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PPE Solutions for Chemical Industries
Delivering Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) backed by science and industry expertise.
Know where we can help you
3M offers a broad portfolio of PPE products, industry knowledge, and technical expertise to help enhance worker health & safety in the chemical industry.
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Turnarounds & MaintenanceTurnaround maintenance projects are an essential part of some chemical plant operations. A plant's expanded workforce may need personal protective solutions that help protect against potential hazards while performing specialize turnaround maintenance tasks.
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Emergency ResponsePlant on-site emergency response team need appropriate equipment on stand-by for rapid deployment to respond a range of emergency situations from hazmat or spill incidents to fire to rescues.
Hazards
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Chemical Exposures (including airborne particulates, gases, and vapors)
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Workers may encounter a wide range of chemical hazards including solvents, acids, caustics, aromatics, and hydrocarbons. Highly toxic chemicals may have especially low Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) and pose significant hazards, including potential carcinogenic effects.
Resources
Overview of Exposure Monitoring for Respiratory Hazards (PDF, 75.1 KB)
Exposure Monitoring for Respiratory Hazards - Technical Bulletin (PDF, 570 KB)
Organic Solvents - Technical Bulletin (PDF, 295 KB)
Assigned Protection Factors (APF) for 3M™ Hoods and Helmets (PDF, 75 KB)
How an Organic Vapor Respirator Cartridge Works (PDF, 2.1 MB)
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Area background noise and high-noise operations are often present during plant operations or TAM projects and may be amplified in confined spaces like metal tanks and vessels. Communication can also be difficult for workers working in noisy environments, at heights, or in confined spaces.
Preventing Hearing Loss Caused by Chemical
A worker is considered “working at heights” if the person is working at elevations of 4 ft / 1.2 m or greater for general industry workplaces, 6 ft / 1.8 m or greater for construction industry, and 8 ft / 2.4 m in longshoring operations. This includes working on a ladder, on scaffolding, on aerial lifts or mobile elevating work platforms, near or in pipe racks, on flat or sloped roofs, near an edge or an opening in a floor or wall.
Working at Heights Hazard Webpage
Transverse Loading of Fall Protection Connector Hardware Technical Bulletin (PDF, 241 KB)
Workers involved with a confined space must be protected while working in and around the space. Confined spaces come in different sizes and shapes. These spaces must be evaluated prior to entry and a system must be designed to manage situation.
3M Fall Protection Configurator App
Confined Space Infographic: Four steps of a plan
Bumps to the head and impact from falling debris may occur and potentially result with a worker having a serious injury.
Hard hats and safety helmets are designed for specific applications, and there are important differences to be aware of when selecting the one for the work tasks to be performed.
Climbing Style Safety Helmets and Their Use in the US and Other ANSI Markets (PDF, 270 KB)
SecureFit™ Hard Hat Brochure (PDF, 3 MB)
Direct Impact Chart (PDF, 141 KB)
Gases, vapors, mists, fine suspended dust, liquid splashes or sprays may cause irritation, inflammation, and other damage to eye. An eye can become inflamed, painful, and teary in reaction to a foreign object. Corneal scratches caused by metal particles can also result in a serious eye injury. Workers handling, dispensing, using, and transporting liquid materials may need protective coveralls as a physical barrier to help prevent skin contact from liquid splashes and dust in certain work environments.
Eyewear Fit System (PDF, 1.76 MB)
Eye Protection Applications & Hazards Webpage
Types of Safety Glasses Features and Fit Webpage
Eye Protection Line Card (PDF, 1.62 MB)
3M™ Protective Coveralls: Liquid Permeation and Physical Data Technical Bulletin (PDF, 679 KB)
Welding processes can generate hazardous ultraviolet (UV) radiation, infrared(IR) radiation, and (intense) visible light from the welding arc. Unprotected exposure to UV, IR and intense visible lights may lead to adverse health effects.
Welding ADF Comparison Guide (PDF, 1.02 MB)
Know the latest regulations and standards
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Self-Retracting Devices for Personal Fall Arrest and Rescue Systems ANSI/ASSP Standard
The requirements of this revised standard supersede any corresponding requirements in ANSI/ASSP Z359.14-2014.
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Walking Working Surface OSHA Standard
The final rule applies to all general industry workplaces and covers all walking-working surfaces, which include horizontal and vertical surfaces such as floors, stairs, roofs, ladders, ramps, scaffolds and elevated walkways. The final rule also has provisions affecting fall protection systems.
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Benzene Revised TLV™
In 2023, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) published a Notice of Intended Change (NIC) to the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for benzene. In 2024, the adopted ACGIH TLV™ Time Weighted Average (TWA) for benzene is 0.02 parts per million (ppm) and is a reduction from the previous value of 0.5 ppm. The proposed change to the TLV Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) for benzene was not adopted.
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Toxicity and Noise Exposure
OSHA standards require employers to maintain exposure to a specific chemical substance at or below the PEL. Synergistic effects from a combined ototoxicant and noise exposure could result in hearing loss even though an exposure to a specific chemical substance is at or below the PEL. Like with noise, hearing loss can be caused by ototoxic chemicals.
Products you may need:
Programs, Training and Resources
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3M™ Select and Service Life Software can help make selecting the appropriate respirators faster and easier. The software can also help you estimate the service life of 3M™ respirator cartridges, which aids in maintaining your OSHA-required cartridge change schedule for gas and vapor cartridges.
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To support your workplace personal protective equipment (PPE) safety training needs, 3M offers a variety of tools and software. Learn more about how 3M helps health and safety managers, business owners and workers stay connected, compliant and safe through training and education.
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The easiest and most rewarding way to upgrade your safety gear to high-quality 3M personal protection equipment.
