Laboratory PPE should be chosen from a risk assessment of the actual task, not from a fixed list. Identify the hazard (chemical, biological, physical), how exposure could happen (splash, aerosol, contact, sharps), then select the coat, gloves, eye, face and respiratory protection that blocks that route, and train staff to wear and remove it correctly.
This is the approach of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 4th edition (2020), which moved away from rigid rules tied only to biosafety levels. The wrong glove or a badly removed gown can turn PPE into a source of exposure, and auditors increasingly ask not just what staff wear, but why.
PPE is the last line of defence
The hierarchy of controls ranks risk controls from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and, last, PPE. PPE only protects the wearer, only when it is the right type, fits, is worn correctly and is intact.
Before choosing PPE, ask whether the hazard can be removed or reduced. Can a less hazardous reagent be used? Should the work be done in a biosafety cabinet or fume hood? Are there safer sharps or sealed centrifuge rotors? PPE then covers what remains.
Body protection: lab coats and gowns
A standard laboratory coat protects skin and clothing from splashes and contamination. It should be long-sleeved, fully fastened and worn only in the laboratory.
Match the garment to the risk:
- Front-fastening coat: routine work with low splash risk
- Back-fastening or wrap-around gown with knitted or elasticated cuffs: higher-risk biological work, where a solid front protects better and cuffs sit under gloves
- Fluid-resistant or disposable gown: large volumes, splash-prone procedures or work with blood
- Flame-resistant coat: work with flammable solvents or open flames
- Chemical-resistant apron: pouring or handling corrosives
Gloves: nitrile vs latex vs neoprene
No glove protects against everything. Disposable gloves are mainly for incidental splash protection and should be changed as soon as they are contaminated. For chemicals, always check the glove manufacturer's chemical resistance data and the substance's safety data sheet (SDS).
| Glove type | Strengths | Limitations | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrile | Good general chemical and puncture resistance; no natural rubber latex | Limited protection against some solvents, such as acetone and chloroform, in thin disposable form | Most routine biological and chemical work |
| Natural rubber latex | Good fit and dexterity | Latex allergy risk; poor resistance to many organic solvents | Biological work where latex is permitted |
| Neoprene | Good resistance to many acids, bases and alcohols | Bulkier, less dexterity | Handling corrosives and some solvents |
| Butyl or laminate | High resistance to specific solvents such as many ketones and esters | Expensive, reduced dexterity | Specific hazardous solvents identified in the SDS |
| Heat-resistant or cryogenic | Protection from hot or ultra-cold surfaces | Not for chemical or biological protection | Autoclaves, liquid nitrogen |
Breakthrough can happen without visible damage, so time limits matter. Double gloving can help in higher-risk biological work or with spills, because the outer glove can be changed without exposing skin.
Eye, face and respiratory protection
Eye and face
Safety glasses with side shields protect against low-energy impact and minor splashes. Goggles seal around the eyes and are needed for significant chemical splash risk. A face shield protects the whole face during pouring of corrosives or handling liquid nitrogen, but it should be worn over glasses or goggles, not instead of them. Prescription glasses are not eye protection.
Respiratory protection
Surgical masks are not respirators: they protect against large droplets but do not seal to the face. Where an aerosol risk cannot be controlled by engineering means, a respirator may be needed: FFP2 or FFP3 filtering facepieces under European standards, or N95 respirators under US NIOSH approval. FFP3 has a higher filtering efficiency than FFP2.
Tight-fitting respirators only protect if they seal, so fit testing for each wearer and each model, plus a user seal check every time, should be part of the programme. Facial hair under the seal prevents a proper fit. For chemical vapours, particle filters do not help; the correct gas or vapour cartridge is needed, or better, a fume hood.
Footwear
Closed-toe shoes with a solid upper are a basic requirement. Sandals and fabric shoes offer no protection from dropped glassware, spills or sharps.
Donning and doffing order
A widely used sequence, based on CDC guidance, is below. Follow your own procedure if it differs.
- Donning: hand hygiene, gown or coat, respirator or mask, eye or face protection, gloves pulled over the gown cuffs.
- Doffing: gloves, eye or face protection (handled by the arms or strap), gown rolled inside out, respirator or mask (by the straps, outside the work area if required), hand hygiene.
Self-contamination most often happens during removal, so practise doffing in training and observe staff doing it.
Hazard to PPE reference table
| Hazard or task | Minimum PPE | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Routine handling of Risk Group 2 cultures in a BSC | Lab coat or gown, nitrile gloves, eye protection as assessed | The BSC is the primary control; PPE covers residual risk |
| Centrifuging or vortexing infectious material | As above, with sealed rotors or buckets opened in the BSC | Aerosol risk is controlled mainly by sealed equipment |
| Pouring concentrated acids | Chemical-resistant apron, neoprene or suitable gloves, goggles and face shield | Work in a fume hood |
| Organic solvent extraction | Gloves selected from resistance data, goggles, flame-resistant coat | Fume hood; check breakthrough time |
| Liquid nitrogen | Cryogenic gloves, face shield over glasses, closed shoes | Ensure ventilation and oxygen depletion controls |
| Microbiology spill clean-up | Gown, double gloves, eye protection, respirator if aerosol risk assessed | Follow your spill response procedure |
Worked example: a Sharjah lab with chemical and biological hazards
A food and water testing laboratory in Sharjah runs two sections. Microbiology tests for Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, all handled as Risk Group 2 organisms. Chemistry runs solvent extractions and acid digestions for contaminant testing.
An audit finds staff wearing the same coats and thin nitrile gloves everywhere, including during acid digestion. The safety officer leads a task-based risk assessment with section heads.
Microbiology keeps nitrile gloves and lab coats for plate reading, with all open culture work in Class II BSCs, but introduces back-fastening gowns for enrichment broth handling and spill response. Because Listeria monocytogenes is a particular risk in pregnancy, the assessment includes a confidential process for staff to declare pregnancy and adjust duties.
Chemistry moves acid digestion into fume hoods and adds neoprene gloves, aprons, goggles and face shields. The solvent glove is changed after checking the manufacturer's resistance chart, which shows the existing nitrile glove offers very short protection against one extraction solvent. Separate colour-coded coats stop coats moving between sections, and doffing is observed during monthly safety walks.
Common mistakes
- Choosing PPE before trying higher-level controls
- Using one glove type for every chemical without checking resistance data
- Wearing lab coats outside the laboratory, including canteens and offices
- Treating a face shield or prescription glasses as eye protection on their own
- Issuing respirators without fit testing
- Touching phones, keyboards and door handles with gloved hands
- Removing PPE in the wrong order
Key takeaway: PPE is the last control, not the first. Select it from a task-based risk assessment, check glove compatibility against the SDS and manufacturer data, fit-test respirators, and train staff to remove PPE as carefully as they put it on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is nitrile or latex better for laboratory gloves?
Nitrile is the usual choice for general laboratory work because it offers good chemical and puncture resistance and avoids natural rubber latex allergy. Latex gives excellent fit and dexterity but carries an allergy risk and resists many organic solvents poorly. For specific chemicals, check the glove manufacturer's resistance data rather than relying on the material name.
Do I need a respirator in a microbiology laboratory?
Not for most routine work. Aerosol-generating procedures with Risk Group 2 organisms should be done in a biosafety cabinet, which is the main control. A respirator may be needed where an aerosol risk remains, such as some spill responses or specific pathogens, based on your risk assessment. If respirators are used, wearers need fit testing and training.
What is the correct order for removing PPE?
A common sequence is gloves first, then eye or face protection, then the gown, then the respirator or mask, followed by hand hygiene. Handle items by the parts least likely to be contaminated, such as straps and the inside of the gown. Follow your laboratory's procedure, as sequences can vary by setting.
Can lab coats be worn outside the laboratory?
No. Lab coats used for biological or chemical work should stay in the laboratory and must not be worn in offices, canteens or outdoors, because they can carry contamination. They should be laundered through a controlled process or disposed of after significant contamination, never washed at home with personal clothing.
Next steps
To build risk-based biosafety practice in your laboratory, explore our Laboratory Biosafety & Biosecurity Essentials course. If you are unsure which course suits your role, speak to a counsellor.
For related reading, see laboratory biosafety vs biosecurity, biosafety cabinet classes explained and laboratory waste management.
Looking for structured certification?
Explore Innoryx courses or speak to a counsellor about the right program for you.