The DuPont 9-step Guide to Chemical Risk Assessment

Performing a thorough workplace risk assessment is essential to selecting safe, comfortable and compliant chemical protective clothing for industrial workers. To help facilitate your garment selection, DuPont proposes using a step-by-step guide to risk factors, as part of the risk assessment process.

Step 1: Hazard identification

What is the chemical hazard? Is it gas, liquid, vapour or particle? Can the hazard change state (e.g from liquid to vapour)? What are the levels of concentration, humidity and temperature? Are there any additional hazards, such as heat, flame, explosion, radiation, electrostatic, biological substances, or sharp or abrasive surfaces? Are there special requirements for visibility or mobility?

Step 2: Determine minimum levels of protection needed

Certification to a Category III Chemical Protective Clothing type describes the tightness of the overall whole suit against a particular form of exposure (gas, liquid or dust). However, it certainly does not mean that the suit is 100% impervious to this type of exposure. Having a look at the detailed results allows the user to take conclusions on the actual barrier and impermeability of the suit.

Step 3: Assess hazard toxicity

Knowing the toxicity or consequences of short or long-term exposure to the hazard is essential. Assess whether a suit that just passes a certain type is sufficient protection. For example, a suit designed to have higher exposure type performance, such as a type 3 or 4, will offer a much lower amount of particle inward leakage, particularly if additional taping is used and will be a significantly better barrier than certain type 5 suits that in some cases it may just meet the standard.

Step 4: Determine protective performance requirements of the fabric & seam

Consider that liquid chemical penetration tests are conducted over a time period of just 60 seconds. In order to assess whether a fabric protects the wearer for exposure exceeding 60 seconds, the permeation data must be consulted. Permeation is the process by which a chemical, in the form of a liquid, vapour or gas, moves through protective clothing material on a molecular level (through the pores). Permeation can occur without visible traces. The test duration is 8 hours. Tip: refer to the DuPont permeation guide