Chemical Protective Clothing
Chemical protective clothing keeps liquids, dusts and vapors off your skin. No single suit protects against everything. The material has to match the chemical.
- General Industry
- Construction
- Environmental
Photo: disposable coverall, chemical splash suit, and fully encapsulating Level A suit
Choosing the right material
- Check the chemical’s SDS, Section 8, for the recommended glove and clothing materials.
- Use the manufacturer’s chemical compatibility chart. Look at breakthrough time, how long before the chemical gets through the material.
- Disposable particle coveralls (like Tyvek-type suits) stop dust, but many don’t stop liquid chemicals or vapors.
Three ways chemicals get through
| Term | What happens |
|---|---|
| Penetration | Chemical passes through openings: zippers, seams, pinholes, tears |
| Permeation | Chemical soaks through the material at the molecular level, even when it looks intact |
| Degradation | Chemical damages the material: it swells, cracks, stiffens, softens or dissolves |
A suit can look perfect while a solvent is permeating through to your skin. That’s why breakthrough times matter.
Common materials
| Material | Often used for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microporous film coveralls | Dusts, light splashes, lead and asbestos work | Not for vapors or soaking liquids |
| PVC | Acids, bases, many water-based chemicals | Poor against many solvents |
| Neoprene | Acids, bases, oils, some solvents | Good all-around, but check the chart |
| Nitrile | Oils, fuels, many solvents | Common in gloves |
| Butyl rubber | Ketones, esters, many gases | Poor against fuels and some solvents |
| Viton and multilayer laminates | Aggressive solvents and chemical mixtures | Expensive; used for high-hazard work |
Protection levels (hazardous materials response)
| Level | Protection |
|---|---|
| A | Highest: fully encapsulating vapor-tight suit with SCBA |
| B | Highest respiratory protection (SCBA) with chemical splash suit |
| C | Air-purifying respirator with chemical-resistant clothing, when the hazard is known and measured |
| D | Work uniform and basic PPE; no respiratory or skin hazard expected |
Using it safely
- Inspect for tears, holes and failed seams before use.
- Tape or seal glove-to-sleeve and boot-to-leg joints when needed.
- Follow decontamination steps when taking it off so you don’t contaminate your skin.
- Watch for heat stress. Suits trap body heat. See Heat Illness.
- Dispose of single-use suits after use.
Taking it off without contaminating yourself
- Rinse or wipe gross contamination off the suit and boots first, if your procedure calls for it.
- Remove outer gloves.
- Unzip and roll the suit down and away from your body, turning it inside out, touching only the inside.
- Step out of the suit and boots onto a clean area.
- Remove the respirator last, after the suit, unless your procedure says otherwise.
- Remove inner gloves last, then wash your hands and face.
Never take contaminated clothing home. Contaminated work clothes have poisoned family members, especially with lead and asbestos. See Lead.
Before you suit up
- SDS checked for the right material
- Suit, gloves and boots are compatible with the chemical and the right size
- No tears, holes or failed seams
- Respirator fitted and right for the hazard
- Decon area and procedures set up
- Heat stress plan: work/rest cycles, water and a buddy
Standards & references
- 1910.120 Appendix B: General description of protection levels
- See also: HAZWOPER
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