Feinstein Institute For Medical Research
RECOMMENDED PPE(s) FOR LABORATORY ACTIVITIES
Chemical Use Hazards
Activity
Potential Hazard
1
Note that engineering controls such
as chemical fume hoods should be
used where possible to minimize
chemical exposure.
Working with small volumes of
corrosive liquids (< 1 liter).
Working with large volumes of
corrosive liquids (> 1 liter), small to
large volumes of acutely toxic
corrosives, or work which creates a
splash hazard 1
Eye or skin damage
Recommended PPE
Note that chemical-resistant gloves are to
be selected based on the specific
chemical(s) used. See Chemical-Resistant
Glove Information at the end of this
document.
Safety glasses or goggles
Light chemical-resistant gloves. Lab coat
Large surface area skin or
eye damage, poisoning, or
great potential for eye and
skin damage
Safety goggles and face shield
Heavy chemical-resistant gloves
Lab coat and chemical-resistant apron
Working with small volumes of
organic solvents (< 1 liter).
Skin or eye damage
Slight poisoning potential
through skin contact
Safety glasses or goggles
Light chemical-resistant gloves. Lab coat
Working with large volumes of
organic solvents (> 1 liter), small to
large volumes of very dangerous
solvents, or work which creates a
splash hazard 1
Major skin or eye damage;
potential poisoning through
skin contact
Safety goggles and face shield
Heavy chemical-resistant gloves
Lab coat and chemical-resistant apron
Eye or skin damage;
potential poisoning through
skin contact.
Increased potential for eye
or skin damage; increased
potential poisoning through
skin contact.
Safety glasses (goggles for large quantities)
Light chemical-resistant gloves
Lab coat
Safety goggles, appropriate heavy chemicalresistant gloves for liquids, appropriate
chemical-resistant glove for solids, lab coat.
Gown and shoe covers if necessary.
Working with an apparatus with
contents under pressure (such as
distillation) or highly reactive
materials 1
Eye or skin damage
Safety glasses or goggles (consider face
shield), appropriate chemical-resistant gloves,
lab coat (consider chemical-resistant apron).
Minor chemical spill cleanup.
Skin or eye damage,
respiratory damage.
Safety glasses or goggles, appropriate
chemical-resistant gloves, lab coat (consider
chemical-resistant apron and boots or shoe
covers).
Working with toxic or hazardous
chemicals (solid or liquid). 1
Working with acutely toxic or
hazardous chemicals (solid or
liquid). 1
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Feinstein Institute For Medical Research
RECOMMENDED PPE(s) FOR LABORATORY ACTIVITIES
Biological Hazards
Activity
Note that engineering controls
such as biosafety cabinets and
other barrier methods should be
used where possible to minimize
personal exposure.
Working with volumes one liter or
greater of human blood, body
fluids, tissues, or blood borne
pathogens (BBP). 2
Potential Hazard
Recommended PPE
2
Exposure to infectious
material
Safety goggles with face shield or facemask
plus goggles, nitrile gloves, lab coat or gown.
Safety glasses or goggles for protection from
splash or other eye hazard, nitrile or vinyl
gloves for broken skin or skin rash, lab coat
or gown. Consider need for wire mesh
glove.
Safety glasses or goggles for protection from
splash or other eye hazard, nitrile or vinyl
gloves, lab coat or gown. Consider need for
wire mesh glove.
Safety glasses or goggles, protective gloves
such as nitrile for unpreserved specimens
(select protective glove for preserved
specimens according to preservative used),
lab coat or gown.
Working with live animals (Animal
Biosafety Level 1, ABL-1).
Animal bites, allergies
Working with live animals (Animal
Biosafety Level 2, ABL-2) 2
Animal bites, exposure to
infectious material, allergies
Working with animal specimens
(preserved and unpreserved).
Exposure to infectious
material or preservatives.
Working with radioactive human
blood, body fluids, or blood borne
pathogens (BBP).
Cell damage, potential
spread of radioactive
contaminants, or potential
BBP exposure.
Safety glasses (goggles for splash hazard),
nitrile gloves, lab coat or gown.
Working with agents classified as
Biosafety Level 1, (BSL-1).
Eye or skin irritation.
Safety glasses or goggles for protection from
splash or other eye hazard, nitrile gloves for
broken skin or skin rash, lab coat or gown.
Manipulation of cell lines, viruses,
bacteria, or other organisms
classified as Biosafety Level 2,
(BSL-2). 2
Exposure to infectious
material, particularly
through broken skin or
mucous membranes.
Safety glasses or goggles for protection from
splash or other eye hazard, nitrile gloves, lab
coat or gown.
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Feinstein Institute For Medical Research
RECOMMENDED PPE(s) FOR LABORATORY ACTIVITIES
Radiological Hazards
Activity
Note that engineering controls such as
appropriate shielding should be used
where needed to minimize exposure to
radiological hazards.
Potential Hazard
Recommended PPE
Working with solid radioactive
materials or waste.
Cell damage, potential
spread of radioactive
materials.
Safety glasses, impermeable gloves, lab
coat.
Working with radioactive chemicals
(corrosives, flammables, liquids,
powders, etc.).
Cell damage or spread of
contamination plus hazards
for the specific chemical.
Safety glasses (or goggles for splash
hazard), light chemical-resistant gloves,
lab coat. Note: Select glove for the
applicable chemical hazards above.
Working with ultraviolet radiation.
Conjunctivitis, corneal
damage, skin redness.
UV face shield and goggles, lab coat.
Working with Laser radiation.
Eye damage, skin damage.
Appropriate shaded goggles with optical
density based on individual beam
parameters, lab coat. (Do not wear
jewelry or other reflective items.)
Working with infrared emitting
equipment (i.e. glass blowing).
Cataracts, burns to cornea.
Appropriate shaded goggles, lab coat.
Physical Hazards
Activity
Potential Hazard
Recommended PPE
Safety glasses or goggles for large
volumes, heavy impermeable insulated
gloves, lab coat.
Working with cryogenic liquids.
Major skin, tissue, or eye
damage.
Removing freezer vials from liquid
nitrogen
Vials may explode upon
rapid warming; cuts to
face/neck and frostbite to
hands.
Face shield, impermeable insulated gloves,
lab coat.
Working with very cold equipment or
dry ice.
Frostbite, hypothermia.
Safety glasses, insulated gloves (possibly
warm clothing), lab coat.
Working with hot liquids, equipment,
open flames (autoclave, Bunsen
burner, water bath, oil bath).
Burns resulting in skin or
eye damage.
Safety glasses or goggles for large
volumes, insulated gloves (impermeable
insulated gloves for liquids, steam), lab
coat.
Glassware washing.
Lacerations.
Heavy rubber gloves, lab coat.
Working with loud equipment, noises,
sounds, or alarms, etc.
Potential ear damage and
hearing loss.
Earplugs or ear muffs as necessary.
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