Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective gear and clothing used to keep laboratory personnel safe while performing their research. Examples of PPE include face shields, goggles, laboratory coats, and disposable gloves.
PPE should be selected after all feasible engineering and administrative controls have been put in place to eliminate or reduce the hazard. Examples of administrative and engineering controls that should be considered for implementation to eliminate or reduce hazardous material exposures include:
- Substitution of a less hazardous substance
- Scaling down the size of experiment
- Local and general ventilation (e.g., use of fume hoods)
In order to determine what PPE is needed during a particular laboratory operation/experiment, the PI and/or laboratory manager must identify all hazards associated with the chemicals involved and identify all potential exposure pathways based on the manner in which the chemicals will be used. In addition, the performance capabilities and limitations listed by the PPE manufacturer should be reviewed and evaluated to determine if the selection will adequately protect against the chemical hazards identified.
PI’s must provide an adequate supply of properly fitting PPE to laboratory personnel at no cost.
EHSS is available to assist the researcher with the selection and assessment of PPE upon request. Contact EHSS at ehss@syr.edu for assistance.
10.1. Eye and Face Protection
Laboratory personnel are required to wear appropriate eye and/or face protection any time they may be potentially exposed to eye/face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.
Safety glasses should always be worn by laboratory personnel when working in a laboratory. Safety googles and/or a face shield may be more appropriate in certain circumstances depending on the type of work to be performed. All eye protection should be approved by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) and appropriate for the work being performed.
10.2. Protective Clothing
All laboratory work involving a hazardous material should be conducted wearing a lab coat. Clothing worn underneath the lab coat shall at a minimum include a shirt, long pants, and closed-toed shoes.
Flame resistant lab coats must be worn when using pyrophoric materials or flammable liquids. It is also recommended that 100% cotton (or other non-synthetic material) clothing be worn underneath the flame-resistant lab coat.
In addition to a lab coat, protective aprons, foot coverings, additional leg and arm coverings, and/or a full body protective suit, may be required to provide additional protection against unique chemicals hazards, and/or situations that may result in a potential full body exposure to a hazardous chemical.
10.3. Gloves and Hand Protection
Appropriate hand protection must be used for laboratory work where there is a potential for hands to be exposed to a hazardous chemical or a physical hazard that could result in skin damage, chemical absorption, severe cuts or lacerations, abrasions, punctures, or harmful temperatures. Chemical resistant gloves must be worn when using or handling hazardous chemicals and chemical containers.
Gloves must be evaluated and selected based on their effectiveness for the specific hazardous chemical being handled. Some gloves are more suitable for certain chemicals than others. The chemical’s SDS and the glove manufacturer’s glove chart should be consulted when selecting the most appropriate glove for the chemical(s) to be used.
10.4. Respiratory Protection
Airborne releases of hazardous chemicals can create a respiratory hazard and result in respiratory exposures. Respiratory exposure to potentially hazardous chemical substances must be controlled and minimized by utilizing engineering controls (such as fume hood ventilation), procedural controls and/or product substitution using less hazardous substances. In rare situations, the use of these controls may not reasonably mitigate the hazard and the use of personal respiratory protective equipment may be necessary.
PI’s and lab personnel are responsible for notifying EHSS of situations where additional protection from airborne contaminants may be required. EHSS will work collaboratively with the PI and laboratory personnel to evaluate the respiratory hazard and associated respiratory exposure potential and will make a determination if respiratory protection is needed.
Use of respiratory protection by laboratory personnel must comply with the requirements of the University’s Respiratory Protection program. Any assignment of respiratory protection, and/or use of a respirator by any laboratory personnel at Syracuse University, requires prior EHSS review and approval. Laboratory personnel required to wear respiratory protection must be medically evaluated, trained, and fit tested by EHSS prior to wearing a respirator.
Additional information on Respiratory Protection may be found on the EHSS website at:
http://ehss.syr.edu/health-and-safety/respiratory-protection/