Appropriate Clothing & Footwear in University Laboratories
Employees working in laboratories with the potential for chemical, radioactive and biological exposures should take into consideration the health and safety importance of wearing appropriate clothing and footwear. Inappropriate clothing and footwear can represent a severe potential hazard of splashes from either chemical, radioactive, or biological materials.
It is recommended that you consider the following points and wear appropriate clothing and footwear at all times while working with potentially hazardous materials.
- Research and support personnel should not wear loose or "inappropriate clothing" such as shorts, halter tops, sandals, etc. Inappropriate clothing offers little protection to the skin in the event of chemical, radioactive and biological splashes.
- Laboratory coats should be worn over personal clothing to prevent contamination. This can also prevent the possible transfer of contamination from personal clothing to employee vehicles, homes and family members. Lab coats should also be changed regularly and anytime when known to be contaminated.
- Finger rings and other metal jewelry can react with some chemicals and should be removed in these instances. They should be removed when working on equipment with moving parts and with energized electrical apparatus or circuits. Appropriate chemical resistant gloves should be worn at all times while working with hazardous materials.
- Closed-toe shoes should be worn at all times in areas where hazardous materials are being used or stored. Perforated shoes or sandals are not to be worn in laboratories or areas where hazardous materials are stored.
- A neoprene or PVC apron should be worn when working with large quantities of acids, with corrosives under pressure, and with liquid phenol.
Updated February 8, 2007 by SAK