Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specialized clothing worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. General work clothes, not intended to function as protection against a hazard, are not considered to be personal protective equipment.

When there is a potential for occupational exposure, the employing department of the University will provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, gloves, gowns, laboratory coats, face shields or masks, eye protection, mouthpieces, resuscitation bags, pocket masks and/or other ventilation devices.

Personal protective equipment is considered appropriate only if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through or reach the employee's work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which the protective equipment will be used.

It is the employing department's responsibility to ensure that employees use appropriate personal protective equipment. Under rare and extraordinary circumstances an employee may exercise professional judgement that in a specific situation the use of such equipment would have prevented the delivery of health care or public safety services, and/or would have posed an increased hazard to the safety of the worker or co-worker. When the employee makes such a judgement, it must be shown that the employee temporarily and briefly declined to use personal protective equipment, and the circumstances must be investigated and documented in order to determine whether changes can be instituted or to prevent such occurrences in the future.

The employing department will ensure the appropriate personal protective equipment, in the appropriate sizes, is readily accessible at the worksite. Hypoallergenic gloves, glove liners, powderless gloves, or other similar alternatives will be readily accessible to those employees who are allergic to the gloves normally provided.

The employing department will clean, launder and dispose of personal protective equipment and will repair or replace personal protective equipment as needed to maintain its effectiveness, at no cost to the employee.

If a garment is penetrated by blood or other potentially infectious materials, the garment(s) will be removed immediately or as soon as feasible.

All personal protective equipment will be removed prior to leaving the work area, and placed in an appropriate designated area or container for storage, washing, decontamination or disposal.

Gloves will be worn when it can be reasonably anticipated the employee may have hand contact with blood, other potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin; when performing vascular access procedures, and when handling or touching contaminated items or surfaces.

Disposable (single use) gloves will be replaced as soon as practical when contaminated, or as soon as feasible if they are torn or punctured, or when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised. Disposable (single use) gloves will not be washed or decontaminated for reuse.

Utility gloves may be decontaminated for reuse if the integrity of the glove is not compromised. However, they must be discarded if they are cracked, peeling, torn, punctured or exhibit other signs of deterioration, or when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.

Masks in combination with eye protection devices, such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields or chin-length face shields, shall be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated, and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can reasonably be anticipated.

Appropriate protective clothing such as, but not limited to, gowns, aprons, lab coats clinic jackets, or similar outer garments will be worn in occupational exposure situations. The type and characteristics will depend upon the task and the degree of exposure anticipated.

Surgical caps or hoods and/or shoe covers or boots need only be worn in situations when gross contamination can be reasonably anticipated.

NOTE:   Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.

NOTE:   Food and drinks will not be kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets, on counter tops, or bench tops where blood or other potentially infectious materials are present.