Choosing The Correct PPE | Environmental Health & Safety

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Selecting the right PPE to sufficiently reduce exposure to hazards is essential to laboratory safety. The purpose of this section is to provide resources allowing researchers to identify and classify various types of PPE so the appropriate safety precautions are taken when conducting research.

For the purpose of this site, PPE will be classified into categories: eye and face protection, hand protection, body protection, respiratory protection, and hearing protection. Each category includes its own corresponding safety equipment that will be described below.

Eye and Face Protection

Eye protection is achieved by wearing eyewear specifically designed to reduce the risk of exposure to chemical splashes, laser radiation, and/or flying debris. There are four primary types of eye protection — of which each has its own limitations — including general safety glasses, laser safety glasses, chemical splash goggles and impact goggles. Full face protection is achieved by wearing face shields.

Type Use                          

General safety glasses

• Must have side shields, or a one-piece lens that wraps around the temple.

• Are the minimum level of eye protection that must be worn in the laboratory.

• Are not effective in protecting the eyes from splashes, and are only recommended for use with solutions that are not likely to damage the eye, such as some buffers and salts.

Laser safety glasses

• Selection is based on the laser wavelength and power.

• Protective properties can be found printed on the eyewear.

• Are not as effective as laser safety goggles at filtering all light entering the eyes.

• EH&S does not provide laser safety glasses or goggles for use in the laboratory, but will assist in selecting the correct laser safety goggles or glasses for your application, which can be purchased by the PI as needed.

Chemical splash goggles

• Are recommended any time a splash of chemicals or infectious substances could reach the eyes.

• Can act as impact goggles to prevent flying debris from reaching the eyes.

• May be purchased from the campus bookstore or obtained from EH&S in accordance with LHAT recommendations.

Impact goggles

• Offer protection from flying debris only.

• Often have ventilation holes on the sides that render the user susceptible to chemical splashes and dust or small debris.

• EH&S does not offer impact goggles, but chemical splash goggles can often be used in substitution. Feel free to contact EH&S with any questions regarding this substitution.

Face shields

• Required when splashes from chemicals that can cause immediate skin damage are handled (e.g. working with concentrated acids, dispensing liquid nitrogen, sonicating tissue samples, etc.).

• Shall be worn in conjunction with chemical splash goggles. Respiratory protective equipment might be required, depending on the task; contact EH&S if you have any questions regarding face shield use.

• All new PIs receive two complimentary face shields from EH&S. Existing PIs received two face shields during the 2013 PPE distribution event. Additional and/or replacement face shields can be purchased by

  PIs.

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Hand Protection

Appropriate selection of gloves is essential to protecting hands. Chemically protective gloves are one of the most important tools to minimize dermal exposures to chemicals in research laboratories. Gloves should only be used under the specific conditions for which they are designed, as no glove is impervious to all chemicals.

It is also important to note that gloves degrade over time, so they should be replaced as necessary to ensure adequate protection. Laboratory personnel should use the information below, and manufacturer compatibility charts (found under useful resources in the above right menu), to choose the type and style of glove.

Type   Use  

Light latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves

Disposable latex (powdered or unpowdered)

Working with biological hazards (human blood, body fluids, tissues, bloodborne pathogens, specimens), BSL1, BSL2, BSL2+, BSL3

Disposable nitrile (puncture and abrasion resistant, protection from splash hazards)

Working with biological hazards and chemical splash hazards

Disposable vinyl (economical, durable, similar to latex)

Working with biological hazards, BSL1, BSL2, BSL2+, BSL3

Light chemical resistant gloves

Natural rubber latex (chemical resistant, liquid-proof)

Working with small volumes of corrosive liquids, organic solvents, flammable compounds

Light to heavy chemical resistant gloves

Nitrile (chemical resistant, good puncture, cut and abrasion resistance)

Using apparatus under pressure, air or water-reactive chemicals

Heavy chemical resistant gloves

Butyl (high permeation resistance to most chemicals)

Working with large volumes of organic solvents; small to large volumes of dangerous solvents, acutely toxic or hazardous materials

Viton® II (high permeation resistance to most chemicals)

Same as butyl gloves, plus hazardous material spills

Silver shield (extra chemical and mechanical protection)

Same as butyl and Viton® II gloves, added mechanical protection, hazardous material spills

Insulated gloves

Terrycloth autoclave (heat resistant)

Working with hot liquids and equipment, open flames, water bath, oil bath

Cryogen (water-resistant or waterproof, protection against ultra-cold temperatures)

Handling cryogenic liquids

Wire mesh gloves

Wire mesh (cut resistant)

Working with live animals and exposed to potential cuts

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Body Protection

Lab coats are required for all wet labs. Cotton or cotton/poly blends are sufficient for labs without risk of fire. Nomex coats are required for work with pyrophorics, flammable liquids in quantities of more than 4 liters, or when work involves flammable liquids and an ignition source such as a burner. Barrier coats must be worn when working with infectious materials. Barrier coats can be autoclaved by placing the coats in a pan and placing an additional pan of water in the autoclave.

Type Use  

Traditional (cotton/cotton-polyester blend - protects skin and clothing from dirt, inks, non-hazardous chemicals)

General use; chemical, biological, radiation, and physical hazards

Flame resistant (e.g. Nomex or other flame-resistant cotton 

—

 resists ignition)

Working with water or air reactive chemicals, large volumes of organic solvents, and potentially explosive chemicals

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Barrier (predominantly polyester 

—

 offers splash protection, not flame resistant)

Working with infectious materials

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Respiratory Protection

Program Procedures

Respiratory protective equipment is only used as a "last line of defense," and as a result, requires individual assessment and training by EH&S personnel. Proper fitting and use is key to respirator efficacy, so EH&S requires all individuals who believe one or more of their job tasks require respiratory protective equipment to contact EH&S. The following steps will be taken:

1. A workplace hazard assessment will be performed to determine if the task requires respiratory protective equipment.
   • If the task does not require respiratory equipment but the employee wishes to use such equipment, he or she must complete Appendix D of the Respiratory Protective Equipment Manual and return the bottom portion of the form to EH&S. This form provides information in accordance with OSHA Sec. 1910.134 regarding voluntary use of respirators when not required under the standard.
2. If respiratory protective equipment is necessary, the employee will be given a medical evaluation questionnaire to fill out as well as a supplement to the medical questionnaire that outlines the findings of the hazard assessment conducted by EH&S. Both forms should be taken to a contract physician or licensed health care professional (PLHCP) who will perform a confidential medical evaluation to determine the employee's fitness to wear a respirator.
3. When the employee is approved to wear a respirator for the job task(s) outlined in the hazard assessment, the appropriate respirator will be selected and the employee will be fit-tested following CAL/OSHA's accepted fit-testing protocol. Fit-testing assures the selected respirator is worn correctly to allow proper performance.
4. During fit-testing, the employee receives training on the appropriate method(s) to store, handle and sanitize the respirator.
5. Once initial fitting and training are completed, the employee must enroll in and attend yearly training conducted by EH&S through the UC Learning Center. Employees will be authorized to register for the "Basic Respiratory Protection" course to fulfill the annual training requirement.

 

Type   Use  

Surgical masks

Protect against large droplets and splashes (does not require fit-testing)

Working with live animals; working with infectious material in BSL-2+ level labs but only protects your sample from you, not the other way around.

N-95 respirators

Protects against dust, fumes, mists, microorganisms (requires fit-testing)

Working with live animals or infectious materials in BSL-2 level labs with known airborne transmissible disease (e.g. tuberculosis, also required for influenza (flu)); dusty environments

Half-mask respirators

Purifies air: protects against a variety of particulates, vapors, dust, mists, fumes; depends on filter cartridge used

(requires fit-testing)

Working with live animals or infectious materials with known airborne transmissible disease; dusty environments; chemical vapors; particulates

Full-face respirators

Same as half-mask, with greater protection factor; eye, mucus membranes, and face protection; depends on filter cartridge used

(requires fit-testing)

Working with live animals or infectious materials with known airborne transmissible disease; dusty environments; chemical vapors; particulates

Respirator cartridges

For use in half-mask respirators and full-face respirators

• P-100: for dust only

• Organic Vapor (OV): for fumes of organic solvents only

• Acid Gas: vapors of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, etc

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Hearing Protection

All laboratory personnel shall contact EH&S to request noise monitoring in their laboratory settings to perform noise monitoring and advise on the specific use of hearing protectors.

Laboratory workers whose eight-hour time-weighted average noise exposure exceeds the 85 dBA Action Level will be enrolled in the UC Merced Hearing Conservation Program. These individuals will receive annual audiometric testing, will have hearing protectors made available to them by their supervisors, and will be provided training on the fitting, use and care of these devices.

Monitoring results for individuals whose noise exposure exceed the Action Level will also be notified in writing using Attachment B — Noise Monitoring — Dosimetry Results.

Disposable earplugs

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane foam, one-time use design (no cleaning), one size fits all, lightweight, low cost, blocks all sound. Useful when working in areas where sound levels average over 85 dBa; EH&S can assist in assessments

Reusable earplugs

Silicone tapered fit, reusable (needs cleaning), corded or uncorded, lightweight, more durable than disposable earplugs. Useful when working in areas where

sound levels average over 85 dBa

; EH&S can assist in assessments

Hearing band

Earplugs connected to a flexible band that can be worn around the neck when not needed. Useful when working in areas where

sound levels average over 85 dBa

; EH&S can assist in assessments

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In order to avoid potential problems in the clearance of your merchandise, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that you familiarize yourself with CBP policies and procedures prior to actually importing/exporting your goods. You should also be aware of any entry requirements specific to the particular commodity you are importing/exporting, including those of other federal agencies. To assist you, we offer the following tips for new importers and exporters.

What kind of license is required to import merchandise into the United States?

CBP does not require an importer to have a license or permit, but other agencies may require a permit, license, or other certification, depending on the commodity that is being imported. CBP acts in an administrative capacity for these other agencies, and you may wish to contact them directly for more information. You can find links to other government agencies and departments at USA.gov. There is a listing of other government agencies in the appendix section of the publication Importing Into the United States. You may also need a license from local or state authorities to do business. CBP entry forms do ask for your importer number: this is either your IRS business registration number, or if your business is not registered with the IRS or you do not have a business, your social security number will be sufficient. As an alternative, you may request a CBP assigned number by completing a CBP Form 5106 and presenting it to the Entry Branch at a CBP port of entry.

The CBP website contains valuable information for the new or experienced importer.

We recommend that importers review the topics on the CBP Trade page. In particular, we suggest viewing the information contained in the section titled Basic Importing and Exporting. There are many topic-specific links to explore. This will lead you to information on CBP import requirements, arrival of goods, formal entry vs. informal entry, classification, protest, mail shipments, restricted merchandise and more. For other agency requirements you may need to meet, and if you become a frequent importer with higher valued shipments, we recommend you read Importing into the United States. This publication contains more in-depth information and is valuable reading for anyone seriously venturing into the importing business.

We also urge you to read the Informed Compliance Publications. CBP has prepared a number of Informed Compliance Publications (ICPs) in the "What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About..." series on a variety issues. If your business will cause you to travel in and out of the country, we recommend that you review the traveler information in the Know Before You Go.

Prior to importing, you may contact the CBP office at the port of entry where your merchandise will enter the United States

A complete directory of the various ports of entry can be found on this website. If you are unsure of or haven't decided the port where your shipment will arrive, or you are looking at importing through multiple ports, you may contact a service port of entry near you. Ask to speak with a CBP import specialist assigned to the commodity you are importing. Import specialists are a valuable resource for commodity specific knowledge and can provide classification advice, commodity specific requirements, advisory duty rates, and respond to questions you may have about filing an entry. At many ports, entry specialists handle questions regarding entry filing. Entry specialists work closely with import specialists and provide the technical processing expertise required to file the necessary paperwork.

When calling the port, the importer should be able to provide as much detail regarding the transaction as possible. In order for the import specialist to best assist you, it is important you be able to exactly describe the merchandise you are planning to import. In order for the import specialist to best assist you, you should provide a full and complete description of the article and answer specific questions such as: 1) the country of origin of the merchandise and manufacturer; 2) the composition of the merchandise; 3) the intended use of the item; and 4) pricing/payment information (in order to properly determine the value of the shipment). For more information on the classification of merchandise, consult the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) which contains the actual HTS number and tariff classification guidelines that explain how to properly classify merchandise.

Importers can request a written ruling from CBP for the proper HTSUS classification and rate of duty for their merchandise.

For information on CBP ruling letters, review What are Ruling Letters. When requesting a binding ruling, importers should follow the procedures outlined in Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). Research the results of previous ruling requests by using the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS). CBP may have already issued rulings on products similar to yours that you can use for guidance. CROSS also addresses other issues such as value, country of origin marking, and applicability of trade preference programs. The CROSS database is searchable by key word.

The CBP Website also contains valuable information regarding exporting.

If your future plans call for exporting merchandise from the U.S., you should review the information found in the Export section of this website.

Although CBP enforces many export regulations for various other government agencies, specific questions pertaining to licensing requirements for a particular commodity should be directed to that lead agency. Other agency contact information as well as commodities that may require export licenses, can be obtained by visiting the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security Web sites. Questions regarding export licenses may also be directed to CBP officers at the port where the merchandise will exit the country. Another resource is the Department of Commerce's Trade Information Center which you can call 1-800-USA Trade or visit their website Export.gov.

Although certain resident importers and exporters may file entries on their own behalf, many first time importers and exporters consult a licensed customs broker.

Those importing merchandise for their own use often hire a customs broker, particularly if they find the importing procedures complicated; however, they may make entry on their own. Importers wishing to consult the professional services of a Customs broker may do so. Customs brokers are licensed by CBP, but are not CBP employees. To view a list of customs brokers licensed to conduct CBP business in a specific port, select the Port you expect to use. Many service port pages have a list of customs brokers. Please note these lists may not be all inclusive and those brokers appearing on the list are not endorsed by CBP. There is also an Informed Compliance Publication about customs brokers. Remember, even when using a broker, you, the importer of record, are ultimately responsible for the correctness of the entry documentation presented to CBP and all applicable duties, taxes and fees.

Importer Security Filing (ISF/"10+2") mandatory for ocean vessel shipments.

On January 26, 2009, the new rule titled Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements (commonly known as "10+2") went into effect. This new rule applies to import cargo arriving to the United States by vessel. Failure to comply with the new rule could ultimately result in monetary penalties, increased inspections and delay of cargo.

What is an Importer Security Filing? Under the new rule, before merchandise arriving by vessel can be imported into the United States, the "Importer Security Filing (ISF) Importer," or their agent (e.g., licensed customs broker), must electronically submit certain advance cargo information to CBP in the form of an Importer Security Filing. This requirement only applies to cargo arriving in the United States by ocean vessel: it does not apply to cargo arriving by other modes of transportation. Remember, even when using a broker, , the importer of record, is ultimately responsible for the correctness of the entry documentation presented to CBP and all applicable duties, taxes and fees.

Where can I Find More Information? For more detailed information about the Importer Security Filing requirements, please see CBP's webpage on Importer Security Filing. You will find a link to Frequently Asked Questions and recordings of recently conducted ISF webinars for small to mediums entities. Additional assistance may be available from your licensed customs broker, freight forwarders, trade associations and local trade centers.

You should research general quota information and quota requirements for certain commodities prior to importing into the United States.

Import quotas control the amount or volume of various commodities that can be imported into the United States during a specified period of time. United States import quotas may be divided into two main types: absolute and tariff-rate. Absolute quotas usually apply to textiles and strictly limit the quantity of goods that may enter the commerce of the United States during a specific period. Currently there are no commodities subject to absolute quota restrictions. Tariff-rate quotas permit a specified quantity of imported merchandise to be entered at a reduced rate of duty during the quota period. Once a quota has been reached, goods may still be entered, but at a higher rate of duty.

Quota information is available on the Quota page. This section contains links to information on subjects such as determining whether imported goods are subject to quota restraints.  A Guide to Import Quotas provides additional quota information. Fill levels for agricultural quotas and textiles eligible for trade preference programs are tracked on the Commodity Status Report for Tariff Rate Quotas. General quota information and instructions for specific quotas are available to CBP field offices and the trade as Quota Book Transmittals.

You may receive a bill if your shipment is examined by CBP.

Under Title 19, section 1467, of the United States Code (19 U.S.C. 1467), CBP has a right to examine any shipment imported into the United States and it is important to know that you, the importer, must bear the cost of such cargo exams. Per the CBP regulations, it is the responsibility of the importer to make the goods available for examination-- "The importer shall bear any expense involved in preparing the merchandise for CBP examination and in the closing of packages" (19 C.F.R. 151.6). Household effects are not exempt. No distinction is made between commercial and personal shipments. In the course of normal operations, CBP does not charge for cargo examinations. However, there may still be costs involved for the importer. For example, if your shipment is selected for examination, it will generally be moved to a Centralized Examination Station (CES) for the CBP exam to take place. A CES is a privately operated facility where merchandise is made available to CBP officers for physical examination. The CES facility will unload (devan) your shipment from its shipping container and will reload it after the exam. The CES will bill you for their services. There are also costs associated with moving the cargo to and from the exam site and with storage. Rates will vary across the country and a complete devanning may cost several hundred dollars. The CES facility fulfills the needs of both CBP and the importer by providing an efficient means to conduct exams in a timely manner. CES facilities are discussed in part 118 of the Customs Regulations.

Some information requested from CBP can only be provided through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) procedures.

When members of the trade community or individuals from the public request information from CBP, there are circumstances when the information being sought can be provided only if the request is pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The CBP Web site has a comprehensive explanation of the agency FOIA program, including background and general information about FOIA law, FOIA regulations, and specific instructions making a FOIA request.

For general CBP inquiries, please call the CBP INFO Center Monday-Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

General Inquiries: (1-877) CBP-5511

International Callers: (202) 325-8000

TDD: (1-866) 880-6582

We recommend you first try to find the information you want by using the CBP INFO Center's FAQ tool. It has more than 500 answers about CBP policies and procedures.

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