Mark Diego D.

Eola

BSPE-5D

Assignment:

Types of Personal Protection Equipment:

Eye and Face Protection

Eye protection is achieved by wearing eyewear specifically designed to reduce the risk of exposure to
chemical splashes, laser radiation and/or flying debris. There are four primary types of eye
protection of which each has its own limitations including general safety glasses, laser safety
glasses, chemical splash goggles and impact goggles. Full face protection is achieved by wearing face
shields.

Type Use

General safety Must have side shields, or a

glasses one-piece lens that wraps around the
temple.
Are the minimum level of eye
protection that must be worn in the
laboratory.
Are not effective in protecting the
eyes from splashes, and are only
recommended for use with solutions
that are not likely to damage the eye,
such as some buffers and salts.

Laser safety Selection is based on the laser

glasses wavelength and power.
Protective properties can be
found printed on the eyewear.
Are not as effective as laser safety
goggles at filtering all light entering
the eyes.
EH&S does not provide laser
safety glasses or goggles for use in the
laboratory, but will assist in selecting
the correct laser safety goggles or
glasses for your application, which can
be purchased by the PI as needed.
Chemical Are recommended any time a
splash goggles splash of chemicals or infectious
substances could reach the eyes.
Can act as impact goggles to
prevent flying debris from reaching
the eyes.
May be purchased from the
campus bookstore or obtained from
EH&S in accordance with LHAT
recommendations.

Impact goggles Offer protection from flying debris

only.
Often have ventilation holes on
the sides that render the user
susceptible to chemical splashes and
dust or small debris.
EH&S does not offer impact
goggles, but chemical splash goggles
can often be used in substitution. Feel
free to contact EH&S with any
questions regarding this substitution.

Face shields Required when splashes from

chemicals that can cause immediate
skin damage are handled (e.g.
working with concentrated acids,
dispensing liquid nitrogen, sonicating
tissue samples, etc.).
Shall be worn in conjunction with
chemical splash goggles. Respiratory
protective equipment might be
required, depending on the task;
contact EH&S if you have any
questions regarding face shield use.
All new PIs receive two
complimentary face shields from
EH&S. Existing PIs received two face
shields during the 2013 PPE
distribution event. Additional and/or
replacement face shields can be
purchased by PIs.
Hand Protection

Appropriate selection of gloves is essential to protecting hands. Chemically protective gloves are one of
the most important tools to minimize dermal exposures to chemicals in research laboratories. Gloves
should only be used under the specific conditions for which they are designed, as no glove is
impervious to all chemicals.

It is also important to note that gloves degrade over time, so they should be replaced as necessary to
ensure adequate protection. Laboratory personnel should use the information below, and
manufacturer compatibility charts (found under useful resources in the above right menu), to choose
the type and style of glove.

Type Use

Light Disposable Working with biological

latex, latex hazards (human blood, body
vinyl or (powdered or fluids, tissues, bloodborne
nitrile unpowdered) pathogens, specimens), BSL1,
gloves BSL2, BSL2+, BSL3

Disposable Working with biological

nitrile hazards and chemical splash
(puncture and hazards
abrasion
resistant,
protection
from splash
hazards)

Disposable Working with biological

vinyl hazards, BSL1, BSL2, BSL2+,
(economical, BSL3
durable,
similar to
latex)

Light Natural rubber Working with small volumes

chemical latex of corrosive liquids, organic
resistant (chemical solvents, flammable
gloves resistant, compounds
liquid-proof)
Light to Nitrile Using apparatus under
heavy (chemical pressure, air or water reactive
chemical resistant, chemicals
resistant good
gloves puncture, cut
and abrasion
resistance)

Heavy Butyl (high Working with large volumes of

chemical permeation organic solvents; small to
resistant resistance to large volumes of dangerous
gloves most solvents, acutely toxic or
chemicals) hazardous materials

Viton II Same as butyl gloves, plus

(high hazardous material spills
permeation
resistance to
most
chemicals)

Silver shield Same as butyl and Viton II

(extra gloves, added mechanical
chemical and protection, hazardous
mechanical material spills
protection)

Insulated Terrycloth Working with hot liquids and

gloves autoclave equipment, open flames,
(heat water bath, oil bath
resistant)

Cryogen Handling cryogenic liquids

(water
resistant or
water proof,
protection
against
ultra-cold
temperatures)
Wire Wire mesh Working with live animals and
mesh (cut resistant) exposed to potential cuts
gloves

Body Protection

Lab coats are required for all wet labs. Cotton or cotton/poly blends are sufficient for labs without risk
of fire. Nomex coats are required for work with pyrophorics, flammable liquids in quantities of more
than 4 liters or when work involves flammable liquids and an ignition source such as a burner. Barrier
coats must be worn when working with infectious materials. Barrier coats can be autoclaved by placing
the coats in a pan and placing an additional pan of water in the autoclave.

Type Use

Traditional General use; chemical,

(cotton/cotton-polyester biological, radiation and
blend - protects skin and physical hazards
clothing from dirt, inks,
non-hazardous
chemicals)

Flame resistant (e.g. Working with water or air

Nomex or other reactive chemicals, large
flame-resistant volumes of organic
cotton resists solvents, and potentially
ignition) explosive chemicals

Barrier (predominantly Working with infectious

polyester offers materials
splash protection, not
flame resistant)

Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protective equipment is only used as a "last line of defense," and as a result, requires
individual assessment and training by EH&S personnel. Proper fitting and use is key to respirator
efficacy, so EH&S requires all individuals who believe one or more of their job tasks require respiratory
protective equipment to contact EH&S.

Type Use

Surgical masks Protect against Working with live

large droplets and animals; working with
splashes (does not infectious material in
require fit-testing) BSL-2+ level labs but only
protects your sample
from you, not the other
way around.

N-95 Protects against Working with live animals

respirators dusts, fumes, mists, or infectious materials in
microorganisms BSL-2 level labs with
(requires fit-testing) known airborne
transmissible disease
(e.g. tuberculosis, also
required for influenza
(flu)); dusty environments

Half-mask Purifies air: protects Working with live animals

respirators against variety of or infectious materials
particulates, with known airborne
vapors, dust, mists, transmissible disease;
fumes; depends on dusty environments;
filter cartridge chemical vapors;
used(requires particulates
fit-testing)

Full-face Same as half-mask, Working with live animals

respirators with greater or infectious materials
protection factor; with known airborne
eye, mucus transmissible disease;
membranes and dusty environments;
face protection; chemical vapors;
depends on filter particulates
cartridge
used(requires
fit-testing)
Respirator For use in half-mask P-100: for dust only
cartridges respirators and Organic Vapor (OV): for fumes of organic solvents
full-face respirators only
Acid Gas: vapors of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid,
etc

Hearing Protection

All laboratory personnel shall contact EH&S to request noise monitoring in their laboratory settings to
perform noise monitoring and advise on the specific use of hearing protectors.

Laboratory workers whose eight-hour time-weighted average noise exposure exceeds the 85 dBA
Action Level will be enrolled in the UC Merced Hearing Conservation Program. These individuals will
receive annual audiometric testing, will have hearing protectors made available to them by their
supervisors, and will be provided training on the fitting, use and care of these devices.

Disposable Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane foam,

earplugs one-time use design (no cleaning), one size fits
all, light weight, low cost, blocks all sound. Useful
when working in areas where sound levels
average over 85 dBa; EH&S can assist in
assessments

Reusable Silicone, tapered fit, reusable (needs cleaning),

earplugs corded or uncorded, light weight, more durable
than disposable earplugs. Useful when working
in areas where sound levels average over 85
dBa; EH&S can assist in assessments

Hearing band Earplugs connected to a flexible band that can

be worn around the neck when not needed.
Useful when working in areas where sound
levels average over 85 dBa; EH&S can assist in
assessments