The MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) is committed to
providing a safe working environment for all employees, students and visitors.
As part of this commitment, personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided to
help mitigate the hazards inherent to particular tasks or lab environments at
the PSFC. The purpose of this document is to review the requirements for PPE's
and to provide a mechanism for the continuing review of PPE requirements.
This document will describe the PPE program, and assign responsibility for
maintenance of the program.
The requirements for PPE's will be elaborated first by general area
requirements, then by specific tasks. An SOP for selecting and
using PPE for specific tasks is included at the end of this document.
Responsibility for safe operation of PSFC facilities and for the safety of
personnel proceeds from the individual and his/her supervisor to their group
leaders, division heads, and ultimately to the PSFC Director.
The PSFC is responsible for providing adequate facilities, equipment,
instruments, supervision, and instructions to control safety hazards and to
comply with applicable state and federal requirements. In order to better fill
this responsibility the Director of the PSFC has formed the Office of
Environment, Safety, and Health and appointed a Safety Officer and a Safety
Committee which report to her/him.
The responsibilities for maintaining a safe environment at the PSFC involve a
large number of entities both internal and external to the PSFC. Please
refer to the PSFC Safety Management Plan for further information.
The program will be reviewed yearly by a committee consisting of the
PSFC Safety Officer, PSFC Assistant Safety Officer, Administrative
Personnel from the PSFC ES&H Office, and a designated member of the
MIT Safety Office, the MIT
Industrial Hygiene Office and the MIT Raditiation Protection Office.
This document will be updated per the
recommendations of this committee.
NW21 Alcator C-Mod Cell: Hard hats are required. Safety shoes
are suggested.
NW21 Alcator C-Power Room: Hard hats are required. Safety shoes are
suggested.
NW21 West Cell, LDX area: Hard hats are required. Safety shoes are
suggested.
NW22 Chemistry Lab: Safety glasses or goggles required. Safety shoes
are suggested.
Electrical Work: Work on energized electrical systems is actively
discouraged at the PSFC. Working in areas where it is possible to contact
exposed electrical components requires use of hard hats and safety shoes which
are specifically designed for high voltage resistance (Class B
hardhats.) Specific tasks which have been identified as potentially exposing
personnel to electrical flash hazards require additional fire retardant
clothing. Check with Bill Byford for the complete list.
Hazardous chemical/solvent use: Gloves are required. If work is not
done under a hood, respirators are required. In some cases, such as a large
spill with dangerous levels of hazardous vapors, use of Self Contained
Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is required. Safety shoes are required. Safety
glasses or goggles are required. This equipment is specified in the Standard
Operating Procedure for each task.
Lasers: Operation of Class III and IV lasers within the nominal hazard
zone requires use of appropriate eyewear as designated by the Radiation
Protection Office.
Machine tool use: Safety glasses are required for all machine tool use
including portable equipment. Safety shoes are required. Use of the diamond
cutting wheel requires a full face shield.
Machining of Hazardous Materials: Cutting, grinding, or sanding of G-10
requires use of a respirator with canisters appropriate to formaldehyde if done
without local drop ventilation. Respirator canisters will be specified by the
Industrial Hygiene Office on review of materials to be machined.
Work in Noisy Environments: Hearing protection as specified by the
Industrial Hygiene Office is required for work where noise levels exceed 80
decibels averaged over an 8 hour day. Personnel working in the alternator
house must enroll in the hearing conservation program and will be provided
with hearing protection.
Radioactive Material: Work with unsealed radioactive material which
could have removable radioactivity requires use of labcoats and gloves. These
will be specified by the Radiation Protection Office.
Work at heights exceeding 6 ft: Fall protection equipment is required
as appropriate to the job. See the Fall Protection Program.
Welding: Use of welding mask, gloves, aprons, and respiratory
protection appropriate to the task is required. See the Standard Operating
Procedure for Welding Operations.
Other: SCBA is required for diborane work as specified in the diborane
handling procedures.
Hard Hats which are provided by the PSFC meet ANSI Z-89.1985
class A and B. Class C hard hats are prohibited.
Safety Shoes must carry a stamp on the inside which indicates that they
meet the specifications provided by ANSI Z41.1-1967. Safety shoes worn in
areas where it is possible to contact live electrical components must be
appropriate for high voltage work.
Protective Eyewear must meet the specifications of ANSI Z87.1 and
be appropriate to the task.
Safety Shoes Standard Operating Procedure for
Safety Shoes
Hearing Protection Standard Operating Procedure for
Hearing Protection
Impact Protection SOP for Head, Eye, and Face
Protection from Impact
Laser Eyeware SOP for Laser Eye Protection
Respiratory Protection Standard Operating
Procedure for Respiratory Protection
Chemical ProtectionStandard Operating Procedure
for Selection of PPE for Chemical Usage
This page maintained by Catherine L. Fiore FIORE@PSFC.MIT.EDUIntroduction
Responsibility
Hazard Analysis
A hazard analysis of specific tasks and experimental areas will be updated
yearly by the PSFC PPE committee. Most hazards are task specific at the
PSFC, and the area where they are performed is subject to change with
short notice. This analysis will be kept at the PSFC ES&H Office. Hazard
analysis for new tasks will be added at the time of the PSFC Safety Committee
Review.
Program Review
Area Specific PPE's
Task specific PPE's
General Requirements
Standard Operating Procedures