Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is the last line of defense to protect workers from workplace hazards. Use of PPE should only be considered when other, more effective, engineering and/or administrative controls are in place. The University has established a basic minimum PPE rule that applies to all university operations.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects workers from chemical, biological, physical, mechanical and radiological hazards by guarding potential routes of exposure, including skin contact, mucus membranes, inhalation or ingestion.
A PPE hazard assessment must be conducted to determine what PPE is required in your work space. The PPE hazard assessment form is available in the University Safety Administrative Management (SAM) system or below. Completed assessment must be uploaded into the documents library in SAM for your area.
Use of the following PPE is mandated by the University of Utah for personnel in hazardous environments (e.g., research laboratories, machine shops, or vivaria) unless a robust PPE hazard assessment is conducted and different PPE requirements are appropriate.
Consult with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) about PPE selection and use to ensure adequate protection.
One type of glove will not protect against all hazards. For chemical hazards, consult the safety data sheet (SDS) and manufacturer glove selection criteria. For physical hazards, choose gloves with appropriate protection (e.g., insulated, cut resistant). Double gloving is required for certain hazards and recommended for working with biological agents. Dexterity should be considered for operations that necessitate grip and material handling.
A lab coat is required in all wet laboratories, and any areas handling chemicals or biological materials. Flame-resistant lab coats are required when handling flammable, pyrophoric, water-reactive or explosive substances. Fabric lab coats are preferred when handling corrosives. Barrier lab coats are preferred when handling biohazards. Back-tying disposable gowns are required in vivaria and at BSL2+ or above. Aprons can protect against chemical or physical hazards in shops.
Safety glasses (for physical hazards) or goggles (for splashes/ sprays and overhead work) must be ANSI approved. Wavelength specific laser safety glasses are required for working with lasers. Shaded welding helmets are required for welding. Face shields protect from splashes, sprays or spatters and must be either rated against impact and must be worn with safety glasses/goggles. Surgical masks provide splash, spray or spatter protection for the nose and mouth.
Respirators (filtering face piece/disposable, half-face, full-face, PAPR) are a last line of defense against airborne hazards. Users must be fit-tested tested and medically cleared annually and after surgery or weight gain/loss affecting face shape. A written respiratory Protection Program is required. More information about selection and use of respiratory protection is available from EHS.
Earplugs or ear muffs provide protection when working around noisy equipment and must be ANSI approved. These can be used separately or, in some situations, combined for extra protection.
Other PPE to protect the head (e.g., hard hat, bouffant cap) or feet (e.g., shoe covers, rubber boots) may be required based on the area’s risk assessment.
Put PPE on before entering hazardous environments or handling hazardous materials
Remove PPE before re-entering public-access areas to avoid spreading hazardous materials or exposing others
Avoid touching bare skin when removing potentially contaminated PPE
Wash hands after removing gloves and other PPE
Separate items that contact bare skin from those that contact gloved hands
Follow site/area-specific standard operating procedures
Disposable PPE (e.g., gloves) contaminated with hazardous substances must be disposed of as hazardous chemical waste. Disposable PPE contaminated with biological materials or recombinant/ synthetic nucleic acid molecules must be disposed of as medical waste. Reusable PPE (e.g., lab coats) must be contained if contaminated, spot decontaminated (if possible) and cleaned by a licensed cleaner (i.e., not taken home for laundering). Lab coats may be laundered using the University Hospital Linen Services or an approved laundry program.
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