Laboratory personnel are required to wear appropriate protective clothing for body protection whenever there is a potential for exposure or contact to a chemical or other hazard. This includes any situation where there is a potential for spill, splash, spray, or contamination from a chemical or hazardous material or a potential for exposure to a physical hazard such as open flame.
Examples of protective clothing including lab coats, flame resistant lab coats, chemical aprons, etc. Protective clothing must be worn over regular clothing, which in a laboratory must minimally include a shirt, long pants, and closed-toed shoes.
Please refer to the resources below to help determine, select and use appropriate body protection for the hazards present in the lab.
USE – Best Practices When Using Body Protection
DETERMINE – Hazard Specific Recommendations for Body Protection
SELECT – Reference the recommended Body Protection chart below when making your selection.
| General Use Lab Coat | A general use lab coat offers protection from incidental contact and small splashes and spills. General use lab coats are not chemical resistant. General use lab coats must: •Snap or button up •Fit properly |  |
| Fire Resistant (FR) Lab Coat | An FR lab coat is fire resistant and provides increased protection when working with flammable materials or open flames. FR lab coats must: •Made from or coated with a fire resistant material •Snap or button up •Fit properly |  |
| Fire Resistant, Chemical Resistant (FRCP) Lab Coat | An FRCP Lab coat is fire and chemical resistant. It offers flame resistance plus enhanced chemical protection. FRCP lab coats may be recommended when using large quantities corrosives or pyrophoric materials. Please contact EHSS to conduct a hazard assessment prior to assigning FRCP lab coats to lab personnel. FRCP lab coats must: •Made from or coated with a fire and chemical resistant material •Snap or button up •Fit properly |  |
| Chemical Apron | A chemical resistant apron provides an additional level of protection from chemicals splashes and sprays. A Chemical apron alone does not provide sufficient protection and must always be worn over a lab coat. Chemical resistant aprons must: •Made of a chemical resistant material •Fit properly •Be tied or secured when used |  |