# OH₂S: How to choose PPE for chemical substances

URL: https://bhp-panic.pl/en/blog/how-to-choose-ppe-for-chemical-substances
Published: 2026-11-05
Author: Konrad Hyra
Language: en
Site: BHP Panic (bhp-panic.pl)

One of an OHS specialist's main duties is making sure employees never lack the right protective equipment. But what makes equipment right? In this article we look at that question in the context of working with chemical substances.

## The hierarchy of preventive measures

Before we start selecting PPE for our employee, let us remember the hierarchy of preventive measures according to the EU-OSHA directive.

![Hierarchy of risk control methods: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE](https://bhp-panic.pl/assets/articles/figure-images/hierarchia-ciop-pib.png)

*Source: [Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB)](https://www.ciop.pl/CIOPPortalWAR/appmanager/ciop/pl?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=P14400132071346315291310&html_tresc_root_id=16487&html_tresc_id=300015098&html_klucz=16487)*

## Measures that remove the hazard

The most effective approach is to eliminate the hazard from the work environment – the risk then obviously drops to zero, although this is not always possible without giving up the production process altogether. The next best option is substitution, that is, replacing hazardous materials with safe alternatives. Unfortunately, not every hazardous substance has a safe equivalent. This brings us closer to the tip of the inverted pyramid, to measures that are admittedly less effective because they mitigate rather than eliminate the hazard, but that can be applied in a greater variety of situations.

## Measures that mitigate the hazard

The most effective of these countermeasures is to isolate people from the hazard by means of technical safety measures (also called collective protective measures). With chemical hazards we can use ventilation, as well as process enclosure, that is, running the process in closed installations and tanks so that the substance never reaches the air at the workstation.

Next comes administrative control, which consists of changing the way, organisation or timing of work in order to reduce the employee's exposure to hazards. With chemical hazards this means, for example, setting up worker rotation that shortens exposure time, or scheduling the most onerous tasks so that as few employees as possible are on the shop floor at the time.

## Personal protective equipment

The last, simplest to apply and therefore most common element of this hierarchy is personal protective equipment, or PPE. From the previous parts of the OH₂S series we already know that chemical hazards can affect the body through different routes and in different ways; we have also learned the CLP pictograms, the basic groups of hazardous substances, and the rules for storing them and responding to spills.

Before selecting PPE we need to know very precisely which substance or mixture we are dealing with. Basic information can be found on the product label, but the real source of knowledge is the safety data sheet (SDS). We pay particular attention to section 2, on hazard identification, section 8, which describes exposure controls and personal protection, and section 10, devoted to the stability and reactivity of the substance.

Before we allow work with a chemical substance, let us check its NDS (Maximum Admissible Concentration). It is easy to find in the [Internet System of Legal Acts (ISAP)](https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/search.xsp) or on the [portal of the Central Institute for Labour Protection (CIOP-PIB)](https://www.ciop.pl/CIOPPortalWAR/appmanager/ciop/pl?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=P20200353841377519103587). Once we know the permissible concentration, let us carry out workplace measurements. The selection of PPE depends on their result.

### Protective masks and preventing inhalation and ingestion

The selection of protective masks should depend on the concentration of harmful substances present in the work environment. This is where mistakes often happen. The specialist thinks: "Since an FFP3 mask filters best, maybe it will be the best in every situation? Why use masks of other classes at all?" Well, the higher the class, the denser the filter material used in the mask, which therefore puts up much greater resistance when breathing in and out. As a result the body has to work much harder to supply oxygen to the lungs. This can lead to an increase in blood pressure, and moisture, sweat and heat can also build up under the mask. Airflow resistance also makes it harder to speak while wearing the mask. That is why choosing an FFP3 mask when FFP1 would be perfectly sufficient is not only an ineffective use of equipment but actually harms the employee. Up to four times the NDS we choose an FFP1 mask, up to ten times the NDS an FFP2, and only up to twenty times the NDS the FFP3 class.

Besides the FFP class, when selecting a mask we should also consider the different types and shapes available. The lightest are disposable half masks, which protect against dusts, fumes and aerosols – we know them well from the COVID-19 era, although in the workplace too it is recommended to use certified half masks only. Next come reusable half masks with a filter or absorber. The heaviest "calibre" are full-face masks (standard PN-EN 136), necessary at much higher concentrations or when substances irritate the eyes and skin.

#### What are absorbers and what kinds are there?

Absorbers are coloured "canisters", screwed or attached to a protective mask, which probably everyone who has dealt with more advanced models of protective masks will recognise. Inside them are special materials (most often activated carbon) whose job is to retain specific harmful substances from the air.

![Secura 3034 K2 gas filter with a green label, protecting against ammonia](https://bhp-panic.pl/assets/articles/figure-images/pochlaniacz-secura-zielony-k2.webp)

*Source: [Glovex Import i dystrybucja BHP](https://www.glovex.com.pl/pochlaniacze-gazowe)*

Absorbers should carry visible coloured labels. Their colours are not a random decoration but a marking that lets us choose them correctly for our situation.

- **A (brown)**: organic gases and vapours with a boiling point above 65°C (e.g. solvents, varnishes).
- **AX (brown)**: highly volatile organic solvents with a boiling point below 65°C.
- **B (grey)**: inorganic gases and vapours (e.g. chlorine, hydrogen sulphide, except carbon monoxide).
- **E (yellow)**: acid gases and vapours (e.g. sulphur dioxide).
- **K (green)**: ammonia and organic ammonia derivatives.
- **Hg (red)**: mercury vapours.
- **NO (blue)**: nitrogen oxides.
- **P (white)**: aerosols of solid and liquid particles

### Protecting the skin from chemical substances

Protecting the respiratory tract is not everything; some substances can also be absorbed through the skin. Let me say right away: there are no truly universal protective gloves on the market, so choosing them properly takes some effort. You need to check the glove manufacturer's chemical resistance tables for the breakthrough time for the specific chemical compound.

How do we choose the glove material? This is the most important question, because gloves fully resistant to one kind of hazard can start to perforate immediately on contact with others. It is one of the worse surprises we can give our employees as OHS specialists. So let us look at the most commonly used materials.

- **Nitrile** protects very well against oils, greases and many organic solvents but has low resistance to ketones such as acetone. On contact with acetone, nitrile swells, softens and loses strength, and with thin disposable gloves the solvent can reach the skin within seconds or minutes, often before any visible damage appears on the glove.
- **Latex** is chosen for weak acids, bases, salts and alcohols, but not for organic solvents or petroleum. Hydrocarbons such as petrol, oil or solvents literally dissolve natural rubber – a latex glove softens, becomes sticky and after a short time no longer forms any barrier at all.
- **Neoprene** is resistant to acids and alcohols but degrades on contact with aggressive organic chemicals. This mainly means chlorinated and aromatic solvents such as chloroform, toluene or xylene, which make neoprene swell and weaken, so that the glove quickly loses its protective properties.
- **Butyl** is resistant to acetone but susceptible to kerosene. It protects well against ketones, esters and strong acids, and thanks to its high tightness also against gases and vapours. On contact with fuels and hydrocarbons such as kerosene or petrol, however, it quickly swells and stops protecting the hands.

**Effective PPE selection starts with solid knowledge: of the substance, its concentration in the work environment and the resistance of the materials the protective equipment is made from. The strongest equipment is not always the best; the right equipment is the one that protects against the specific hazard and does not hinder work. However, even the best-selected PPE will not rule out risk entirely. In the next part of the OH₂S series we will suggest what to do when a hazardous substance comes into contact with an employee's body after all.**