Lab Personal Protective Equipment

Eye and Face Protection

Wearing appropriate eye protection is essential in laboratory settings. Chemical splashes, flying debris, or UV/laser light can all create serious injuries to the eyes and face of a researcher.  All protective eye and face protective devices must comply with ANSI Z87.1-2003, "American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection". Normal prescription glasses are not adequate to protect against chemical splashes or impacts. 

Safety Glasses

Safety glasses provide eye protection from moderate impact and particles associated with machining and minor chemical splashes. They should be tight fitting with side shields. 

Specially designed safety glasses are available for protection against laser light that may damage vision. A single pair of safety glasses is not available for protection from all types of laser light. The type of eye protection required is dependent on the spectral frequency or specific wavelength of the laser source.

Splash Goggles

Splash goggles provide a tight fitting seal to the face around the eyes. Splash goggles provide more protection against potential chemical splash hazards than safety glasses and should be used whenever splash potential exist.

Face Shield 

Face shields provide additional protection to the eyes and face when used in combination with safety glasses or splash goggles. Face shield use is recommended when significant splash hazards exist such as handling large volumes of chemicals and dispensing cryogens.  

Prescription Safety Glasses Program

ESSR has recently launched a Prescription Safety Glasses program. ESSR will provide funds for one pair of prescription safety glasses through this program for researchers working in research facilities at UMD. You will be able to choose from select, approved frames. If you would like upgrades not covered through this program, or if you would like purchase more than one pair of prescription safety glasses, you will need to personally pay for the difference in costs.

Prescription Safety Glasses Order Form

Once you submit this form and are approved, you will be provided an order form to take to our local eye care provider, MyEyeDr to facilitate your order. All safety glasses must be ordered from the MyEyeDr location at 7305 Baltimore Ave Suite 202 College Park, MD 20740. 

Please note that you will need an active prescription to order prescription safety glasses from MyEyeDr. This program does not cover the cost of an eye exam if you need to obtain a new prescription.

Lab Coats

Lab coats provide a barrier that separate a researcher from a variety of hazards in the laboratory. 

Flame Resistant Lab Coats

Flame resistant lab coats are constructed of intrinsically flame resistant material. 

Flame resistant lab coats and gloves are required when pyrophoric chemicals are used outside a glovebox.

They are recommended for any work with open flame, flammable chemicals, or reactive materials.

Lab Coat Laundering

Laundering lab coats at home or in public laundry facilities is prohibited.

Laboratories have a few options with respect to addressing dirty lab coats:

• Use disposable lab coats.
• Dispose of lab coats when contaminated.
• Use departmental laundering facilities, if available.  
• Use the University of Maryland procurement agreement to set up a Cintas lab coat laundering service. See University of Maryland Lab Coat Program Brochure for more information.