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Hygiene a summer safety issue in the lab

Lab Safety Advisor, July 11, 2006

During the dog days of summer, employees tend to be a bit lax in attending to their personal attire or hygiene. Make sure they follow these rules:

• Maintain personal hygiene at all times
• Do not apply cosmetics or lip balm in work areas
• Do not handle contact lenses in work areas
• Hair that is shoulder-length or longer must be tied back
• Beards are to be neatly trimmed (and should exceed no more than one inch in length)
• Hair is to be clean and well maintained to prevent contamination of work area from bacteria and skin fungus
• Fingernails should be no longer than one-quarter inch beyond the end of the finger.

Laboratorians should avoid wearing the following:

• Artificial nails. Jewelry pasted to acrylic nails could make tiny holes in gloves
• Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other dangling jewelry. Earrings should dangle no more than one inch below the ear.
• Flowing scarves or neckties, which could get caught in the equipment
• Oversized rings, which could puncture a hole in gloves

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