Equipment to protect workers as they handle chemicals includes headgear, eyewear, gloves, footwear, protective clothing, and respiratory equipment. The following links provide information on regulations and guidance pertaining to protective equipment, and some sources for obtaining protective equipment. Some of the information is not specific to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI), but provides rules or guidance to be applied with consideration of the MDI and TDI physical and chemical properties and the specifics of the diisocyanate use.

Federal Regulations

Federal Regulations Standards for the protection of workers, including personal protective equipment standards, are promulgated by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

• OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Regulations (29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart I)
• OSHA Limits for Air Contaminants (29 CFR Section 1910.1000 Table Z-1)
• OSHA Standards Interpretation and Compliance Letters: Selection of air purifying respirators for gases and vapors with poor warning properties (diisocyanates)
• OSHA Clarifies Policy on Use of Air Purifying Respirators for Diisocyanates (press release)

Guidance

Guidance on providing appropriate protective equipment has been developed by federal agencies such as the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH). In addition, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) has developed some guidelines for protective clothing for working with MDI and TDI.

• OSHA Informational Booklet: Personal Protective Equipment
• OSHA Respiratory Protection Advisor
• CDC Personal Protective Equipment Program
• CDC Respirator Protection Program
• NIOSH Online Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
• 4,4'-MDI Listing
• 2,4-TDI Listing
• NIOSH Recommendations for Chemical Protective Clothing
• NIOSH Certified Equipment List (Respiratory Equipment)

CPI Guidelines

• "Model Respiratory Protection Program"
• "PMDI User Guidelines for Chemical Protective Clothing Selection"
• "TDI User Guidelines for Chemical Protective Clothing Selection"

Information on how to order these guidelines can be obtained at the CPI website.

Equipment Sources

There are a number of companies that provide personal protective equipment. Many of these companies maintain websites that can be located through use of a web search engine. The American Chemistry Council and the Diisocyanates Panel do not endorse any specific companies or products. If you have questions about appropriate equipment for a specific MDI or TDI application, you may find it helpful to consult with the supplier or manufacturer of the MDI or TDI product you are using.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) provides a list of manufacturers that produce NIOSH-approved respirators. The list provides contact information for each company. Many of these companies also produce other types of protective equipment, such as protective clothing and protective gear for the head, eyes, ears, hands and feet. In addition, there may be companies that produce protective equipment other than respirators, which are not included in the NIOSH list.