Question

An employer routinely works with hazardous chemicals, trucking them for delivery to various customer locations. After each load, the truck must be cleaned before being loaded with a different chemical. Cleaning has to be done by someone inside the tanker using special absorbent materials. What else should be considered?

A. Personal protective equipment should be provided by the employer, including breathing apparatus and hazmat suits.
B. Standard coveralls and boot covers should be provided for 123
employees to use if they want.
C. Workers should never be sent into a tanker truck for any reason.
D. Breathing equipment is absolutely a requirement if someone will be in the tanker truck for longer than 30 minutes.

Answer 1

Employers handling hazardous chemicals must prioritize eliminating or reducing hazards before relying on PPE; when PPE is needed, it should be adequate to protect against the specific risks, including full body suits, masks, and other necessary equipment.

Step-by-step explanation:

An employer who routinely works with hazardous chemicals and requires employees to clean tanker trucks after delivery should consider multiple safety measures to ensure the well-being of their workers.

According to OSHA, employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and must actively work to eliminate or reduce hazards before relying on personal protective equipment (PPE). This means that employers should consider using safer chemicals, enclosing processes, or installing ventilation systems to mitigate risks before resorting to PPE.

When PPE is necessary, personal protective equipment such as hazmat suits and breathing apparatus should be provided by the employer. This equipment is essential to protect workers from the risks associated with chemical exposure, including inhalation of fumes and contact with skin.

Depending on the specific chemicals being handled, additional safeguards like full body impermeable suits, full face masks with specific filtration, and protective clothing for radioactive material handling should be considered. It's not enough to offer standard coveralls and boot covers; protection must be adequate to the level of hazard present, and the proper use and disposal of PPE must be enforced and monitored.