areas.Guide E 1451 should be reviewed for guidance on wastedisposal.4.5 Prior to removing visibly contaminated equipment,whisker contamination should be removed,to the extentpossible,with HEPA vacuum cleaner or by wet wiping.Incases where protective clothing is heavily contaminated withwhisker materials,respiratory protection should be worn untilouter garments are wiped or vacuumed off.4.6 In situations where contaminated equipment is handledby persons other than the user(for example,laundry workers),these individuals should be provided with hazard informationsuch as that contained in the material safety data sheet.4.7 Engineering controls such as well-designed local ex-haust ventilation systems and use of enclosed systems arepreferable to use of personal protective equipment for prevent-ing personnel exposures.5.Protective Equipment for Low-Level Contact/ExposuresNOTE1Below 0.2 whiskers per cubic centimetre of air;example,laboratory use.5.1 For tasks that are judged or known to result in incidentalexposures below 0.2 whiskers per cubic centimetre,the mini-mum respiratory protection of a half-mask air purifying respi-rator with HEPA filter is recommended.ANSI Z88.2 isrecommended as a guide.5.2 Plastic or rubber types of gloves are recommended toprevent skin contact.In situations that require continuous useof gloves for more than 30-min periods,it is recommended that1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E-34 on OccupationalHealth and Safety and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E34.70 on SingleCrystal Ceramic Whiskers.Current edition approved Aug.15,1995.Published October 1995.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.03.3Available from the Superintendent of Documents,U.S.Government PrintingOffice,Washington,DC 20402.4Available from American National Standards Institute,11 W.42nd St.,13thFloor,New York,NY 10036.1Copyright ASTM,100 Barr Harbor Drive,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.gloves lined with a water(sweat)absorbing material beselected.5.3 Body coverings should be selected to prevent contami-nation of workers clothes and skin.For many laboratorysituations,laboratory coats or aprons would provide sufficientprotection.5.4 Eye and face protection is suggested for tasks thatpresent the risk of contact to those areas.Safety glasses,goggles,or face shields should provide