One of the things that is highlighted a lot
is the risks of contamination from removing personal protective equipment. Meticulous
removal of PPE is as important as its meticulous donning.
We asked the specialists at L&A Safety what
we should keep in mind when removing PPE:
Gloves
You don’t ever want to have bare skin touching the contaminated parts of the glove. Remove the first one by grasping the material between the hand and the cuff, and then pull it off while turning it inside out. Remove the second by using a bare finger to reach underneath the other glove and then pull it off, again so that it turns inside out. Then, wash your hands to remove any breakthrough.
You don’t ever want to have bare skin touching the contaminated parts of the glove. Remove the first one by grasping the material between the hand and the cuff, and then pull it off while turning it inside out. Remove the second by using a bare finger to reach underneath the other glove and then pull it off, again so that it turns inside out. Then, wash your hands to remove any breakthrough.
Lab
coats
Generally, undo the coat and then pull it off one sleeve at a time, reaching for the inside to avoid contaminating your hands. If the lab coat is grossly contaminated, then you would want to turn it inside out and put it in the proper receptacle for laundering or disposal. For a grossly contaminated coat, you might also want to wear gloves while removing it. Again, wash your hands when you’re done. Ideally, individual lab coats should be hung on individual hooks, so the outside of one doesn’t contaminate the inside of another.
Generally, undo the coat and then pull it off one sleeve at a time, reaching for the inside to avoid contaminating your hands. If the lab coat is grossly contaminated, then you would want to turn it inside out and put it in the proper receptacle for laundering or disposal. For a grossly contaminated coat, you might also want to wear gloves while removing it. Again, wash your hands when you’re done. Ideally, individual lab coats should be hung on individual hooks, so the outside of one doesn’t contaminate the inside of another.
Eye
protection
In most cases, eye protection should be the least contaminated thing that you have on and they should stay on until the moment you leave the lab. It’s usually safe just to take them off. If they are contaminated, then you probably need to worry less about how to safely remove them and more about why you’re not already under the shower.
In most cases, eye protection should be the least contaminated thing that you have on and they should stay on until the moment you leave the lab. It’s usually safe just to take them off. If they are contaminated, then you probably need to worry less about how to safely remove them and more about why you’re not already under the shower.
Other
things to consider
First, make sure you’re wearing the correct PPE. For gloves in particular, check a safety data sheet and a compatibility chart to make sure you’re using the correct protection for the chemical hazard. Also, watch what you touch with your gloves on. Don’t push your eye protection up on the bridge of your nose; don’t use a keyboard that you or others use bare-handed.
First, make sure you’re wearing the correct PPE. For gloves in particular, check a safety data sheet and a compatibility chart to make sure you’re using the correct protection for the chemical hazard. Also, watch what you touch with your gloves on. Don’t push your eye protection up on the bridge of your nose; don’t use a keyboard that you or others use bare-handed.
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