What Protective Clothing Is Needed in a Lab?

Introduction

One thing that is of utmost importance for men and woman working in labs is protective clothing. Prevention is better than cure and the right kind of protecting clothing helps prevent various dangers and problems that one is likely to face when working in laboratories.

History

Proper protective clothing, precautions and following all safety guidelines diligently will go a long way is preventing accidents in labs. Gloves are a must when working with chemicals and toxic water samples. When a lab technician or any other person working in a lab handles acids and bases he must wear safety glasses. Good and effective protective suit and gear that will help cover the face, hands, etc and help prevent respiratory and other problems are ideal to wear in labs.

The coveralls and protective clothing give protection against all kinds of toxic gases and vapors and splashes of all kind. The shoes give protection against splashes and are resistant to high density heat.

Protective clothing is a must because the person working in a lab is exposed to numerous chemicals, radioactive materials, infectious agents that combustible and flammable, harmful dusts, sharp objects and extreme temperature.
There are different kinds of protective clothing like lab coats, aprons, long pants, long sleeves, and footwear. There are protective lab coats that cover the whole body including the face and neck. There are also coats that do not; in such coats the face and exposed parts are protected with addition gear. The lab coats, aprons, coveralls, and other gear a lab worker needs depends on the kind of environment and material he handles.

Features

There are different kinds of protective clothing like lab coats, aprons, long pants, long sleeves, and footwear. There are protective lab coats that cover the whole body including the face and neck. There are also coats that do not; in such coats the face and exposed parts are protected with addition gear. The lab coats, aprons, coveralls, and other gear a lab worker needs depends on the kind of environment and material he handles.

The lab coats are made of strong fabric and have snap closures that makes it easy to remove. The lab coats should be chemical resistant, fire resistant and protect against harmful and toxic gases. It must be easily washed as well. It should not be fastened and but must be easily removed when necessary.

There are disposable lab coats as well and these should not be worn near areas that are ignited or of high temperatures as these are made of polypropylene and melts easily.

Proper shoes are very much necessary and it should cover the entire foot. Sandals and open toe shoes are not recommended. If the lab worker handles heavy equipment and materials safety boots and shoes must be worn instead of regular shoes.

If the labs handle bio hazardous waste products, radioactive particles, and other potentially dangerous materials then full body suits that have inbuilt cooling systems, masks, etc are needed. All protective clothing should be decontaminated after use and before wearing.

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