Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to clothing or equipment that is designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection. PPE includes items such as lab coats, gloves, and safety glasses.
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- Protects eyes from spills and splashes
- Your regular glasses are not safety glasses. Safety glasses must be worn over prescription glasses.
- Required at all times by all persons entering chemical, radiological, and biological labs. [/collapse]
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- Adds an additional layer of protection for skin
- Also protects area not already covered by clothing
- Should be the appropriate material for your research
- Should be washed by a GT approved method on a regular basis (NOT at home)
- Must be 100% cotton in labs where open flames are present
- Must cover the wearer to the knees
- Are required when handling chemicals, biologic materials, and radioactive materials
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- Protects hands from spills and splashes
- Are required when handling chemicals, biologic materials, and radioactive materials
- Do not reuse nitrile or latex gloves
NOTE: A very common PPE mistake is the reliances on latex for all purpose use. Latex gloves do not provide adequate chemical protection from organics, solvents, toxics, acids, or bases. The best choice for all purpose use is nitrile gloves.
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In addition to PPE requirements, Georgia Tech has a laboratory dress code which includes the following requirements:
- Long hair must be tied back
- Long pants that cover to the ankle (Shorts and skirts not allowed) Pants that are frayed or torn are not recommended.
- Shirts that cover your torso are required. Crop tops are not allowed.
- Natural fibers are recommended because they are fire resistant
- Nylons (aka pantyhose), Leggings, Jeggings are not recommended
- Canvas shoes, open front or back shoes, open weave shoes, ballet flats, Crocs with holes are not allowed (The best shoes for lab work completely enclose the foot and can be wiped clean.)