Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is used to prevent or minimise your exposure to hazards. It includes protection from contact to the skin or eyes as well as respiratory hazards and chronic exposure. In a museum or collections storage environment, the most commonly used forms of PPE include:
- Disposable nitrile gloves: Nitrile is preferred to disposable latex or vinyl gloves for their durability and being less irritating to the skin; they are also safer than cotton gloves against chemicals or pathogens. Nitrile gloves are suitable to most museum work but should be replaced when they become damaged or soiled.
- Face masks: These range in suitability from simple paper surgical masks (Type IIR) to full face piece (FFP) particle masks or respirators with full face coverage. For most of the inhalation hazards encountered in a collection like MAA, a surgical mask or FFP should be sufficient. Note that FFP is different to a surgical mask in that it closes over the face and is divided into three protection classes: FFP1, which filters up to 80% of fine particulate materials; FFP2, up to 95% (similar to an N95); and FFP3, which is approximately 99% efficient. These masks should be replaced when they become damaged or soiled.
- Protective clothing: This might be a lab coat or other garment which extends to the hands, covering the arms and front of the body. This should be something which is easily washable and which does not leave the collections environment.
- Eye protection: This should be chemical safety eyewear worn over or in addition to regular glasses. It should shield the eyes from contact with liquids and dust from the front as well as the sides.
Note: Nitrile gloves are often suggested to keep both people and objects safe. For polished metal, lacquer and other delicate surfaces, gloves should always be used during handling. For many other materials in the collection, you may wish to keep your hands clean or to demonstrate respect. In most cases, clean hands – washed with soap and water before and after handling – are sufficient for limited periods of contact with non-hazardous materials.
Further Resources
University of Cambridge Health and Safety Office, ‘Glove Selection Guidance’, 2020.
UK Health and Safety Executive, ‘Personal protective equipment (PPE) at work’, 2024.