Protective Clothing and Footwear in Laboratories Policy - Policy 000270

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR IN LABORATORIES POLICY

1. Wearing Of Protective Clothing

In order to comply with Occupational Health and Safety standards, and to ensure that a minimum acceptable level of safety and protection exists, the following requirements must be observed by any staff member or student working in a laboratory:

Appropriate protective clothing (such as overalls or laboratory coats) must be worn
Closed-in shoes must be worn. Thongs or similar footwear which expose the feet are prohibited
Other personal protective devices (such as goggles) must be worn when required or as directed by the laboratory supervisor
After consultation with the Occupational Health and Safety Officer, the relevant Head of Department shall specify the minimum requirements for entry into the laboratory, which will be enforced by the laboratory supervisor

2. Funding of Cost of Protective Clothing

Except in the circumstances described in (ii) below, the responsibility for meeting the costs of the prescribed protective clothing for students must be met by the students.
A Department may, at its discretion, maintain laboratory kits containing laboratory coats, for hire to students, with or without cost to the students.