My name is Sarah and I'm a graduate student. And I'm Andro, a postdoctoral researcher

We really love our research but we also understand that working in a lab environment

is inherently risky

Yeh, accidents can happen but with a proper planning we can minimize their effect

It is helpful to think about the Swiss cheese model. Each layer represents a defense against failure

but the holes show that not one layer is perfect. Today we we want to talk with you

about your last layer of defense

your personal protective equipment, or your PPE.

Here in sunny California we love to wear shorts and flip-flops, but in the lab we have to wear closed shoes

and long pants or an equivalent. You know your eyes are the most sensitive exposed

part of the body

so here are some basic safety glasses to provide you a suitable level protection

against small flying debris such as broken glass or small drops of liquid such as phenol.

We all have really unique facial features

so it's important that we actually find something that fits our face.

And they should feel comfortable and not slide off when you bend over

Like these.

We all have different facial features and therefore we need to find a pair of safety glasses the fit-best.

Although I usually wear safety glasses,

when I'm working with larger amounts of liquids I use chemical splash goggles

because the safety glasses don't seal and the liquid can run down in your eyes.

I also wear chemical splash goggles when I work with

small amounts of really dangerous liquids

like concentrated solutions or corrosives like phenol.

If you're working with chemicals or reactions that can burn, explode or implode

then you should add a face shield such as I do when I work with potentially dangerous reactions

And I put on a face shield when I use liquid nitrogen

and make sure you clean your face shield after every use so it's ready for the next person

It's important to keep your glasses clean

and check them regularly for damage

Specialized work with UV lamps or lasers require specific glasses designed to protect you from certain wavelengths of light

Lab coats provide you with a layer of protection to protect your skin and cloths

But not all lab coats created equal. Although your standard operating procedures may

dictate which PPE you should wear,

Sarah and I are going to show you the most common types that we use.

I'm wearing a traditional lab coat

made of a cotton polyester blend. It does a great job of protecting me

from spills or from hazardous materials.

Some times I need to work with samples that contain blood borne pathogens

in that situation I wear a barrier lab coat. It's made of a material that

helps repel liquids

When I work with large amounts of flammables

or pyrophoric materials, I use this flame resistant lab coat

it's made out of a similar material that firefighters wear. It will not catch fire.

Woo, let me try. Lab environment is not a place to play around.

Lets do a safer demonstration

see I knew it wouldn't light on fire

and as an extra precaution I avoid wearing clothes made of synthetic fibers underneath

because synthetic fibers may actually melt to your skin in the event of a fire

Usually a traditional white lab coat provide sufficient protection for my work

but even small amounts a flammable liquids can be very dangerous in the presence

of an open flame or a spark

for example I change to an FR lab coat while sterilizing with ethanol

and an open flame

If the lab coat does not fit correctly, it will not protect you properly

This one feels a little too tight and the sleeves are too short

Oh, I think it's a female cut.

Sleeves should be at wrist length to protect exposed skin, but not too long and don't roll them up

just get one that fits

That's fits nicely.

Dirty lab coats are laundered on each campus by a professional laundry service.

Small splash should first be blotted up in the lab

Grossly contaminated lab coat should be treated as hazardous waste

and never launder any of them at home.

You know, I think it's time for coffee break. Are you buying? Sure. Excellent.

Have a safe day

Tomorrow lets wear green shirts...