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How to wear safety glasses
- - In the case of safety goggles and safety glasses, wear them like you wear glasses.
- - Safety goggles should be worn by adjusting their strap.
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When safety glasses are required
- - One per person
- - When a user uses a chemical substance or glassware with risk of breakage, he/she should wear safety glasses.
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Difference between safety goggles and safety glasses
- - Safety glasses: Similar to existing glasses. There is a plastic protective shield on the side
- - Safety goggles: Similar to large swimming goggles for divers. It is less comfortable than safety glasses. Its protective function is better than safety glasses.
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How to wear safety glasses when a user wears prescription glasses
- - In this case, a user cannot wear safety glasses, but wear safety goggles on the glasses.
- - Prescription safety glasses can be manufactured and sold. In this case, they should have plastic lens.
A researcher with existing glasses should wear prescription safety glasses after an eye exam.
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Whether to wear contact lens in laboratories
- - Contact lenses are prohibited because a component may be caught between the contact lens and the retina.
- - Wear glasses and safety goggles.
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Whether to wear safety glasses when being exposed to ultraviolet rays and laser
- - General safety glasses cannot block ultraviolet rays and lasers.
- - A researcher must wear special safety glasses that can block ultraviolet rays and lasers.
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Face shield
- - Safety glasses protect only the eyes. Thus, if the entire face needs to be protected (e.g. when using vacuum glasses), a researcher should wear a face shield.
- - A large face shield that looks like motorcycle windshield is needed when a researcher conducts an experiment with the risk of an explosion in a hood.
- A protective coat protects skin from compounds.
- Minimal protective equipment in chemical and biological laboratories
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Wearing protective coat
- - Each researcher should have and wear a protective coat, in principle.
- - Researchers should wear their protective coats only in laboratories. They must not wear them outside laboratories like cafeterias because you risk exposing others to the compounds stained on the coats.
- - It is recommended to use cotton protective coats rather than synthetic fiber coats. The latter ones are weak to heat and acid.
- - Protective coats should be fit to a researcher. They should not be too large nor small.
- Gloves protect hands from compounds.
- Wear proper gloves depending on their application.
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Diverse gloves
- - There are diverse gloves depending on their use.
- - When handling corrosive compounds, hot objects, cryogenic materials, sharp objects like broken glass pieces, a research should wear suitable gloves before an experiment.
- - Thin polyethylene gloves make hands comfortable, but cannot protect the skin at all because most organic solvents easily penetrate the gloves.
- - Thick synthetic rubber gloves are suitable for handling strong acids or highly corrosive compounds.
A researcher must wear gloves that can resist heat when touching a hot object. - - A researcher must wear gloves that can withstand heat when handling cryogenic materials such as liquid nitrogen and dry ice.
- - A researcher must wear gloves that can withstand heat when touching a hot object.
- - A researcher must wear thick gloves when handling cryogenic materials such as liquid nitrogen and dry ice.
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Cautions when wearing gloves
- - Wear rubber gloves to make sure they are not punctured.
- - Always be careful not to pollute other areas due to the pollutants in the gloves.
- - When handling highly corrosive chemicals such as strong acids, a researcher should wear a plastic or rubber apron.
- - When cleaning glassware, the glassware may be broken and a researcher may be cut. It is recommended to wear a pair of cotton gloves before wearing gloves for cleaning to prevent accidents.
- Gas masks must be worn when an experiment generating toxic gas is conducted outside a fume hood.
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Wearing a gas mask
- - A paper mask can block dust. However, most paper masks cannot protect people from toxic gas at all.
- - A gas mask with a proper cartridge can protect people from dust, acid vapors, carbon monoxide, organic solvents, etc.
- - A gas mask should have a suitable cartridge according to the substance to use.
For example, a cartridge for organic vapor should not be used to protect from carbon monoxide.
- Ear plugs protect ears. Very noisy laboratories need protective equipment like ear plugs.
- Helmet protects the head. If there is a risk of falling, a researcher should wear a helmet when conducting an experiment.
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Ear protection
When an excessive noise (85 db or higher) is generated from laboratories, a suitable protective device to protect the ears should be used. The devices are described as follows:
- - Ear plug: It is the simplest protective device against noise.
- - Ear muff: It looks like a headphone. It is very effective against extreme noise and more comfortable than ear plugs.
- - Cotton plug: It hardly blocks noise.
- - When using ultrasonic waves, a researcher must use ear muffs.