PPE FAQs

I only work with buffers. Why do I need to wear safety glasses and proper laboratory attire?

It is important that there be a common standard for all laboratories in order to help build a safety culture by widespread modeling of safe behaviors. If you feel that an exception can and needs to be made for your specific laboratory, you may file a request for an exception when completing your survey in the Lab Hazard Assessment Tool (LHAT).

What are the requirements for wearing PPE outside of the laboratory?

Gloves and lab coats must not be worn in common areas, such as cafeterias, lunch rooms, conference rooms, offices and libraries. For laboratories in which human pathogens are used or where sterile products are produced, lab coats may not be worn outside of the laboratory. In other types of laboratories, a lab coat may be worn when traveling in a corridor between laboratories or support rooms, such as a cold room or an instrument room.

Do the same PPE requirements apply in labs where chemicals are not present?

The Personal Protective Equipment Procedures for Laboratories applies to laboratories where hazardous materials are present and/or used. This includes chemical, radioactive and biological materials. An assessment and good judgment about necessary PPE should still be used to clarify requirements in labs without hazardous materials.

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