Stanford University

EH&S Staff and PPE Use

  1. Background:

To ensure protection of EH&S staff, model safety culture, and comply with Cal/OSHA regulations, this guide outlines minimum PPE requirements for all EH&S personnel while conducting visits to labs, shops, and the EH&S Dock.

  1. Summary:

At the threshold, EH&S staff must wear appropriate street clothing and minimum PPE (listed in Tables 1 & 2). Appropriate Street Clothing includes:

  • Long pants, or equivalent, that completely cover the legs to the shoe
  • Shoes – non-perforated, cover the entire foot

Table 1: EH&S Dept PPE rule when visiting Labs and Shops

Specific Area Minimum PPE / Attire Additional PPE
Labs
  • Safety Glasses/Goggles
  • Appropriate Street Clothing
  • Lab Coat or EH&S-approved Long Sleeve
  • Gloves when handling lab materials or equipment
 Risk Based (written SOP, JHA)
Shops
  • Safety Glasses/Goggles
  • Appropriate Street Clothing
  • No loose clothing
  • Long hair is tied back
Office within a lab space
  • Safety glasses
  • Appropriate street clothing
Construction Site
  • Safety Glasses
  • Appropriate street clothing with sturdy boots / shoes
  • Hard hat
  • High visibility vest

*includes photoshoots and while having discussions with lab personnel
** PPE changes may be required during the course of a visit (e.g., entering a shop from a lab space).
**Fire techs- uniform option only (no lab coats)

Table 2: Proposed PPE for EH&S Controlled Areas

 

Specific Area Minimum PPE (passing through) Additional PPE (working)
EH&S Offices & Hallways n/a Risk Based (written SOP, JHA)
SU OHC patient rooms
IH Lab
Health Physics Lab/Office (Access through main hallway)
  • Appropriate Street Clothing (alternative door access available)
Health Physics Shipping/Receiving Station
  • Safety Glasses / Goggles
  • Appropriate Street Clothing
Health Physics Storage Area
EPP Lab/Office e.g., worker entering office without alternative door
EH&S Dock
EPP Warehouse

Lab coats are not appropriate in/at:

  • General Fleet Vehicles/Bikes/Carts
  • Meeting Areas/Conference Rooms/Offices
  • Lunch

While in transit, lab coats may be:

  • Carried: folded inside out
  • Within a bag: folded inside out
  • Within a dedicated bag
  1. Training:

Individual group trainings followed by a one-time department-wide summary at All Hands. Thereafter, Supervisors are required to provide equivalent training to employees unavailable during department-wide training, new employees and re-training when deficiencies are found.

Documentation of department PPE Rule and training must be kept with group-specific PPE Assessment Tool and Training.

Training Summary:

  1. Appropriate street clothing
    • Long pants / equivalent length
    • No leggings / tights / hosiery
    • Appropriate Shoes
  2. Gloves selection
  3. Lab Coats are not appropriate in / at:
    • General Fleet Vehicles / Bikes / Carts
    • Meeting Areas / Conference Rooms / Offices
    • Lunch
  4. Supervisors are responsible for training employees on special hazards
  5. Best Practices:
      • Keep an extra set of appropriate street clothing in the Locker Room
  1. Provisions of PPE
    Refer to Written PPE Program
  1. Responsibilities
    Refer to Written PPE Program
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