911±¬ÁÏÍø

Scope

This documentÌýsets the minimum standard for Personal Protective Equipment ("PPE") to beÌýworn in any laboratory on UCL owned or UCL run sites where the area is being used as aÌýwet laboratory ("web lab").Ìý

Due to the risks associated with chemical and biological splashes, spills etc UCL has stated that in the teaching and research environment, the default for reasonable control measures is the wearing of PPE as stated in this Standard; it consists of eye protection and lab coats.

Any activity taking place in a wet lab/area where there is the use of chemical or biological substances must consider the risk of splashes and spills as a significant risk and implement this Standard.

Only when an additional specific risk assessment and the written procedures state that PPE is either not a suitable or necessary control measure can its use be modified. This could be due to the risk ofÌýthe specific activity either not beingÌýpresent or that the PPE will not provide any additional control.Ìý

This Standard covers:

• Staff, students, graduates, postgraduates and visitors who work in or visit wet labs.
• All wet labs used for teaching and research, including chemical and biological labsÌý(including CL2 and CL3 labs and suites).
• Engineering spaces or other practical workspaces must follow this Standard if theyÌýcarry the same or similar risk as wet labs in that the area risk assessmentÌýdemonstrates there is a risk of splashes and spills of hazardous substances.Ìý

Note that engineering spaces and other experiments may require PPE for other reasons,Ìýsuch as eye protection for the risk of projectiles or sharps. This must be considered whenÌýsetting the minimum standard for the PPE for that area and specific activities in that area.

Where the use of this Standard does not apply

Cleaning or chemicals stores that are managed by contractors with no access to UCL staffÌýor studentsÌý(PPE requirements should be part of the risk assessment/method statement for the contracted activity).

Contractors and other individuals carrying out maintenance work within wet labs are notÌýcovered by this Standard. However, before they are allowed to enter the space, they must have a risk assessment and method statement that includes the hazards present in the wet lab and shows that these are controlled, which may includeÌýspecific PPE requirements.

Legal requirements

Employers have a duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety andÌýwelfare of their employees at work. Employers must complete a risk assessment, whichÌýshould consider controls to manage the risks and provide adequate control to exposure.

Some risks may remain after engineering controls and safe systems of work have beenÌýapplied, so adequate control of exposure cannot be achieved by other means and theÌýemployer must provide suitable personal protective equipment, in combination with otherÌýcontrol measures.

Employees have a duty to wear any PPE that their employer requires, correctly.

Definitions

• Biological substances – These include naturally formed or genetically modified bacteria, fungi, viruses, prions, as well as human or animal tissues and bodily fluids that may contain pathogenic organisms and present a risk to human and animal health.
• Chemical substances – Chemical substances exist as solids, liquids, vapours, mists, gases orÌýfumes, and may change between phases of matter with changes in temperature or pressure. Note that chemical substances include water, acids and bases.
• Dry lab –ÌýA dry lab is a laboratory where the nature of the experiments does not involveÌýsignificant risk from spills, splashes or exposure to hazardous chemical or biological agents.
• Eye protection –ÌýPPE that protects the wearer against exposure to hazards includingÌýchemical and biological hazards, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour or radiation. PPE optionsÌýinclude safety spectacles, safety goggles, face screens, face shields and visors. SafetyÌýglasses are different to safety goggles as safety goggles provide the user with a higher level ofÌýcoverage. Eye protection must comply with appropriate standards. Standard prescriptionÌýglasses that do not comply are not protective and may increase the risks of personal injury ifÌýworn as a replacement for eye protection.
• Hazardous chemicals – A hazardous chemical is a pure substance or a mixture that mayÌýpose harm to human health, facilities, property or the environment.
• Lab coats – Worn to protect the user from contamination of general clothing. Lab coats are worn over the top of general clothing to provide splash protection from liquids, vapours,Ìýaerosols, fumes and mistsÌýpreventing direct contact with the skin and clothes. UCL-approved lab coats must be made from fabric suitable for chemical use. ConsiderationsÌýshould be made of chemical interactions with the fabric and reaction to fire. Many synthetic materials may be melted or degraded by lab chemicals. In addition, synthetic fabrics willÌýignite, burn or melt when exposed to a naked flame.
• Personal Protective Equipment ("PPE")Ìý– Equipment that can be worn or held by a person which protects against exposure toÌýhazards that can impact a person’s health and safety.Ìý
• Skin exposure – Exposure of the skin surface to hazardous substances can lead to chemicalÌýburns, damage or sensitisation through a single exposure or repeated exposures. Becoming sensitised to one substance can increase the risk of developing sensitisation to otherÌýsubstances.Ìý
• Visitors –ÌýPeople external to UCL or from different 911±¬ÁÏÍø departments and buildings.
• Wet lab –ÌýA wet laboratory is an area used to handle various types of chemical or biologicalÌýsubstances where there is a potential risk of spill, splash or exposure that could potentially cause harm to people.Ìý

UCL requirements for PPE worn in Wet Labs

This is the expected minimum standard for PPE in all UCL’s wet labs. Risk assessments can be used to identify additional PPE requirements but cannot lower the standard of PPE used.

Lab Coat

A lab coat must be worn by all staff, students and visitors, when going beyond the entrance to any wet lab.Ìý

The minimum standard for a reusable wet lab coat is:

• Standard ‘V’ neck coats are suitable for general laboratory procedures.
• Either cotton or polyester-cotton (65%:35%) for biological use which can beÌýautoclaved, or cotton-polyester (75%:25%) which can be treated with Proban to beÌýflame retardant.
• Press stud fastening to allow for quick removal if contaminated.

The standard required for a reusable CL2 and CL3 wet lab coat is:

• Double-fronted, high-neck coats with kitted cuffs (Howie style).
• Not cotton as these cannot be autoclaved.
• Press stud fastening.

The requirement for flame retardant treatments for lab coats must be set on a lab-wide basis based on all the hazards within the lab. If fire or exposure to flames is a significant hazard, polyester-cotton (65%; 35%) lab coats are not allowed as they burn readily and will melt and stick to the body causing burns.Ìý

All staff should have at least one lab coat issued to them.ÌýClean, reusable, or disposable labÌýcoats should always be available for visitors in a range of sizes.

• The lab coat must be fully fastened when in the lab and all jewellery, scarves, ties andÌýaccessories that might become contaminatedÌýor cause entanglement, should be containedÌýwithin the lab coat.
• The lab coat should be maintained in good condition, laundered at routine intervals andÌýlaundered as soon as possible after hazardous substances have been spilled or splashed onto the lab coat.Ìý
• Failure to wear or correctly wear a lab coat will result in the individual being asked to leaveÌýthe wet lab and may result in further disciplinary action if the behaviour is repeated.

Eye Protection

Eye Protection must be worn by all staff, students and visitors when going beyond the entrance to any web lab. Where this is not practicable, eye protection must be put on as soon as possible upon entering the laboratory and always prior to any work starting. Note thatÌýlocal arrangements must ensure the risk of eye injury from spills and splashes is reduced as far as is reasonably practicable at all times.

The minimum standard is BS EN 166:

• Class 1 (permanent wear).
• F (strength).
• 3 (chemical risk).

Arrangements must be in place to accommodate those individuals who need to wearÌýcorrective glasses. Over-glasses or prescription safety glasses must meet the standard.

• Eye protection must undergo user checks routinely.
• All users must undertake a visual check of their eye protection before use.
• If damaged, contaminated or having received an impact, they should be removed from use and replaced if necessary.Ìý
• Failure to wear eye protection or failure to wearÌýeye protection correctly will result in theÌýindividual being asked to leave the wet lab and may result in further disciplinary action if theÌýbehaviour is repeated.Ìý

Suitable clothing

Although footwear and appropriate clothing is not considered PPE it must provide minimum protection to the skin and the foot.

Cotton or canvasÌýshoes are not suitable as chemicals may soak through to the foot too quickly.

• Footwear must fully enclosed and cover feet.
• Footwear must be able to resist hazardous substances to slow exposure to the foot.
• Clothing must be sufficient to cover the legs and resist exposure to hazardous substance splashes and spills.

Risk assessment

The risk from spills and splashes of substances harmful to healthÌýmustÌýbe included in all activity risk assessmentsÌýfor wet labs. Although the baseline protection may not change, it may be necessary to increase the standard of control measures depending on the risk. This may include the need for PPE to be provided for covering areas not covered by a lab coat, further head protection or footwear, more face and eye protection, or RPE.

Storage of PPE for Wet Labs

• Storage must be available for staff and visitors’ lab coats and eye protection on site.
• The storage area must be situated as close as possible to the wet lab.
• Storage can be inside the wet lab, provided there is a suitable distance between the storage area and theÌýactivity –Ìýto lower the risk of spills and splashes before the eye protection and lab coats are put on.
• The storage area must maintain bothÌýeye protection and the lab coatÌýin a suitable condition.

Lab Coats

• Lab coats must be hung orÌýstored in such a manner as to minimise the risk of contamination on the outside being transferred to the inside of the coat or to any other object.Ìý

Eye Protection

• Eye protection must be stored in such a manner as to minimise the risk of the lenses being scratched or the frames being bent out of shape.
• Eye protection must be stored so they are free fromÌýdust or other contamination on the inside of the lens which is closest to the eye.

Gloves

• Gloves must be stored away from areas where theyÌýcan be easily contaminated.
• Nitrile gloves must be stored away from direct sunlight as sunlight will deteriorate the gloves.

When gloves that are used to protect against the risk of sensitisation are themselves considered a hazard due to the activity undertaken, this must be made clear in the riskÌýassessment for the activity. The risk assessment must include the alternative control measures that are to be implemented. This may include the requirement to undertake low level health surveillance for workplace dermatitis.

Movement between laboratories

Lab coats and gloves that are or could be contaminated are not to be worn outside wet labs.Ìý

In most cases when transferring chemical or biological samples between labs, substances should be packed such that PPE is not required. Where this is not possible, a written riskÌýassessment will be required, and the control measures should either include a clean lab coat and fresh nitrile gloves or local rules/written arrangements regarding how the local areas are managed that areÌýagreed by all users of the areas, including all departments in sharedÌýspaces. All local rules/written arrangements must be supported by, or derived from, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. This is to prevent contaminating areas outside of the wet lab e.g. corridors/door handles, or spills and splashes impacting staff not wearing PPE.

If the wet lab is part of a suite of rooms such as the CL3 lab, then a lab coat, eye protection and gloves can be worn when moving around the suite. However, they must be removed upon leaving the suite to prevent potential contamination outside the containment areas.

Responsibilities

Department responsibilities

1. Ensuring they know which areas they have that are classified as wet labsÌýand informÌýall staff, students and visitors about these areas and the requirement forÌýPPE.
2. Ensuring there is a suitable risk assessment for all wet labs that either:
   1. Clearly statesÌýhow they are following the UCL standard, specification for the PPE to beÌýworn in that area; or
   2. Defines any areas, such as areas for microscope work, that are located in the wet labs and covers the other control measures that are in place showing whyÌýspecific PPE may be either unnecessary or introduces a new hazard.
3. Ensuring that all staff, students and visitors are aware of the UCL standards for PPE in wet labs and that they follow the latest 911±¬ÁÏÍø Safety Standard that applies to these areas.
4. Ensuring that all risk assessments for specific activities with chemical or biological substances or in areas where chemical or biological substances are used include control measures for the risk of spills and splashes.
   • Acknowledgment of this standard and information on whether any additional standard for the PPE has to be used; or
   • A full assessment of all the controls in place that lower the risk of spills andÌýsplashes as far as reasonablyÌýpossible showing why the PPE requirement differsÌýfrom the standard. See Risk Assessment – PPE as a control measure in wet laboratoriesÌýfor guidance.
5. Ensuring PPE is available in a range of sizes to fit the users.
6. Ensuring that each wet lab has a specific risk assessment that covers:
   • Whether the minimum standard of lab coat is suitable or if additional requirementsÌýare needed, such as greater protection around the neck and wrist, specific fabricÌýneeds and whether flame retardant lab coats are required.Ìý
   • If additional requirements for eye protection areÌýneeded including:
     • Additional strength.
     • Heat resistance.
     • Different designs such as safety goggles instead of safety glasses.
   • Information on what standard glove is requiredÌýand if any activity requires an assessment for not wearing gloves.
   • To provide the descriptions and specifications when higher protection is required for the activity such as when working with liquid nitrogen which may requireÌýfaceÌýshields, thermal gloves and aprons.Ìý
   • Any additional PPE that is required for the area or task includingÌýbut not limited toÌýrespiratory protection equipment such as FFP3 masks.Ìý
7. Providing both aÌýdepartmental and lab-based standard for footwear in wet labs.
8. Providing information on the following:
   • Storage.
   • Cleaning.
   • Maintenance.
   • Provision of PPE, including policy on prescription safety glasses for staff.
   • Training including wearing, donning and doffing of PPE, what to do with contaminated PPE.
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9. Carrying out checks, inspections and audits on the implementation of this standard and any additional requirements set by the department and included in the approvedÌýrisk assessments.

Safety Services responsibilities

1. Providing UCL Safety Standards for research and teaching activities across the UCL campus.
2. Communicating this standard and any changes in legislation to all the departments.
3. Communicating any changes in legislation and to this standard to the ChemicalÌýSafety Sub-Committee and the Genetic Modification and Biological Safety Sub-Committee.

Chemical Safety Sub-Committee responsibilities

1. Reviewing this UCL Safety Standard annually.

Genetic Modification and Biological Safety Sub-CommitteeÌýresponsibilities

1. Reviewing this UCL Safety Standard annually.

Records

• Risk assessments describing the PPE required, including suitability, compatibility, maintenance, storage, cleaning.
• PPE issue, inspections of usability and maintenance records where necessary.

Monitoring andÌýreview

Regular inspections of PPE to check that it is not damaged or compromised reducing its protection to the user from hazardous agents.

References

• UCL Risk Assessment Standard
• Substances Hub
• Workplace Health

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