Proper Attire
in the
Laboratory
The summer months are fast approaching and the weather is beginning to get warmer. People can be seen wearing shorts, tank tops and open-toed sandals. This attire is perfect for the outdoors -- but not in the laboratory. The University of New Hampshire prohibits open-toed shoes, sandals and other "summer" footwear in the laboratory. In addition, shorts, miniskirts and tank tops are discouraged in all laboratories and where hazardous conditions exist. Here are seven references that discuss proper attire in the laboratory.
1. UNH Biological and Chemical Safety Plan. 2005.
"Always wear appropriate clothing (e.g. pants, shirts, shoes) and personal protective equipment (e.g. safety glasses, laboratory coats, gloves) in the laboratory. Open sandals are prohibited; shorts and skirts are not recommended."
2. Laboratory Safety Standard, OSHA.
"Protective laboratory practices and equipment are available and in common use to minimize the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals."
"Protective laboratory practices and equipment means those laboratory procedures, practices and equipment accepted by laboratory health and safety experts as effective or that the employer can show to be effective, in minimizing the potential for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals."
3. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. CDC/NIH.
"This publication describes the combinations of standard and special microbiological practices, safety equipment, and facilities constituting Biosafety Levels 1-4, which are recommended for work with a variety of infectious agents in various laboratory settings." "Safety equipment includes biological safety cabinets (BSCs), enclosed containers, and other engineering controls designed to remove or minimize exposures to hazardous biological materials. Safety equipment also may include items for personal protection, such as gloves, coats, gowns, shoe covers, boots, respirators, face shields, safety glasses, or goggles."
4. Prudent Practices in the Laboratory - Handling and Disposing of Chemicals. National Research Council. 1995.
"Clothing that leaves large areas of skin exposed is inappropriate in laboratories where hazardous chemicals are used. The worker's personal clothing should be fully covering. Appropriate laboratory coats should be worn, buttoned, with the sleeves rolled down."
"Unrestrained long hair and loose clothing such as neckties, baggy pants and coats are inappropriate in a laboratory where hazardous chemicals are in use. Such items can catch fire, be dipped in chemicals and get caught in equipment. Similarly, rings, bracelets, watches or other jewelry that could be damaged, trap chemicals close to the skin, come in contact with electrical sources or get caught in machinery should not be worn. Leather clothing or accessories should not be worn in situations where chemicals could be absorbed in the leather and held close to the skin."
5. Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories for Students. American Chemistry Society. 2004.
"Clothing worn in the laboratory should offer protection from splashes and spills; it should be easily removable in case of accident and should be at least fire resistant."
"In the laboratory, wear shoes with uppers made of leather or polymeric leather substitute. Do not go barefoot or wear sandals. Do not wear shoes that have high heels or open toes, uppers made of cloth, woven leather strips or other woven material. Shorts, cutoffs, and miniskirts unnecessarily exposure your skin to potential corrosives and are not safe. Constrain long hair and loose clothing. Do not wear jewelry such as rings, bracelets and wristwatches in the laboratory."
6. Biological Safety - Principles and Practices. American Society of Microbiology. 2000.
"As a minimum, and with consideration of the risks involved, PPE may include street attire protected by a full length, long-sleeved, fully fastened laboratory coat, gown or smock; closed-toed shoes; eye protection; ear protection; molded "surgical type" masks; appropriate gloves ("examination" or "surgical" type depending on the need for sterile projects); and HEPA filtered respirators."
7. Biosafety Reference Manual. American Industrial Hygiene Association. 2000.
"Sneakers, sandals and open-toe or perforated shoe construction are generally not acceptable in a lab or clinical work setting, as required by 29 CFR 1910.1450. Shoes, boots and shoe covers can track dirt and debris into clean zones or generate unwanted dust particles during traffic movement or during donning or doffing activites."
In summary, any clothing that exposes large areas of skin and jewelry should not be worn in the laboratory. Good laboratory safety begins with the appropriate attire. It is one of the best ways to prevent an exposure to hazardous materials in the laboratory.
Please call the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 862-4041 with questions regarding proper attire in the laboratory.