Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Training  Programs & Policies  Documents

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.

Lab Coat
  • 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
 
Gloves

  • 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 no provide adequate chemical protection from organics, solvents, toxics, acids, or bases. The best choice for all purpose use is nitrile gloves.

 
Safety Glasses

  • 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. 
 

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.)
Additional PPE (personal protective equipment) required varies by the type of agent you are working with, so please refer to the documents below.

CINTAS currently provides this service for campus. You can reach them at 617-838-1208 or via email KiddM@cintas.com for more information, or explore their website.

Your safety in the lab starts at what you wear to lab. Below are some of the basic 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.

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. PPE refers to the clothing or equipment that is designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection. Please see the PPE page for more information.

Headphones or earbuds are not permitted in the lab. You must be able to hear what is going on around you. Other forms of music/radio may be played in the lab but nothing requiring the use of headphones.

PDF icon Personal Protective Clothing Policy

Document describing the proper use of personal protective equipment

PDF icon Personal Protective Clothing Policy FAQs

Frequently asked questions regarding the Personal Protective Equipment Policy