Protective Laboratory Clothing - Common Areas Beyond the Laboratory
Improper use or lack of protective clothing and equipment can lead to chemical burns, biological exposures, or other potential dangers. The Office of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) encourages appropriate use of gloves, lab coats, and other personal protective equipment within the laboratory. In addition, EHS suggests that their use be limited or prohibited in public areas of all scientific research buildings. The following guidelines state that contaminated, potentially contaminated, or the perception of potentially contaminated protective clothing and equipment beyond the lab may create a hazard or project a careless image to both colleagues and visitors.
Wearing gloves outside the lab should be minimized, except to move hazardous materials between laboratories. Instead, transport chemicals from place to place on a cart, in a clean secondary container, or in a bottle carrier with secure handles.If you transport hazardous materials, use a clean, ungloved hand to touch common surfaces and a gloved hand to carry the items: the one-glove rule. (Alternatively, package the material so you may touch the packaging barehanded, without apprehension, knowing the material is completely contained and is being transported in a safe manner.)
Gloves should never come in contact with door handles, elevator buttons, telephones, lavatory faucets, vending machines, bottled-water dispensers, ice-making machines, or other surfaces outside the laboratory.
For the sake of safety, appearances, and courtesy, please do not wear contaminated, stained, or potentially contaminated lab coats and other research clothing and equipment in a dining area, lounge, auditorium, conference room, or other non-hazardous area.
Do not carry specimen Dewars or covered, polystyrene boxes with dry ice or cryogenic liquid in a private vehicle. Be aware that strict federal and state regulations address the transport of hazardous (biological, chemical, radiological) materials on public roads.