Eye & Face Protection
Respiratory Protection
Skin and Body Protection
Hearing Protection
Hand Protection
Personal Hygiene
Personal Protection Material Characteristics
Safety Spectacles - Safety spectacles with side shields should be worn at all times while in the laboratory. The purpose of wearing eye protection at all times while in the laboratory is to protect the eyes from accidental exposure to flying particles, chemical splashes, and dust. Additional eye protection, such as splash goggles or face shields, should be used as necessary to more fully protect the eyes when handling solvents, corrosives, and/or other hazardous materials when splashing could occur.
Splash Goggles (indirectly vented) - Eyes are particularly sensitive to any contact with chemicals. Even momentary contact with strong chemicals can cause irreparable damage to the corneal surface. Therefore, splash goggles, that cover the entire area around the eyes with indirect vents, must be worn at all times when working with corrosive liquids,compressed gases, solvents, dust, or powders that may irritate or damage the eyes. (Research and Organic Chemical Labs.)
Contact Lenses - Contact lens wearers must be especially careful with eye protection. When in the laboratory, Safety Goggles or eye protection should be worn. However, there are no prohibitions against wearing contact lenses in laboratory.
Shields - Face shields protect the face, neck, and ears from splash or flying particles. Standing shields attached to the counter-top and of good rigidity and strength protect the face, neck and upper body where over-pressurizations may occur, or where major splashing may occur. Standing shields should be used for vacuum work and when working with low or high-pressure systems. Face shields in addition to goggles are necessary when working with severely corrosive liquids, with glassware under reduced or elevated pressure, with glass apparatus used in combustion or high-temperature operations and whenever there might be an explosion or implosion.
FACE PROTECTION
In locations where there is a risk of injury to the face or eye, face/eye protective devices must be worn. Due to the variability in laboratory work, procedure specific hazard analysis should be performed to identify PPE needed by laboratory workers. Specific PPE requirements should be maintained in each laboratory's Laboratory Manual for ready access by laboratory students, visitors, and employees.
Effective eye and face protection device requirements can differ between, or within a laboratory. When laboratory procedures require the use of eye or face protection everyone in the laboratory, including those wearing contact lenses or other corrective eyewear, must wear the required protective devices.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
Dust masks, cartridge respirators, and self-contained breathing apparatus should not be necessary in a properly designed laboratory. If you believe you require such protection, contact EH&S for information and recommendations.
SKIN AND BODY PROTECTION
Gloves - Gloves protect the hands against incidental contact with chemicals, and also against abrasion and extremes of heat and cold. Before use, check gloves for worn spots, cracks, holes, and other signs of wear. When removing gloves, be careful to avoid touching the outside of the gloves with your bare hands. Do not touch doorknobs, light switches, telephones, elevator buttons, etc., with contaminated gloves. Always remove gloves (and all other protective gear) before leaving the laboratory.
Different kinds of gloves offer different levels and types of protection. Disposable gloves should be used whenever you are handling laboratory materials to avoid possible contamination of your hands. In addition, gloves made of cotton or cotton and leather protect against abrasion, sharp objects, and glass; however, they offer no protection against wet chemicals, and may actually absorb chemicals and keep them in contact with the skin. Surgical type gloves made of rubber or synthetics offer some hand protection and also allow dexterity. Natural (latex) rubber gloves do not effectively protect against a number of concentrated acids, organic solvents or PCBs. These substances require gloves made of a synthetic material; for example, neoprene, nitrile or Viton, depending on the chemical being used. Insulated gloves should be used when dealing with temperature extremes.
Aprons and Lab Coats - Aprons and laboratory coats protect the body as gloves do the
hands. Heavy-duty rubber aprons should be used for protection against strong acids and bases. As discussed above natural (latex) rubber will not protect against all materials, in which case a synthetic material should be used. Vinyl aprons are recommended for general use; cloth laboratory coats are also useful, but mainly for protecting clothing.
As with gloves, laboratory coats and aprons should remain in the laboratory. Many of the substances found in the laboratory can be inadvertently taken home on laboratory coats and aprons.
Shoes - Sturdy closed-toe, closed-heel shoes should be worn in the laboratory at all times to protect against spills, splashes and dropped equipment. Leather shoes offer better protection against corrosion than canvas shoes; open-toed shoes and bare feet are prohibited in the laboratory.
HEARING PROTECTION
Exposure to high levels of noise can cause temporary or permanent damage to hearing. Damaging levels of noise can be caused by a wide variety of sources such as construction equipment, heavy machinery, lawn mowers, weed wackers, steam generation, concerts, and industrial or agricultural vehicles. Standards for hearing protection and acceptable noise levels have been established by federal and state regulation.
HAND PROTECTION
There is a wide assortment of gloves, hand pads, sleeves, and wristlets for protection against various hazardous situations, such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts and lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical or thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
Personal Hygiene in the laboratory is directed mainly toward the prevention of occupational acquired disease or physical injury. However, it can raise the quality of laboratory work by reducing possibilities for contamination of experimental material. Habitual adherence to good practices provides a margin of safety in situations where the hazard may be recognized. The history of occupational injury is replete with examples of hazards unrecognized until too late. The following guidelines are standard operating procedures.
Food, candy, gum, beverages, and tobacco for human consumption shall not be stored or consumed inside laboratory or animal rooms.
Drinking fountains outside the laboratory should be the sole source of drinking water.
Refrigerators in laboratories are for experimental materials only. Food for human consumption should be stored only in refrigerators specifically designated for that purpose.
Do not use laboratory equipment for food preparation. Do not use empty food containers for laboratory materials or samples.
Smoking is not permitted in laboratories or animal rooms.
Shaving or brushing teeth is not permitted in laboratories. Toothbrushes, razors, toiletry, supplies, and cosmetics should only be used in designated areas after thoroughly washing the hands and face or showering.
Beards are discouraged in areas where there is the potential for airborne contamination. Beards retain particulates more persistently than clean-shaven skin. A clean-shaven face is essential to the adequate fit of a face mask or respirator when the work requires respiratory protection.
Keep hands away from the mouth, nose, eyes, face and hair when working in the laboratory.
Books and journals should be used only in clean areas if possible.
Personal handkerchiefs should not be used in the laboratory. Disposable tissues should be available in laboratories and change rooms.
Wash hands and arms thoroughly before leaving the lab, even if gloves have been worn.
Wash lab coats or jackets on which chemicals have been spilled separately from personal laundry.
Never wear or bring lab coats or jackets into areas where food is consumed.
Never pipet by mouth. Always use a pipet aid or suction bulb.
Personal Protection Material Characteristics
| Material | Strength | Chemical Resistance | Flammability | Static Properties | Comfort | Uses | ||
| Cotton | Fair durability | Degraded by acids.Binds. | Special treatment for flame | No static problems | Comfortable, Lightweight | Lab coats. | ||
| Modacrylic | Resistant to rips & tears, | Resistant to most chemicals. | In direct flame fabric shrinks to | Has anti-static properties | Comfortable, soft & resilient. | Lab coats. | ||
| but less so than polyamide fibers. | resist flame penetration. | Easy to clean & has | ||||||
| Abrasion resistant but less so | Will not melt or drip.Self- | soil release properties | ||||||
| than nylon or polyester | extinguishing.Rapidly dissipates | |||||||
| when ignition source is removed | ||||||||
| Nylon | Exceptionally strong & | Not water absorbent. | Melts when heated. | Static buildup possible. | Lightweight. | Lab coats. | ||
| abrasion resistant | Requires flame retardant. | Requires antistatic agent | ||||||
| Plastic | Usually reinforced at | Resistant to corrosive chemicals | Can be ignited by flammable solvents | Accumulates considerable | Lightweight. | Aprons, sleve | ||
| points of strain. | & others with static discharge | charge of static electricity | protectors, boots. | |||||
| Will not stick together, | ||||||||
| peel, crack, or stiffen | ||||||||
| Polyolefin | Resistant to rips & tears | Excellent chemical resistance. | High melting point. | Good static dissociation | Lightweight.Good permeability. | Bouffant caps. | ||
| Limited Moisture absorbance. | ||||||||
| Low binding for chemicals. | Flame resistant. | Uncomfortable if perspiring. | ||||||
| Polypropylene | Strong | Resistant to most chemicals, | Low melting point. | Static buildup requires | Lightweight. | Aprons. | ||
| oxygen & light sensitive | Requires flame retardant. | antistatic agent | ||||||
| Rayon | Fairly durable | Degraded by acids. | Lab coats. | |||||
| Binds some chemicals. |