While Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides detailed regulations regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the following information outlined by EHS is meant to help MIT employees understand the requirements and how to select the right equipment depending on the task or work area.
Assessing Your Equipment Needs
To determine your PPE needs, OSHA regulations require a written hazard assessment identifying the specific hazards of concern either by work area, job, or task. Employees should use the PPE Hazard Assessment Form when conducting a hazard assessment.
All employees who use PPE must be provided job specific training by their supervisor or area safety representatives about:
- Hazards
- Protective equipment to be used
- Correct use and care of the PPE
- Limitations of the equipment
Using and Caring for Your Equipment
Once appropriate equipment is determined, be sure it fits properly and you are trained on how to use and maintain your equipment by your supervisor or area safety representatives.
After use, reusable equipment should be cleaned with soap and water, dried, and stored in a manner that will keep it clean when not in use; disposable equipment should not be reused.
Understanding the Limitations
All protective equipment has limitations in terms of what they do and do not protect against and must be taken into consideration during the hazard assessment process. Be sure to review any information related to the limitations of the specific equipment you are using.
Types of Personal Protective Equipment
OSHA Requirements
“Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.”
Additionally, for some jobs, the hands could become contaminated with work materials such as radioisotopes, biological agents, or chemicals. Gloves are often used to prevent hand contamination and to raise awareness regarding the potential for contamination of other surfaces touched by those gloves.
Glove Selection
When selecting gloves, be sure to understand the limitations of each type, and that a glove selected for protection against one type of hazard will not necessarily be effective against another type of hazard. If the work or task involves more than one type of hazard, this must be taken into consideration in selecting the best type of glove for the circumstances.
In some circumstances involving work around machinery, gloves may create a hazard of being caught in the machinery and pulling the hand into the machine. Working around machinery such as lathes must be carefully analyzed to determine if gloves can be used or not. The specific task may determine if the use of gloves is feasible.
| Hazard | Glove | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Biological research work | Disposable gloves | N-dex nitrile glove or latex* glove offers a good barrier for most lab research |
| Bloodborne pathogens | Disposable gloves | N-dex nitrile glove or latex* glove offers a good barrier for most lab research or clinical application |
| Chemical contamination – low level. (Example includes small drips on the side of beaker or test tube) | Disposable N-Dex Soft Nitrile | N-dex nitrile glove is resistant to a broad range of chemicals and is more puncture-proof and abrasion-resistant than natural rubber or vinyl disposable gloves. It is the glove of choice for low-level chemical contamination. When any disposable glove becomes significantly contaminated with chemicals, it should be immediately removed and discarded and the hands should be washed thoroughly. New gloves should be put on before proceeding with work. |
| Chemical contamination – High level or high hazard, e.g. pouring acid, work involving immersion of hands in chemical, work with toxic chemicals that readily penetrate the skin. | Chemical resistant glove | Contact EHS for assistance with selecting the best glove for these circumstances. The following link is also useful |
| Cryogens | Cryogenic gloves | Cryogenic gloves are insulated gloves to prevent burns from extreme cold temperatures when handling cryogens. They have different properties from gloves designed for hot temperatures, so for handling cryogens, select gloves specifically designed for cryogen handling. It is recommended cryogen gloves with mid-arm or longer protection be selected for transfer of cryogenic liquids. |
| Hot surfaces, e.g. steam pipes, items from autoclaves, welding operations | Heat resistant gloves | Gloves can prevent burns |
| Handling knives or sharp objects such as box cutters | Sturdy work glove or metal mesh glove | The best glove will depend on the circumstances for which cutting tools are being used |
| Material Handling, e.g. carrying supplies, moving furniture, removing debris from a work-site, handling wood or sheet metal | Sturdy work gloves | Use of gloves will prevent cuts and splinters from these activities |
| Radioactive materials in the laboratory | Disposable glove | N-dex nitrile glove or latex* glove offers a good barrier for most lab research |
*Some employees may be allergic to latex-containing materials. These employees should be offered other options for hand protection under these circumstances, e.g. Nitrile or vinyl disposable gloves.
Clothing such as a lab coat, smock or coveralls may be used to provide protection from chemical hazards that may damage the skin or personal clothing and can be used to protect an employee’s personal clothing from contamination or dirt that can be carried home or to other areas.
Visit MIT’s website dedicated to lab coats for additional information.
MIT Policy on Lab Coats
In 2017, the MIT Committee on Toxic Chemicals expanded the policy requiring lab coats at MIT, stating:
“A laboratory coat or equivalent protection is required when working with or when working nearby to hazardous chemicals, unsealed radioactive materials, and biological agents at BL2 or greater. A flame-resistant lab coat is required when handling pyrophoric substances outside of a glove box. It is recommended that a flame-resistant lab coat be worn when working with all flammable chemicals. Laboratory supervisors shall carry out a hazard assessment to identify situations (a task, experiment, or area) where alternative or more protective apparel must be worn.”
This policy means that most people working in a lab must wear a lab coat or equivalent, for some, if not all the work they do. In some cases, your department, lab, or center may have more restrictive rules regarding the appropriate use of lab coats.
Selection of Clothing
Reach out to your Department Lab or Center’s (DLC) EHS Coordinator for a PPE hazard assessment form and DLC-specific PPE requirements and then use the information below to select appropriate clothing.
Lab Coat
A lab coat can be used to protect an employee’s personal clothing from incidental chemical contact or contamination from radioactive or biological agents. The lab coat is to be worn in the lab and removed when the employee leaves the laboratory space.
There are many types of lab coats. For more information on the use and selection review Lab Coat Guidance.
For questions regarding lab coat supply and laundry services available, see the Lab Coat FAQs.
Rubber Apron or Chemical Resistant Suit
A rubber apron or a chemical-resistant suit may be needed for work with corrosive chemicals, depending on the specific task to be done.
Coveralls
Coveralls can be used to protect a maintenance employee’s skin and clothing from contamination in dirty areas or from high levels of dust generated during some jobs.
Smocks
Smocks can be used for the protection of skin and clothing during cleaning or other activities.
Protective Clothing Maintenance
While disposable clothing should be thrown away after use, arrangements should be made to assure reusable PPE such as reusable lab coats or coveralls, is cleaned at work or by a service.
Employees should not take home such equipment for cleaning. For laundry service for lab coats, review Lab Coat Guidance.
Damage to the eyes and loss of sight is irreversible, so it is important to identify potential eye hazards, select proper eye protection, and enforce its use. Eye protection is required by OSHA regulation whenever and wherever potential eye hazards exist. Hazards requiring eye and/or face protection include flying particles; molten metal; liquids including acids or caustic materials, biological or radioactive materials; chemical gases or vapors; and potentially injurious light radiation such as lasers, or intense visible light from welding.
Identify And Evaluate Eye Hazards
For laboratory areas, PIs are required to be involved in the hazard assessment process for eye protection use unless eye protection is required for entry into the lab area.) Identify the hazards using the PPE hazard assessment form, Contact your EHS Coordinator or the EHS Office for assistance.
Selecting The Correct Type Of Eye Protection
Types of protective eyewear include:
- Safety glasses, with side shields (built-in or clip-on)
- Goggles for chemical splash, mist (indirect vents)
- Goggles for chips, (dust direct vents)
- Faceshield: Must be worn with goggles to prevent liquid chemicals from getting into the eyes. Must be worn with safety glasses to prevent chips or other particles from getting into the eyes.
| Hazard | Type of Protective Eyewear | Contact for Advice to Select Eyewear |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical splash, liquid | Lab safety glasses for small amounts of chemicals that are not highly corrosive Goggles with indirect vents for larger amounts or for highly corrosive chemicals |
Industrial Hygiene Program (IHP) (See Note 1) |
| Chemicals, dry | Safety glasses | IHP (see Note 1) |
| Chips, particles, dust, glass shards | Safety glasses with side shields | Safety Program (SP) |
| Cryogens | Safety glasses or safety goggles with face shield | IHP or SP |
| Potentially infectious material splash | Safety glasses for small amounts Goggles and face shield |
Biosafety Program (BSP) point person for your DLC |
| Radioactive Materials (liquid or powder) | Safety glasses | Radiation Protection Program (RPP) point person for your DLC |
| Lasers | Laser glasses and goggles that meet ANSI Z136.1 | Contact RPP rep who reviews your laser (See Note 3) |
| Ultraviolet light | Face shield that is specially treated | RPP point person for your DLC (See Note 3) |
| Other light sources | RPP point person for your DLC (See Note 3) | |
| Furnaces, molten metal or glass, heat, sparks, glare | Goggles or reflective face shield. | SP (See Note 2) |
| Welding | Welding goggles, helmet or face shield | SP/ IHP (See Note 2) |
Note 1: If you need to wear a full-face respirator and prescription glasses, you can order prescription lenses that fit into the respirator through IHP.
Note 2: If you need to wear welding goggles, a helmet or face shield in addition to prescription glasses, you can order prescription lenses that fit into the filter shade lenses.
Note 3: Prescription safety glasses can be made with lenses designed for working with lasers, or alternatively you could purchase a pair of laser safety glasses that can be used by every laser user and could be worn over prescription glasses.
Labs can contact the EHS Office for additional guidance on selecting the correct type of eye protection.
Providing Eyewear
Departments, labs and centers are responsible for providing appropriate protection to anyone who works in, studies in or visits an area where there are hazards to the eyes and/or face.
Eye protection provided must meet the American National Standards Institute standard or equivalent (ANSI Z87.1). Normal prescription glasses do not meet the standard for impact resistance and should not be used as a substitute for safety glasses.
Non-Prescription Eyewear
VWR and many other safety supply companies sell a wide variety of non-prescription glasses, goggles, etc. Check that the eyewear meets the ANSI Z87.1 standard or equivalent.
Prescription Eyewear
DLCs must furnish one pair of prescription impact-resistant (ANSI Z87) eyeglasses free of charge to employees and/or students whose work requires their use. The supervisor must approve all requests for prescription safety glasses. For information about MIT Medical Prescription Safety Glasses pricing, please see pricing sheet.
Undergraduate students, who don’t have DLC funding can pay for their glasses directly and don’t need a supervisor to sign the form.
Prescription safety glasses can be ordered at the MIT Optical in E23 using the following process:
- Obtain approval from your supervisor (PI for researchers and graduate students) — You should provide information for the top two sections of the prescription eyeglasses order form, especially the cost object/General Ledger account numbers. If you don’t have approval, MIT Optical will charge your credit card for your portion.
- Obtain a prescription from MIT Eye Service or your own eye doctor — you can use a prescription that is no more than two years old. You must pay to get the prescription.
- Make an appointment: Call – 617-258-5367 or e-mail MITOptical@med.mit.edu. No walk-ins will be accepted. The Optical Shop is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 8am – 5pm. Bring your prescription and order form for prescription safety glasses. At the time of the appointment, you will be screened in the lobby of MIT Medical (E23) which consists of attesting that you do not have COVID-19 symptoms and your temperature will be taken. Once screening has been completed, you will be escorted to the temporary MIT Optical.
- Your glasses will be ready in 7-10 business days — MIT Optical will notify you and will make any necessary adjustments at pickup. You will need to sign for the purchase and proof of receipt will be provided to the DLC contact for billing indicated on the order form. The DLC should retain this proof of receipt. The MIT Medical Department will journal voucher the cost at the end of the month and a receipt will be generated in SAP.
If your glasses break, are scratched or your prescription changes, then order a new pair by following this procedure and the DLC will pay for the new glasses. You will only need to pay for the new prescription if it has changed or if it is more than 2 years old. Bifocal and Base progressive lenses will be furnished when necessary.
Use And Maintenance
Wear eye protection in areas where signage indicates it is required, whether you are working, observing, visiting, or in areas or for tasks where you have been instructed eye protection is to be used.
In some circumstances safety glasses or goggles alone may not provide adequate protection; a face shield may also be necessary. Clean eye protection after use, and store where it can be kept clean until next use.
Refer to PPE SOP for more details on eye protection.
OSHA requirements. “The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee’s feet are exposed to electrical hazards.”
In addition to OSHA requirements quoted above, there may be other circumstances where protective footwear (safety shoes) is advisable, for example, use of rubber boots when working in flooded areas or areas contaminated with sewage.
Identify the hazards using the PPE hazard assessment form, and then use this information to determine if protective footwear is required, and what type of footwear is needed. Supervisors will inform employees if safety shoes are needed for a job, and what type of safety shoes. Safety shoes must meet the requirements of ASTM F2413-2018, which requires 3rd party certification.
- If a job requires hard toed safety shoes, the Supervisor will notify the employee.
- The employee checks that his/ her shoes meet the ASTM F2413-(date) standard before purchasing. The year that the standard was updated may be listed after ASTM F2413. This means that the shoes have “steel toes” and the ASTM F2413-(date)stamp, which is usually on the shoe’s tongue or on the side near the heel. Sometimes this is on an attached tag/ band.
- If the ASTM F2413-(date) number is not on the shoes, then the shoes do not meet the ASTM F2413-(date) standard and MIT will not reimburse the employee.
- The employee brings their new shoes to their Supervisor, who will check the shoes for the ASTM F2413-(date) stamp. Reminder: Do not wear the shoes until after you have received this approval.
- The Supervisor will sign a safety shoe card or equivalent.
- The Supervisor or employee takes the signed shoe card and the original store receipt to their department to be reimbursed. Copies of the receipt or credit card statement will not be accepted but the employee should keep a copy since you will not get the original receipt back. The department will check the employee’s balance and when they were last reimbursed. The department will reimburse the employee for the amount allowed per the union contract, if applicable. The EHS Office does not provide this reimbursement.
- Kathy Collupy in E19-134A (x8-9429) processes the reimbursements for Department of Facilities and CAC. The reimbursement is posted directly into the bank account that the person’s payroll is deposited into.
- Scott Fleming in W20-507 (x3-0967) reimburses Housing employees, who sign to document the payment.
- Lesley Fowler in 16-849 (x5-4810) reimburses employees in the Division of Comparative Medicine. The employee signs to document the payment.
- All other DLC’s: contact your DLC headquarters office about the procedure.
- The department will be responsible for keeping records for the duration of the employment. The department will keep the original receipts until the employee obtains another pair. (Receipts do not need to be sent to the EHS Office.)
- The Supervisor will periodically check that the employee is wearing the safety shoes when performing tasks that could result in a foot injury. If the employee is not wearing their safety shoes, the Supervisor will ask the employee to put the shoes on and will document this. If the employee has an accident but the employee was not wearing their safety shoes, the claim could be denied. The department will be asked for their records, including safety shoe purchases.
If you think you require a mask or some form of respiratory protection for your work, you must first contact EHS. We will help you determine if a respirator is required, what size and type would protect you best, and what type of filters/cartridges you should use.
Steps to Secure a Respirator
- Register for the Respiratory Program – Fill out the MIT Respirator Program Registration Form
- Fill out an Exposure Evaluation Form – A link to the Exposure Evaluation Form will be sent to you via email once you have completed Step 1. above. The purpose of this form serves as a Hazard Assessment and helps to determine your need for respiratory protection.
- Complete a Medical Exam – Contact Occupational Medicine at MIT Medical and request a respirator fitness appointment
- Complete a Respirator Fit Test – Schedule a Fit Test. Industrial Hygiene conducts quantitative respirator fit tests at the EHS Office. The appointment will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Additional Information
Facial Hair
Respirators and beards don’t mix. Facial hair prevents a good seal between the respirator and your face, allowing chemicals to get in.
Comfort (Voluntary) Mask and Respirator Use
If there is no health concern associated with your work, but you wish to wear a disposable dust mask to protect yourself from nuisance dust you can fill out a voluntary use form.
If you wish to wear a reusable respirator to protect yourself from nuisance odors, please contact Occupational Medicine at MIT Medical for a medical exam and then get a respirator fit test at EHS.
Legal Requirements
MIT Respiratory Protection Program has to abide by OSHA regulation 1910.134.
If you are required to use a respirator as protection against a hazardous material, then you must comply with all components of this law. Complete details are available at MIT’s Respiratory Protection Program.
While Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides detailed regulations regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the following information outlined by EHS is meant to help MIT employees understand the requirements and how to select the right equipment depending on the task or work area.
Assessing Your Equipment Needs
To determine your PPE needs, OSHA regulations require a written hazard assessment identifying the specific hazards of concern either by work area, job, or task. Employees should use the PPE Hazard Assessment Form when conducting a hazard assessment.
All employees who use PPE must be provided job specific training by their supervisor or area safety representatives about:
- Hazards
- Protective equipment to be used
- Correct use and care of the PPE
- Limitations of the equipment
Using and Caring for Your Equipment
Once appropriate equipment is determined, be sure it fits properly and you are trained on how to use and maintain your equipment by your supervisor or area safety representatives.
After use, reusable equipment should be cleaned with soap and water, dried, and stored in a manner that will keep it clean when not in use; disposable equipment should not be reused.
Understanding the Limitations
All protective equipment has limitations in terms of what they do and do not protect against and must be taken into consideration during the hazard assessment process. Be sure to review any information related to the limitations of the specific equipment you are using.
Types of Personal Protective Equipment
OSHA Requirements
“Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.”
Additionally, for some jobs, the hands could become contaminated with work materials such as radioisotopes, biological agents, or chemicals. Gloves are often used to prevent hand contamination and to raise awareness regarding the potential for contamination of other surfaces touched by those gloves.
Glove Selection
When selecting gloves, be sure to understand the limitations of each type, and that a glove selected for protection against one type of hazard will not necessarily be effective against another type of hazard. If the work or task involves more than one type of hazard, this must be taken into consideration in selecting the best type of glove for the circumstances.
In some circumstances involving work around machinery, gloves may create a hazard of being caught in the machinery and pulling the hand into the machine. Working around machinery such as lathes must be carefully analyzed to determine if gloves can be used or not. The specific task may determine if the use of gloves is feasible.
| Hazard | Glove | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Biological research work | Disposable gloves | N-dex nitrile glove or latex* glove offers a good barrier for most lab research |
| Bloodborne pathogens | Disposable gloves | N-dex nitrile glove or latex* glove offers a good barrier for most lab research or clinical application |
| Chemical contamination – low level. (Example includes small drips on the side of beaker or test tube) | Disposable N-Dex Soft Nitrile | N-dex nitrile glove is resistant to a broad range of chemicals and is more puncture-proof and abrasion-resistant than natural rubber or vinyl disposable gloves. It is the glove of choice for low-level chemical contamination. When any disposable glove becomes significantly contaminated with chemicals, it should be immediately removed and discarded and the hands should be washed thoroughly. New gloves should be put on before proceeding with work. |
| Chemical contamination – High level or high hazard, e.g. pouring acid, work involving immersion of hands in chemical, work with toxic chemicals that readily penetrate the skin. | Chemical resistant glove | Contact EHS for assistance with selecting the best glove for these circumstances. The following link is also useful |
| Cryogens | Cryogenic gloves | Cryogenic gloves are insulated gloves to prevent burns from extreme cold temperatures when handling cryogens. They have different properties from gloves designed for hot temperatures, so for handling cryogens, select gloves specifically designed for cryogen handling. It is recommended cryogen gloves with mid-arm or longer protection be selected for transfer of cryogenic liquids. |
| Hot surfaces, e.g. steam pipes, items from autoclaves, welding operations | Heat resistant gloves | Gloves can prevent burns |
| Handling knives or sharp objects such as box cutters | Sturdy work glove or metal mesh glove | The best glove will depend on the circumstances for which cutting tools are being used |
| Material Handling, e.g. carrying supplies, moving furniture, removing debris from a work-site, handling wood or sheet metal | Sturdy work gloves | Use of gloves will prevent cuts and splinters from these activities |
| Radioactive materials in the laboratory | Disposable glove | N-dex nitrile glove or latex* glove offers a good barrier for most lab research |
*Some employees may be allergic to latex-containing materials. These employees should be offered other options for hand protection under these circumstances, e.g. Nitrile or vinyl disposable gloves.
Clothing such as a lab coat, smock or coveralls may be used to provide protection from chemical hazards that may damage the skin or personal clothing and can be used to protect an employee’s personal clothing from contamination or dirt that can be carried home or to other areas.
Visit MIT’s website dedicated to lab coats for additional information.
MIT Policy on Lab Coats
In 2017, the MIT Committee on Toxic Chemicals expanded the policy requiring lab coats at MIT, stating:
“A laboratory coat or equivalent protection is required when working with or when working nearby to hazardous chemicals, unsealed radioactive materials, and biological agents at BL2 or greater. A flame-resistant lab coat is required when handling pyrophoric substances outside of a glove box. It is recommended that a flame-resistant lab coat be worn when working with all flammable chemicals. Laboratory supervisors shall carry out a hazard assessment to identify situations (a task, experiment, or area) where alternative or more protective apparel must be worn.”
This policy means that most people working in a lab must wear a lab coat or equivalent, for some, if not all the work they do. In some cases, your department, lab, or center may have more restrictive rules regarding the appropriate use of lab coats.
Selection of Clothing
Reach out to your Department Lab or Center’s (DLC) EHS Coordinator for a PPE hazard assessment form and DLC-specific PPE requirements and then use the information below to select appropriate clothing.
Lab Coat
A lab coat can be used to protect an employee’s personal clothing from incidental chemical contact or contamination from radioactive or biological agents. The lab coat is to be worn in the lab and removed when the employee leaves the laboratory space.
There are many types of lab coats. For more information on the use and selection review Lab Coat Guidance.
For questions regarding lab coat supply and laundry services available, see the Lab Coat FAQs.
Rubber Apron or Chemical Resistant Suit
A rubber apron or a chemical-resistant suit may be needed for work with corrosive chemicals, depending on the specific task to be done.
Coveralls
Coveralls can be used to protect a maintenance employee’s skin and clothing from contamination in dirty areas or from high levels of dust generated during some jobs.
Smocks
Smocks can be used for the protection of skin and clothing during cleaning or other activities.
Protective Clothing Maintenance
While disposable clothing should be thrown away after use, arrangements should be made to assure reusable PPE such as reusable lab coats or coveralls, is cleaned at work or by a service.
Employees should not take home such equipment for cleaning. For laundry service for lab coats, review Lab Coat Guidance.
Damage to the eyes and loss of sight is irreversible, so it is important to identify potential eye hazards, select proper eye protection, and enforce its use. Eye protection is required by OSHA regulation whenever and wherever potential eye hazards exist. Hazards requiring eye and/or face protection include flying particles; molten metal; liquids including acids or caustic materials, biological or radioactive materials; chemical gases or vapors; and potentially injurious light radiation such as lasers, or intense visible light from welding.
Identify And Evaluate Eye Hazards
For laboratory areas, PIs are required to be involved in the hazard assessment process for eye protection use unless eye protection is required for entry into the lab area.) Identify the hazards using the PPE hazard assessment form, Contact your EHS Coordinator or the EHS Office for assistance.
Selecting The Correct Type Of Eye Protection
Types of protective eyewear include:
- Safety glasses, with side shields (built-in or clip-on)
- Goggles for chemical splash, mist (indirect vents)
- Goggles for chips, (dust direct vents)
- Faceshield: Must be worn with goggles to prevent liquid chemicals from getting into the eyes. Must be worn with safety glasses to prevent chips or other particles from getting into the eyes.
| Hazard | Type of Protective Eyewear | Contact for Advice to Select Eyewear |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical splash, liquid | Lab safety glasses for small amounts of chemicals that are not highly corrosive Goggles with indirect vents for larger amounts or for highly corrosive chemicals |
Industrial Hygiene Program (IHP) (See Note 1) |
| Chemicals, dry | Safety glasses | IHP (see Note 1) |
| Chips, particles, dust, glass shards | Safety glasses with side shields | Safety Program (SP) |
| Cryogens | Safety glasses or safety goggles with face shield | IHP or SP |
| Potentially infectious material splash | Safety glasses for small amounts Goggles and face shield |
Biosafety Program (BSP) point person for your DLC |
| Radioactive Materials (liquid or powder) | Safety glasses | Radiation Protection Program (RPP) point person for your DLC |
| Lasers | Laser glasses and goggles that meet ANSI Z136.1 | Contact RPP rep who reviews your laser (See Note 3) |
| Ultraviolet light | Face shield that is specially treated | RPP point person for your DLC (See Note 3) |
| Other light sources | RPP point person for your DLC (See Note 3) | |
| Furnaces, molten metal or glass, heat, sparks, glare | Goggles or reflective face shield. | SP (See Note 2) |
| Welding | Welding goggles, helmet or face shield | SP/ IHP (See Note 2) |
Note 1: If you need to wear a full-face respirator and prescription glasses, you can order prescription lenses that fit into the respirator through IHP.
Note 2: If you need to wear welding goggles, a helmet or face shield in addition to prescription glasses, you can order prescription lenses that fit into the filter shade lenses.
Note 3: Prescription safety glasses can be made with lenses designed for working with lasers, or alternatively you could purchase a pair of laser safety glasses that can be used by every laser user and could be worn over prescription glasses.
Labs can contact the EHS Office for additional guidance on selecting the correct type of eye protection.
Providing Eyewear
Departments, labs and centers are responsible for providing appropriate protection to anyone who works in, studies in or visits an area where there are hazards to the eyes and/or face.
Eye protection provided must meet the American National Standards Institute standard or equivalent (ANSI Z87.1). Normal prescription glasses do not meet the standard for impact resistance and should not be used as a substitute for safety glasses.
Non-Prescription Eyewear
VWR and many other safety supply companies sell a wide variety of non-prescription glasses, goggles, etc. Check that the eyewear meets the ANSI Z87.1 standard or equivalent.
Prescription Eyewear
DLCs must furnish one pair of prescription impact-resistant (ANSI Z87) eyeglasses free of charge to employees and/or students whose work requires their use. The supervisor must approve all requests for prescription safety glasses. For information about MIT Medical Prescription Safety Glasses pricing, please see pricing sheet.
Undergraduate students, who don’t have DLC funding can pay for their glasses directly and don’t need a supervisor to sign the form.
Prescription safety glasses can be ordered at the MIT Optical in E23 using the following process:
- Obtain approval from your supervisor (PI for researchers and graduate students) — You should provide information for the top two sections of the prescription eyeglasses order form, especially the cost object/General Ledger account numbers. If you don’t have approval, MIT Optical will charge your credit card for your portion.
- Obtain a prescription from MIT Eye Service or your own eye doctor — you can use a prescription that is no more than two years old. You must pay to get the prescription.
- Make an appointment: Call – 617-258-5367 or e-mail MITOptical@med.mit.edu. No walk-ins will be accepted. The Optical Shop is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 8am – 5pm. Bring your prescription and order form for prescription safety glasses. At the time of the appointment, you will be screened in the lobby of MIT Medical (E23) which consists of attesting that you do not have COVID-19 symptoms and your temperature will be taken. Once screening has been completed, you will be escorted to the temporary MIT Optical.
- Your glasses will be ready in 7-10 business days — MIT Optical will notify you and will make any necessary adjustments at pickup. You will need to sign for the purchase and proof of receipt will be provided to the DLC contact for billing indicated on the order form. The DLC should retain this proof of receipt. The MIT Medical Department will journal voucher the cost at the end of the month and a receipt will be generated in SAP.
If your glasses break, are scratched or your prescription changes, then order a new pair by following this procedure and the DLC will pay for the new glasses. You will only need to pay for the new prescription if it has changed or if it is more than 2 years old. Bifocal and Base progressive lenses will be furnished when necessary.
Use And Maintenance
Wear eye protection in areas where signage indicates it is required, whether you are working, observing, visiting, or in areas or for tasks where you have been instructed eye protection is to be used.
In some circumstances safety glasses or goggles alone may not provide adequate protection; a face shield may also be necessary. Clean eye protection after use, and store where it can be kept clean until next use.
Refer to PPE SOP for more details on eye protection.
OSHA requirements. “The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee’s feet are exposed to electrical hazards.”
In addition to OSHA requirements quoted above, there may be other circumstances where protective footwear (safety shoes) is advisable, for example, use of rubber boots when working in flooded areas or areas contaminated with sewage.
Identify the hazards using the PPE hazard assessment form, and then use this information to determine if protective footwear is required, and what type of footwear is needed. Supervisors will inform employees if safety shoes are needed for a job, and what type of safety shoes. Safety shoes must meet the requirements of ASTM F2413-2018, which requires 3rd party certification.
- If a job requires hard toed safety shoes, the Supervisor will notify the employee.
- The employee checks that his/ her shoes meet the ASTM F2413-(date) standard before purchasing. The year that the standard was updated may be listed after ASTM F2413. This means that the shoes have “steel toes” and the ASTM F2413-(date)stamp, which is usually on the shoe’s tongue or on the side near the heel. Sometimes this is on an attached tag/ band.
- If the ASTM F2413-(date) number is not on the shoes, then the shoes do not meet the ASTM F2413-(date) standard and MIT will not reimburse the employee.
- The employee brings their new shoes to their Supervisor, who will check the shoes for the ASTM F2413-(date) stamp. Reminder: Do not wear the shoes until after you have received this approval.
- The Supervisor will sign a safety shoe card or equivalent.
- The Supervisor or employee takes the signed shoe card and the original store receipt to their department to be reimbursed. Copies of the receipt or credit card statement will not be accepted but the employee should keep a copy since you will not get the original receipt back. The department will check the employee’s balance and when they were last reimbursed. The department will reimburse the employee for the amount allowed per the union contract, if applicable. The EHS Office does not provide this reimbursement.
- Kathy Collupy in E19-134A (x8-9429) processes the reimbursements for Department of Facilities and CAC. The reimbursement is posted directly into the bank account that the person’s payroll is deposited into.
- Scott Fleming in W20-507 (x3-0967) reimburses Housing employees, who sign to document the payment.
- Lesley Fowler in 16-849 (x5-4810) reimburses employees in the Division of Comparative Medicine. The employee signs to document the payment.
- All other DLC’s: contact your DLC headquarters office about the procedure.
- The department will be responsible for keeping records for the duration of the employment. The department will keep the original receipts until the employee obtains another pair. (Receipts do not need to be sent to the EHS Office.)
- The Supervisor will periodically check that the employee is wearing the safety shoes when performing tasks that could result in a foot injury. If the employee is not wearing their safety shoes, the Supervisor will ask the employee to put the shoes on and will document this. If the employee has an accident but the employee was not wearing their safety shoes, the claim could be denied. The department will be asked for their records, including safety shoe purchases.
If you think you require a mask or some form of respiratory protection for your work, you must first contact EHS. We will help you determine if a respirator is required, what size and type would protect you best, and what type of filters/cartridges you should use.
Steps to Secure a Respirator
- Register for the Respiratory Program – Fill out the MIT Respirator Program Registration Form
- Fill out an Exposure Evaluation Form – A link to the Exposure Evaluation Form will be sent to you via email once you have completed Step 1. above. The purpose of this form serves as a Hazard Assessment and helps to determine your need for respiratory protection.
- Complete a Medical Exam – Contact Occupational Medicine at MIT Medical and request a respirator fitness appointment
- Complete a Respirator Fit Test – Schedule a Fit Test. Industrial Hygiene conducts quantitative respirator fit tests at the EHS Office. The appointment will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Additional Information
Facial Hair
Respirators and beards don’t mix. Facial hair prevents a good seal between the respirator and your face, allowing chemicals to get in.
Comfort (Voluntary) Mask and Respirator Use
If there is no health concern associated with your work, but you wish to wear a disposable dust mask to protect yourself from nuisance dust you can fill out a voluntary use form.
If you wish to wear a reusable respirator to protect yourself from nuisance odors, please contact Occupational Medicine at MIT Medical for a medical exam and then get a respirator fit test at EHS.
Legal Requirements
MIT Respiratory Protection Program has to abide by OSHA regulation 1910.134.
If you are required to use a respirator as protection against a hazardous material, then you must comply with all components of this law. Complete details are available at MIT’s Respiratory Protection Program.