Body and Foot Protection

Body and Foot Protection

University of Kansas

Department of Environment, Health and Safety

Introduction: Personal Protective Equipment

A very important element to working safely in the laboratory is the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when working with hazardous or toxic materials.

PPE is a personal protection system used as a last resort when substitution or engineering controls are not available. Remember: PPE does not reduce or eliminate the hazard but reduces the risks of harmful exposure to hazardous substances. Personal Protective Equipment consists of protective clothing like: lab coats and aprons, Tyvek suits, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face shields, respirators, supplied air masks, and safety shoes and boots.

Two major components of PPE are Body and Foot Protection.

 (KU Laboratory Safety Manual 3.6.5)

Learning Objectives

After you complete this module you will be able to:

• Identify different types of body and foot protection.
• Become familiar with their uses/hazard selection process.
• Proper care and maintenance.

When Should I use Body and Foot Protection?

When determining what type of body and foot PPE to use you should select protective clothing that resists physical and chemical hazards. Choosing the correct type of body and foot protection should be determined by a Hazard Assessment* and a review of the hazardous chemical Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

Generally, lab coats are appropriate for minor chemical splashes and solids contamination, while plastic or rubber aprons are best for protection from corrosive or irritating liquids. Disposable outer garments, such as Tyvek suits, may be better suited when cleaning and decontamination of reusable or street clothes is difficult. Loose clothing, skimpy clothing (i.e. shorts, halter tops, or cut-offs), torn clothing and unrestrained hair may pose a hazard in the laboratory.

PPE may or may not be designed for wear over street clothes, and selection depends on the protective barriers necessary for reducing the risks of exposure.

Features of good PPE are:

• Long sleeves and long pants to protect exposed skin.
• Lab coats worn fully buttoned and sleeves rolled down.
• Closed collar on lab coat and/or shirt to protect neck.
• Appropriate footwear to completely cover feet.

(Lab Safety Manual 2.5.3.8; 10 and 3.1.3)

*see your supervisor and/or contact EHS for more information

Selection Considerations 1: Protection

Good body and foot protection should always include protecting vulnerable areas while working with hazardous materials.

You should select PPE that protects:

• Wrists and ankles
• face, neck and open collar.

Body Protection Features

• Full length sleeve shirt.
• Pants or below the knee skirt.
• Below the knee lab coat when not wearing appropriate pants or skirt.
• Socks above the ankle.

 Foot Protection Features

• The standard is closed-toe leather shoes that completely cover feet.
• No open heel shoes, sandals, flip-flops, clogs, etc.
• No perforated, cloth, slippers/slip-on shoes.
• Industrial safety and/or chemical protective as necessary.

Fit and comfort

• Proper selection and fitting of safety wear avoids discomfort.

!!! IMPORTANT !!! 

DO NOT:

• Bare feet, sandals, and open-toed shoes are not permitted in labs where chemical, physical, biological, or radioactive material hazards are present.
• Wear clothes that cover as much of the entire body as possible. Remember, any part of your body that is exposed can be seriously injured when working with hazardous materials.
• Shorts worn without a full length lab coat are prohibited while working in the lab.
• Women who prefer dresses to slacks or long pants must wear a full-length lab coat for additional protection.

You should ALWAYS:

• Wear proper personal protective equipment for the procedure
• Wear proper shoes that cover the entire foot.

Selection Considerations 2: Materials and Uses

Selecting the right body and foot protection requires consideration of what materials they are made and how they are used in your processes. When making your choices, you should look for these other key features:

Lab Coat / Footwear Care

Proper care of your eye and face protection is a must to ensure maximum protection. Follow these guidelines to get the most out of your equipment and prevent accidental exposures:

• Launder or clean frequently.
• Repair or replace when damaged.
• Remove contaminated clothing/shoes before leaving lab.

Note: If you are unsure of the safe use of a particular piece of safety equipment, report it to your supervisor immediately.

Additional Information

• North Safety Products

www.northsafety.com

• Fisher Scientific

www.fishersci.com

Training

KU EHS Website

www.ehs.ku.edu/training

Conclusion

As you have learned, selecting the right body and foot protection for the job is critical. Once you have selected the proper protection, care must be taken to ensure that you will receive the maximum protective benefit from your equipment to prevent accidental exposures to hazardous chemicals. Now that you have an understanding of body and foot protection equipment, you must complete a quiz (with a score of 90% or better) and print out a certificate of completion for this module to receive credit. Good luck!

Test Your Knowledge

The End!

You have completed the Body and Foot Protection awareness training. You should meet with your supervisor to go over information specific to your unit, your job, and the hazardous materials and/or processes in which your job will require. Using the skills that you have learned in this module, you should be able to determine what types of eye and face protection you will need on the job. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the KU-EHS Department.

!!! COMPLETE YOUR TRAINING DOCUMENTATION BELOW !!!