PPE

PPE Policy

PPE Policy

Purpose

This guidance defines the requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) including glove use and hand hygiene in laboratories to prevent exposure to biological hazards, chemical hazards, reduce cross-contamination, and ensure safe working practices.

Scope

This policy applies to everyone (staff, students, contractors, and visitors) working in laboratories and associated areas where biological materials, chemicals, or equipment are handled. 

A suitable risk assessment should be completed before laboratory work is undertaken. PPE should be selected based on the findings of the risk assessment and used alongside engineering controls, safe systems of work and good hand hygiene to manage residual risks.

Policy Statement

All workers should use the appropriate PPE which has been identified through risk assessment. Line Managers/Supervisors should ensure suitable PPE is available and that staff/students are trained in its correct use. Individuals are responsible for wearing PPE correctly, maintaining it in good condition, and reporting damaged or unsuitable PPE to their line manager/supervisor.

Updated 10 July 2026

Hand Protection

Hand Protection

Hand washing should be routinely carried out even if gloves are worn. Hand washing should be carried out after removing gloves after completing laboratory work and before entry to office space. 

Cuts and skin abrasions should be covered with a plaster before entering the lab environment. Where wounds cannot be adequately covered, where practicable laboratory work should be deferred.

Nitrile gloves are the standard disposable gloves for laboratory activities requiring hand protection. In most instances nitrile gloves are worn to protect against accidental splashes rather than to protect against immersion. 

Gloves should be worn when handling biological samples, chemicals, biological waste, chemical waste and during spill clean-up. Select gloves that are appropriate for the task and correctly fitted. Gloves should be inspected for damage or defects before use. Gloves should be replaced immediately if they become torn, punctured, damaged, or contaminated.

While wearing gloves avoid touching your face, hair, or personal items such as phones or pens. Avoid touching keyboards, equipment and other shared surfaces while wearing contaminated gloves. Door handles should not be touched with a gloved hand.

Gloves are not normally required when transporting hazardous materials between laboratory areas, provided the materials are appropriately sealed and contained. 

Gloves must be removed before leaving the laboratory. 

Limitations of Nitrile Gloves

Personnel should be aware that:

Safe working practices, good laboratory practices and engineering controls remain essential.

The use of gloves for some activities, such as when using a Bunsen burner, is not advisable.

Gloves are a barrier, not absolute protection and can also cause skin sensitivity.

Gloves do not prevent contamination from poor technique.

Nitrile gloves are not suitable where significant chemical exposure is anticipated, glove compatibility and manufacturer’s breakthrough times should be checked before use. Double gloves or long sleeved gloves may also be required.

Latex Exclusion

Latex gloves are not permitted for routine laboratory use because natural rubber latex is a recognised cause of occupational sensitisation and allergic reactions. Please note that some brands such as Marigolds may also contain latex.

Skin Health and Occupational Safety

Personnel should report any suspected glove-related skin sensitisation, irritation, dermatitis or allergies immediately to their Line Manager/Supervisor. If skin sensitivity occurs, stop using gloves and seek advice immediately. 

Refer to the Departmental Safety Advisor and Occupational Health Officer where appropriate. 

A suitable alternative such as vinyl, neoprene or polyisoprene should be trialled and used where appropriate.

Other Glove Use

Appropriate gloves should always be worn when handling hazardous substances, very hot, very cold, sharp or heavy objects. For high-risk exposure activities beyond splash protection, specific glove types and thicknesses should be considered as part of the risk assessment. 

Gloves should have a BS EN number stamped on the back or cuff of the glove to allow quick identification. Examples include:

• Cryogloves used for liquid nitrogen or cardice handling should be certified BS EN 511. 
• Heat resistant gloves should be BS EN 407 level 2.
• Manual handling gloves and cut resistant gloves should be BS EN 388.

Laboratory Coats / Footwear

Laboratory Coats

Personnel must wear clothing that provides suitable coverage against accidental splashes, certain areas have local rules where overalls, scrubs are mandatory.  A clean, dedicated laboratory coat must also be worn and fastened in all laboratories including when supervising students, K, T and R Block. A Howie-style laboratory coat is recommended.

Entry into laboratories without a coat may only occur where no work or exposure to hazardous substances is undertaken (e.g. walking through one laboratory to another).

Lab coats should be changed and laundered regularly using approved departmental arrangements where provided.

Lab coats must be removed (along with any other PPE e.g. gloves) before leaving the laboratory unless the task is being continued in another designated laboratory or controlled area. Lab coats are not to be worn in offices and write up areas.

Footwear

Suitable, enclosed footwear with a good grip and low heel that fully covers the foot must be worn in all laboratory areas. 

Open-toed shoes, sandals, flip-flops, or other footwear that leaves the foot exposed must not be worn in laboratories. 

Suitable footwear is required to reduce the risk of injury from chemical or biological spills, hot or cryogenic liquids, dropped or sharp objects, and other laboratory hazards. 

Safety footwear (e.g. protective toe-cap shoes or boots) must be worn where identified by a risk assessment, such as when moving gas cylinders, moving liquid nitrogen tanks, using cryobanks or handling heavy equipment.

Eye/Face & Hearing Protection

Eye and Face Protection

Eye/face protection includes safety glasses, chemical splash goggles, or a face shield. Safety glasses should be readily available to all laboratory workers. Staff may obtain a personal pair from Biology Stores and communal safety glasses are available in most laboratories.

Appropriate face protection must be worn where there is a foreseeable risk of injury from chemical or biological splashes, aerosols, flying particles, cryogenic liquids, or pressurised systems.

Routine laboratory activities, including pipetting, opening sample tubes, and transferring liquids, can generate unexpected splashes. These activities should therefore be considered during risk assessment when determining the need for eye or face protection.

Where reasonably practicable, engineering controls (e.g. protective screens, biosafety cabinets or fume hoods) should be used to minimise the risk of eye injury.

Eye/face protection must be worn when handling chemicals classified as H318 (Causes serious eye damage) or H319 (Causes serious eye irritation).

Appropriate face protection must be worn when handling liquid nitrogen or other cryogenic liquids where there is a risk of splashing.

Appropriate face protection must be worn when working with/modifying/transporting hazardous substances under pressure, pressurised laboratory equipment (e.g. cylinder, HPLC systems, gas lines, GC systems, autoclaves), pressurised biological systems (e.g. fermenters), during needle/syringe work, or vacuum systems.

Prescription spectacles are not considered safety eyewear, although they may provide limited protection against minor splashes. Where a risk assessment identifies the need for eye protection, appropriate safety eyewear (e.g. prescription safety glasses, safety over-glasses, chemical splash goggles, or a face shield) must be worn.

Prescription safety glasses should be available to all staff and students at the cost of the laboratory group or grant holder. Safety over-glasses are available from stores.

Hearing Protection

Hearing protection should not be used as a substitute for higher-level noise control measures, such as acoustic enclosures or sound-reducing cages. Equipment producing excessive noise due to age, damage or poor maintenance should be repaired or replaced.

Where identified by the local risk assessment, hearing protection (e.g. ear defenders) should be worn when using noisy equipment, including intermittent use equipment such as sonicators, homogenisers, drills. Hearing protection should fit the wearer correctly, be maintained in good condition, and be provided by the line manager or supervisor where required.

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE), including FFP3 masks, powered respiratory hoods, should be used where exposure to dust, aerosols or other airborne hazards, cannot be adequately controlled by other measures for example fume hood ventilation.

Users of tight-fitting masks (e.g. FFP3 masks) must receive appropriate face-fit testing, training and instruction before use.

Seek advice from the Departmental Safety Advisor or Occupational Health Officer as to the most appropriate RPE.