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PPE Recommendations

Module: ChemIQ

Tellus simplifies PPE management by reading the PPE requirements from each chemical's SDS and translating them into specific, actionable recommendations — telling you exactly what type of gloves, eye protection, respirator, and body protection you need, with enough detail to make purchasing decisions.

PPE recommendations are not a separate screen in the ChemIQ sidebar. Instead, they are surfaced inside the detail view of each chemical and each SDS — right where you are already looking at a specific product's hazards. Open a chemical from your inventory, or open a Safety Data Sheet from the SDS Library, and its PPE recommendations appear in a dedicated section on that page.

The Problem It Solves​

SDS documents describe PPE requirements in generic terms that leave you guessing:

What the SDS SaysWhat You Actually Need to Know
"Chemical resistant nitrile rubber gloves"What thickness (mil)? Which brands meet the requirement?
"Safety glasses with side shields"What ANSI rating? When do I need splash goggles instead?
"Use in well-ventilated area"What cartridge type? What assigned protection factor?
"Wear protective clothing"Lab coat? Chemical apron? Full Tyvek coverall?

Tellus bridges this gap — turning vague SDS language into specific PPE specifications based on the actual hazards present.

How It Works​

For each chemical in your inventory, Tellus:

  1. Reads SDS Section 8 — Extracts the PPE requirements written by the manufacturer
  2. Analyzes GHS hazard data — Cross-references hazard classifications (H-codes) to determine the level of protection needed
  3. Applies NIOSH and OSHA guidelines — Uses federal PPE selection criteria to determine the appropriate protection level
  4. Generates specific recommendations — Recommends exact PPE specifications with confidence scoring

What You Get​

Hand Protection​

  • Glove material — Nitrile, butyl, neoprene, PVC, Viton, or natural rubber based on the specific chemicals
  • Thickness — Minimum mil thickness required for adequate breakthrough time
  • Breakthrough time — How long the glove material resists the chemical
MaterialBest ForAvoid
NitrileOils, greases, acids, caustics, alcoholsStrong oxidizers, ketones
ButylKetones, esters, aldehydes, strong acids/basesHydrocarbons, gasoline
NeopreneHydrocarbons, alcohols, oilsStrong oxidizers
VitonAromatic/chlorinated solventsKetones, esters

Eye Protection​

  • Safety glasses — For splash-free environments with particle hazards
  • Chemical splash goggles — For liquids that could splash; required for corrosives
  • Face shield — For high-splash or high-pressure operations; always worn with goggles
  • ANSI rating — Z87.1 compliance level required

Respiratory Protection​

  • No respiratory protection needed — When engineering controls are sufficient
  • Half-face respirator — With specific cartridge type (organic vapor, acid gas, P100, etc.)
  • Full-face respirator — When eye irritation is also a concern
  • SCBA or supplied air — For IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) conditions
  • Cartridge type — Matched to the specific chemical family
  • Assigned Protection Factor (APF) — How much exposure reduction the respirator provides

Body Protection​

  • Lab coat — For incidental contact risk
  • Chemical apron — For splash protection during handling
  • Chemical-resistant coverall — For significant exposure risk
  • Full chemical suit — For high-hazard operations

Confidence Scoring​

Each recommendation includes a confidence score indicating how certain Tellus is about the recommendation:

ConfidenceWhat It Means
HighSDS provides specific PPE requirements; recommendation is well-supported
MediumSDS provides general guidance; recommendation is based on hazard class and NIOSH guidelines
LowSDS lacks PPE details; recommendation is based solely on GHS classification

Always review recommendations with your safety professional, especially for low-confidence ratings.

OSHA Requirements for PPE Selection​

Per OSHA's PPE Standard (29 CFR 1910.132-138):

  • Employers must assess the workplace for hazards requiring PPE
  • PPE must be selected based on the specific hazards present — effective PPE management starts with knowing what each chemical demands
  • Employees must be trained on proper PPE use, care, and limitations
  • Gloves must be selected based on the material being handled and the type of hazard (29 CFR 1910.138)

Important: No single glove material protects against all chemicals. Using the wrong glove can give workers a false sense of security — the chemical may permeate the glove without visible damage.

Where to Find PPE Recommendations​

PPE recommendations are surfaced within the detail views where you review a specific chemical or SDS — there is no standalone PPE screen:

  • Chemical details page — Open any chemical from your inventory to see its PPE recommendations in a dedicated section
  • SDS details page — Open a Safety Data Sheet from the SDS Library to see PPE recommendations alongside the document's 8. Exposure / PPE section

Who Uses This​

RoleWhat You Can Do
AdminView PPE recommendations for all chemicals; use data for PPE purchasing decisions
ManagerView PPE recommendations for chemicals at managed sites
Program CoordinatorReview PPE recommendations as part of compliance oversight
EmployeeView PPE recommendations for chemicals in their work area

Availability​

All PPE recommendation features listed above are included on every Tellus EHS account ($99/month).

Common Tasks​