What personal protective equipment is recommended for handling refrigerant gases?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to ensure the safety and health of workers who handle refrigerant gases, which can be toxic, flammable, corrosive, or asphyxiating, depending on the type. Some of the PPE recommended for handling refrigerant gases are¹²:
- Gloves: they must be resistant and waterproof, to avoid direct contact with the refrigerant gas, which can cause burns, irritation or skin allergies.
- Glasses: must be protective, to avoid contact with the eyes, which can be affected by the refrigerant gas, causing redness, tearing, or temporary or permanent blindness.
- Mask: must be respiratory, to avoid inhalation of refrigerant gas, which can cause suffocation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmia, or depression of the central nervous system.
- Apron: must be made of insulating material, to avoid contact with the body, which can be affected by refrigerant gas, causing hypothermia, burns, or internal injuries.
- Boots: they must be made of rubber or leather, to avoid contact with the feet, which can be injured by the refrigerant gas, causing frostbite, wounds, or infections.
These are some of the PPE recommended for handling refrigerant gases, but there are others, depending on the type of gas, the refrigeration system, and the activity carried out. Therefore, it is important to consult a qualified professional and follow technical standards and good practices to avoid environmental, health and operational risks that leaks can cause.