Protective clothing and personal protective equipment
When carrying out laboratory work involving chemicals, a long-sleeved lab coat or equivalent long-sleeved garment must be worn, and must be removed on leaving the laboratory. Additional protective equipment must be used if a risk assessment shows that it is needed. Protective equipment must minimise the risk of bodily injury and protect against chemical splashes, cold/heat, sharp objects and bacteria. The protective equipment chosen must be specific for the purpose. Anyone who needs to use personal protective equipment must receive training in how to use, store and clean it, and how to check its correct function. The protective equipment purchased must be CE marked. When working with chemicals, it is often indicated in the safety data sheets and supplier descriptions what type of protective equipment is required for handling the chemicals. Protective footwear and specific clothing may be required for certain work. In addition to being functional, protective clothing should be as comfortable as possible to ensure that people use it. Examples of protective equipment are protective gloves, protective eyewear/visors, anti-radiation glasses and respiratory protection devices of various types.
If you are unsure what type of protective equipment is required, always contact the room manager or your immediate manager or supervisor.
Respirators
Respirators must provide protection against inhalation of air pollutants such as particles, dust, gases, bacteria and viruses. Respirators must also be used when there is a risk of oxygen deficiency. Different types of respirators vary in their effectiveness in protecting against different substances, so it is crucial to choose the right type. In order for a respirator to be effective, it must sit tightly against the face. The filter unit in a face mask becomes clogged over time so needs to be replaced regularly. For hygienic and functional reasons, respirators must only be used by a single wearer. Respirators must be stored correctly when not in use to prevent them from losing their effectiveness. For example, active charcoal that is left in contact with air continues to be used up.
Protective Eyewear
Protective eyewear must always be worn when handling corrosive substances, e.g. acids, bases and other substances that can damage the eyes. Avoid using contact lenses in the laboratory, as they can melt onto the eyes and cause blindness if a corrosive substance comes in contact with the eyes.
Gloves
Protective gloves must be CE marked and pictograms must indicate what they are protecting against. For example, protection against cold, heat, welding, cutting, microorganisms, chemicals, ionizing radiation.
When working with chemicals, gloves are used to prevent substances that corrode or can be absorbed by the skin from coming into contact with the skin. The gloves resistance to various chemicals must be indicated, and this must be taken into account when choosing gloves. It is important to check the penetration times of the gloves for each individual substance. Bear in mind that some people are allergic to the powder inside certain gloves, while others are allergic to natural rubber or various additives.
Rubber gloves:
- Natural rubber (e.g. latex) is elastic and has good abrasion resistance and cutting and tear resistance, but may contain residues of latex milk, which can cause severe allergic reactions. Natural rubber has good resistance to mild detergents, hydrogen peroxide, bases and acids.
- Chloroprene rubber / neoprene rubber is an elastic material with good abrasion resistance and cutting and tear resistance. The material has good resistance to alcohols, bases, organic and inorganic acids, oils and fats.
- Nitrile rubber (nitrile gloves, synthetic rubber) is an elastic material with good cutting resistance. It has good resistance to aliphatic hydrocarbons, acids and bases.
- Butyl rubber has low gas permeability and has good resistance to ketones, esters, acids, aldehydes, amides, amines and alcohols.
- Fluoride rubber / Viton has good resistance to organic solvents, aliphatic hydrocarbons, amines, acids and bases.
Plastic gloves:
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is an alternative to natural rubber gloves for people who have allergies. The material provides good resistance to oils, fats, acids and bases, but should not be used as protection against water-soluble substances or medicines. PVC contains chlorine which is released if the spent gloves are incinerated, and also contains PVC plasticisers (e.g. phthalates), which are suspected of being harmful to health and the environment. Because of the environmental impact of PVC, this type of glove should only be chosen if there are no other options.
- Polyethylene (PE) provides limited protection against chemicals.
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) is water-soluble and must therefore not be used where water-soluble substances and solutions in water are handled. The material has good resistance to several esters and aliphatic, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons.
- Laminated gloves/multi-layer gloves often have poor cutting and tear resistance but good resistance to most chemicals. Common laminates are PE/PVOH/PE and PE/PA/PE.