Lab Health and Safety
With the arrival of summer and warm – or rather, hot – weather, people have switched their wardrobes to warm weather wear. Often, summertime attire, such as shorts, short skirts, sandals and flip flops, is chosen strictly for comfort and to combat the heat. However, anyone who works in a laboratory should remember that safety is just as important in the summer as at any other time of year. With that in mind, we would like to remind everyone of appropriate clothing and equipment for personal protection in a laboratory.
Personal protective equipment [PPE] includes all clothing and work accessories designed to protect employees from workplace hazards. However, personal protection starts with personal clothing choices as well. While not considered PPE, personal clothing offers a measure of protection against chemical splash and other hazards. For this reason, long pants are a much better option than shorts or short skirts. Closed-toe shoes are also a must for lab workers; they protect against chemical splash, moving machinery, sharp objects, hot materials, and falling objects. Crocs or other shoes with holes in the tops are not appropriate foot protection. A recent lab accident resulted in severe chemical burns on the worker’s legs and feet, because the person was wearing shorts and flip flips. Lab workers should also avoid wearing or should secure loose clothing and should tie back long hair. Loose clothing or long hair can be dragged through chemicals in beakers or open flames [such as on a Bunsen burner] or get caught in equipment. Long, loose sleeves on a shirt or sweater can even knock over items on the bench top.
When working in a lab, PPE is almost always necessary to protect workers from chemical exposures and other hazards. A lab coat or other protective clothing should be worn whenever chemicals or biological materials are handled. The lab coat will protect the wearer’s personal clothing and exposed skin [such as on arms] from contaminants. Lab coats should be buttoned closed for best protection. Gloves should also be worn whenever handling hazardous materials, even in small quantities. It is important to choose the appropriate type glove for the hazard present, such as chemical resistant gloves, heat resistant gloves, etc. Be aware that no chemical resistant glove protects against all chemical hazards. Read the Material Safety Data Sheet for guidance on the appropriate type of glove to wear, or consult with lab supply distributors for glove vs. chemical comparison charts when choosing chemically resistant gloves.
Eye and face protection is extremely important when working in a lab and must be worn if hazards exist that could cause eye or face injury. Safety glasses and goggles provide protection against impact hazards, while chemical splash goggles provide the best protection against chemical splash. Even if the quantity of chemical is small or engineering controls, such as fume hoods, are used, eye protection must be worn. Other types of goggles offer protection from laser or UV hazards. Face shields protect the entire face from projectiles and offers some protection from splashes. Safety glasses or goggles must be worn under face shields.
Lab coats, gloves, and safety eyewear are the basic PPE needed in a lab. Additional PPE may be needed for other hazards.
Personal Protective Equipment [PPE]
OSHA requires employers to use personal protective equipment [PPE] to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective. Employers are required to determine all exposures to hazards in their workplace and determine if PPE should be used to protect their workers.
Eye and Face Protection
Fit
- Ensure your safety glasses fit properly. Eye size, bridge size and temple length all vary. Safety glasses should be individually assigned and fitted.
- Wear safety glasses so that the temples fit comfortably over the ears. The frame should be as close to the face as possible and adequately supported by the bridge of the nose.
Care
Safety glasses need maintenance.
- Clean your safety glasses daily. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid rough handling that can scratch lenses.
- Scratches impair vision and can weaken lenses.
- Store your safety glasses in a clean, dry place where they cannot fall or be stepped on. Keep them in a case when they are not being worn.
- Replace scratched, pitted, broken, bent or ill-fitting glasses. Damaged glasses interfere with vision and do not provide protection.
- Replace damaged parts only with identical parts from the original manufacturer to ensure the same safety rating.
Safety Glasses with Side Shields | protection against flying fragments, chips, particles, sand, and dirt | pipetting, handling closed hazardous containers, and mixing small quantities |
Chemical Splash Goggles | have indirect venting for splash proof sides, which provide adequate protection against splashes | working with liquids under pressure, and pouring 1 pint to 1 liter of hazardous chemicals |
Safety Goggles | offer adequate protection against flying particles | working with glassware under reduced or elevated pressure or with drill presses, grinders or other similar condition. |
Face Shield | protect the face and neck from flying particles and splashes. Always wear additional eye protection under face shields. | working with acid or large amount of hazardous chemicals |
Skin and Body Protection
Gloves
- Verify that your gloves are compatible with your specific application, process and materials before using them.
- Most companies have glove compatibility charts available online.
- Change your gloves whenever they appear soiled or worn; be alert for permeation of your gloves by the chemicals you are using. Change gloves immediately if permeation occurs.
- Be alert to any sensation of numbness, or tingling of your fingers or hands when working with chemicals. Remove gloves, wash thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention for assistance.
*Latex gloves have been implicated in the exacerbation of latex allergies; powdered latex gloves have been shown to contain larger amounts of the latex protein allergen than non-powdered latex gloves. If you suspect that you may have an allergy to latex, or have a propensity for allergic reactions and skin rashes, avoid the use of latex gloves.
Natural Rubber Latex | Aqueous solutions, acetone, formaldehyde, alcohols, dilute mineral acids and bases | Many organic solvents, ethyl ether, chlorinated hydrocarbons, Perchloric acid, isocyanates |
Nitrile | Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, DMSO, formaldehyde, alcohols, most amines, ethyl ether | Chlorinated hydrocarbons, aldehydes, nitro compounds, isocyanates |
Laminate | Chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic solvents, ketones, THF, isocyanates, DMSO | Diethylamine, dimethylethylamine, 70% HF |
Neoprene | Acids, alcohols, acetonitrile | Chlorinated solvents |
Acid Resistant | Concentrated acids | Most organic solvents |
Protective Clothing and Footwear
Skin and body protection involves the use of protective clothing to protect individuals from chemical exposure. Determine clothing needed for the chemical being used, as protective garments are not equally effective for every hazardous chemical. Some chemicals will permeate a garment in a very short time, whereas others will not.
- The basic and most effective forms of protection are gloves and lab coats.
- Protect exposed skin surfaces when there is a reasonable anticipation of a splash.
- Open toed shoes and sandals are not permitted in labs.
- Even when there is minimal danger of skin contact with an extremely hazardous substance, lab coats, coveralls, aprons, or protective suits should be utilized. These garments should not leave the lab.
- Exposures to strong acids and acid gases, organic chemicals and strong oxidizing agents, carcinogens, and mutagens require the use of specialized protective equipment that prevents skin contamination. Impervious protective equipment must be utilized. Examples include rubber gloves, aprons, boots, and protective suits.
Hearing Protection
Hearing protection is required where noise levels exceed OSHA limits. Typically lab environments will not exceed those levels. Contact the CHO for evaluation of high nose areas or operations.
Respiratory Protection
Page last modified December 20, 2016