PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT & RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Personal protective equipment is supplied for employee use and protection from possible chemical or
infectious exposure, injuries or illnesses. If Personal Protective Equipment is used in your area, you should
be familiar with it's location and when and how to use it. For more information refer to the Chemical
Hygiene Plan (Laboratories).
For more guidance on properly selecting and wearing PPE in clinical settings, please refer to the Infection
Control Manual or contact the Infection Control office at 617-667-2631.
EYE & FACE PROTECTION
Eyes and face protection such as safety glasses or face shields are designed to minimize or eliminate
exposures from chemical and infectious splashes that may cause injury. Eye protection, and/or face
protection, is required wherever the potential for eye injury exists.
The need for adequate eye protection is fundamental to the use of chemicals, including housekeeping
materials such as wax strippers, detergent and toilet bowl cleaners, and operations such as grinding, drilling,
sawing with power tools. Areas where eye protection must be worn are laboratories, and machine shops or
any area where active or automated work with chemicals is conducted.
It is crucial to wear proper eye and face protection when working in a laboratory setting in the event that a
chemical or infectious splash occurs in your face. A chemical could cause irreversible damage to your eyes
or skin, and infectious material could create a serious health risk depending on the materials worked with.
Eye protection must be made available to employees and visitors, at no cost to them, when the potential for
eye injury exists.
GLOVES
There are several types of gloves on the market, and it can be hard to determine the appropriate type of
glove for the applications you wish to use them for. Before purchasing gloves you must first take the
following steps to assess which glove will be appropriate for the job they will be used for.
It is a general recommendation from the EHS department that, all laboratories and clinical areas that use
chemicals have nitrile gloves available in all sizes. Nitrile gloves provide the most universal chemical
protection. Latex gloves should not be used; they provide little to no chemical resistance. For use of
Infectious materials, nitrile gloves can also be used, but many people prefer vinyl gloves. Refer to the glove
resistance chart for more information on glove compatibility.
The following are designed to help aid in the selection of appropriate gloves in different situations:
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Hazard Assessment
A hazard assessment begins with knowing what chemicals or combination of chemicals the task or
job requires. Take into account the degree of dexterity is needed for the task, the length of
exposure to the chemical, chemical concentration and temperature. Remember gloves are never a
substitute for safe work practices or proper engineering controls.
Choosing a Glove Material
No one glove is suited for all chemical exposures. Base your glove material selection on the
manufacturer's chemical resistance guide. Another factor to consider is chemical combinations.
You should base your selection on the chemical component with the shortest breakthrough time.
Thickness and Length
Thicker gauge gloves are heavier and have better chemical resistance. The manufacturers
generally state that doubling the thickness of a glove quadruples the breakthrough time of a
chemical.
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Finishes and Linings
Gloves have a variety of finishes and linings. Textured finishes are applied to gloves to give you a
better grip on wet objects. Flock, knit and cotton linings are applied for basic perspiration
absorption as well as offering a small amount of temperature protection.
Inspection and Care
Before each use, inspect all gloves for signs of chemical degradation. Inspect for signs of swelling,
cracking, shrinking, holes or discoloration of the gloves before wearing them.
Glove Material
Applications
Butyl
A synthetic rubber material that offers the highest permeation resistance to gas
and water vapors. Especially suited for use with esters and ketones.
Neoprene
A synthetic rubber material that provides excellent tensile strength and heat
resistance. Neoprene is compatible with some acids and caustics. It has
moderate abrasion resistance.
Nitrile
A synthetic rubber material that offers chemical and abrasion resistance- a good
general-duty glove. Nitrile also provides protection from oils, greases, petroleum
products and some acids and caustics.
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
A synthetic thermoplastic polymer that provides excellent resistance to most
acids, fats and petroleum hydrocarbons. Good abrasion resistance.
PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol)
A water-soluble synthetic material that is highly impermeable to gases. Excellent
chemical resistance to aromatic and chlorinated solvents. This glove cannot be
used in water or water-based solutions.
Viton®
A fluoroelastomer material that provides exceptional chemical resistance to
chlorinated and aromatic solvents. Viton is very flexible, but has minimal
resistance to cuts and abrasion.
SilverShield®
a lightweight, flexible laminated material that resists permeation from a wide
range of toxic and hazardous chemicals. It offers the highest level of overall
chemical resistance, but has virtually on cut resistance.
4H
A light weight, patented plastic laminate that protects against many chemicals.
Good dexterity.
EYE WASHES & SHOWERS
Emergency eye washes and showers are placed throughout areas where the risk of receiving a potentially
dangerous splash to your eyes or skin is high. Emergency wash stations are the first line of defense to
permanent damage in the event a splash occurs. Eye washes and showers should be checked regularly to
be sure they are properly functioning and locations are not obstructed. In the event of a chemical splash to
the skin or eye it is recommended to flush the affected area for at least 15 minutes prior to seeking medical
attention.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Protective clothing such as lab coats, gowns, coveralls, ty-chem suits and sleeves are designed to add a
layer of protection. Protective clothing should be worn when working with chemicals or potentially infectious
materials as an aid in keeping contaminants off personal clothing. Chemical protective clothing in the form
of disposable work suits should be provided for the rare instances where body contact is anticipated or when
extremely toxic chemicals are handled.
Employees working in laboratories must wear lab coats while in a lab where chemicals or infectious
materials are being handled. Lab coats should not be worn outside of the lab. The employer (principal
investigator) must provide lab coats and lab coat laundering services at no cost to all employees who work
in the lab. Shorts and sandals should not be worn under a lab coat.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM
The respiratory protection program is designed to assure compliance with the requirements of the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) general industry standard at 29CFR 1910.134
entitled Respiratory Protection. The use of respiratory equipment for protection against Tuberculosis
transmission is covered by separate policy.
This program’s objective is to assure protection of personnel from recognized respiratory hazards presented
by air contaminated with harmful vapors, gases, particulate matter, and other agents. It applies in situations
where engineering and administrative (work practice) controls are not feasible, not totally effective, or are in
the process of being implemented. These situations include maintenance, repair work, and emergencies.
CHEMICAL RESPIRATORS
Most occupational exposures do not require respiratory protection. If you think that you need a respirator
contact Environmental Health & Safety. An EHS representative will conduct a health hazard assessment to
determine your potential exposure. EHS will determine if engineering controls, a change in work practices or
the substitution of less hazardous chemical can be used to reduce your exposure. If your exposure cannot
be reduced, you will be provided a respirator.
If EHS determines that your work requires the use of a respirator, we will specify the type and model
respirator that your supervisor will purchase for you and provide you with special training to assure that you
can safely wear a respirator. Do not purchase or use any respiratory protective equipment until you have
received training from EHS.
You may not provide your own respirator (or any other personnel protective equipment) unless EHS has
completed a hazard assessment for your work.
If you would like more information about respirator protection please refer to the Respiratory Protection
Policy, or contact the EH&S department, by calling 617-667-3088.