Laboratory Attire

The following minimum attire and PPE requirements pertain to all laboratories where hazardous materials are in use or a physical hazard exists.

Clothing that leaves large areas of skin exposed is inappropriate in laboratories where hazardous materials (i.e., chemicals, biohazardous materials, radioactive materials) are in use. Clothing must fully cover the body. Full-length pants or equivalent and closed toe/heel shoes must be worn at all times when occupying any MU laboratory. Perforated shoes, open-toe and open-heel shoes, sandals, and clogs are not permitted. The area of skin between the pants and shoe must  not be exposed.

Laboratory coats (or equivalent protective garments) and protective eyewear are required to be worn by all workers working with hazardous materials. In addition, laboratory personnel occupying the adjacent area, who have the potential to be exposed to chemical splashes or other hazards are required to wear laboratory coats (or equivalent protective garments) and protective eyewear.

Lab coats must be appropriately sized for the worker. Coats must be buttoned/snapped to their full length. Laboratory coat sleeves just be of a sufficient length to prevent direct skin exposure while wearing gloves. We recommend coats with knit cuffed sleeves and snap closure.

Flame Resistant (FR-rated) laboratory coats must be worn when working with any amount of pyrophoric materials. FR-rated lab coats are also required when working with flammable liquids in laboratories using open flames or other potential ignition sources.

Lab coats shall not be laundered at private residences or public laundry facilities. Any contaminated protective clothing must be decontaminated prior to being laundered or appropriately discarded.