ASM Thermal Spray Society Issues PPE Safety Guidelines
A new safety document developed by the ASM Thermal Spray Society and available free of charge from the TSS Web site provides "Guidelines for the Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Thermal Spraying." The society says the recommendations are consistent with OSHA's Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR 1910.132-138) and that all information in the document is presented in the context of thermal spraying.
"It is the belief of the Thermal Spray Society Safety Committee that every person is entitled to work in a safe and healthful environment," said committee chairman Gregory Wuest of Sulzer Metco (US) Inc. "People are the most important assets in the thermal spray community, and their health and safety are the community's greatest responsibility."
The document, downloadable at www.asminternational.org/TSS/safety provides guidelines for establishing PPE programs, assessing hazards associated with thermal spray operations, and training workers about PPE, as well as guidelines for selecting, using, and maintaining PPE.
The Safety Guidelines Committee comprises expertise from across the thermal spray community. Members include Richard Neiser and Aaron Hall, both from Sandia National Laboratories; Lysa Russo of SUNY at Stony Brook; Daryl Crawmer of Thermal Spray Technologies Inc.; Douglas Gifford of Praxair Surface Technologies Inc.; Donna Guillen of Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratories; and Larry Pollard, from Progressive Technologies Inc. Founded in 1994 as an affiliate society of ASM International, TSS is comprised of 1,500 individuals around the globe representing more than 500 companies, research institutions, and universities.