Phone:  (314) 362-6816
Fax:        (314) 362-1995
esafety@msnotes.wustl.edu

 The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard states that, "Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact."

General Requirements:

Suitable eye protection must be worn where operations present possible dangers from flying objects, liquids, dust or a combination of these hazards.

Safety Glasses

At a minimum, eye protection shall consist of plastic safety glasses with full size side shields or prescription safety glasses.

Splash Goggles

Suitable splash goggles shall be worn for operations or areas in which significant splash hazards exist. These include working with:

a.    Hazardous liquids

b.    Liquids under pressure or vacuum

c.    Highly corrosive or reactive chemicals.

Face Shields

Suitable face shields shall be worn for operations or areas in which significant explosion or implosion hazards exist. Whenever face shields are used, safety glasses shall be worn under the shields.

Foot Protection

Protective footwear shall be worn to reduce foot contact with liquids or solids that may be hazardous to workers. Clogs, perforated shoes, sandals and cloth shoes do not provide protection against spilled chemicals and should not be worn in laboratories.

Protective Clothing

Laboratory coats should be worn when working with hazardous materials especially if there is the possibility of a splash hazard.

Hand Protection

Appropriate hand protection (i.e. gloves) shall be used when handling hazardous chemicals, toxic materials, materials of unknown toxicity, corrosive or caustic materials, rough or sharp – edged objects and very hot or cold objects.

Degradation and permeation of gloves:

Type of glove (material) selected must be appropriate for protection from the hazardous chemicals being handled (see glove selection guide). Should you need any assistance, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at 362-6816 for recommendations on glove selection.

Respiratory Protection

For protection of airborne contaminants, engineering controls should be used to eliminate the hazard. If engineering controls are not possible, respiratory protection my be necessary.

Visitors

Departments shall supply visitors in their area with personal protective equipment. Visitors shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment in all posted areas.