LABORATORY SAFETY
NIST policy on laboratory safety, as defined in the Laboratory safety manual
(see http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/ohsd/hslsmcon.htm), states:
PROTECTION OF THE BODY
Protective Clothing. Lab workers are to be suitably dressed to avoid injury. Footwear and clothing must be
appropriate for each particular lab environment and protective clothing (afforded by lab coats, coveralls, aprons, etc.)
may be required for some lab work. Additional protection (such as gloves, face shields, splash goggles, plastic aprons,
boots, and legstats) may also be required to perform some experiments. Line supervision will determine the appropriate
protective clothing and dress requirements for each lab. Contaminated clothing is to be promptly cleaned or discarded
in a manner consistent with disposal of the contaminant itself (see DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE in
Chapter V). In addition,
care must be taken to prevent contaminated clothing from coming into contact with doorknobs, fixtures, furnishings,
apparatus, controls, etc., which unprotected personnel may subsequently contact.
The Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory has developed the following requirements to implement this policy:
- Closed shoes (no open toed shoes or sandals) are required in all laboratories requiring safety glasses.
- The legs of any person entering a chemical laboratory must be covered. If clothing does not extend below the
knees a lab coat must be worn.
- Signs outside laboratory doors should reflect the clothing requirements in that module; however, it is your
responsibility to know and follow these requirements.
Please help us to enforce these requirements for all laboratory users, whether NIST staff or guest researchers.
Safety is everyone's responsibility.
Last modified 23-September-2002
