Ian Samson, EMEA regional training specialist for DuPont, discusses the selection and
correct procedures for the donning and doffing of personal protective coveralls

Protective coveralls are intended to
protect against contamination from
hazards in your working environment,
ranging from liquid and solid chemicals, oils,
non-toxic liquids, airborne substances, dusts
and fibres. In some working environments,
such as laboratories and crime scenes,
protective clothing is required to
stop human contamination (i.e.

hairs, shedding skin and clothing
fibres) of the area. However, just
wearing the garment is no
guarantee of protection; several
factors need to be taken into
consideration to ensure that the suit
you choose will provide the
necessary protection.

Selection and use
With so many different coveralls on
the market, how do you know
which one is right for you? Every
selection should begin with a risk
analysis to determine the type of
risk (chemicals, non-hazardous
liquids, radiation etc), the length
of exposure and level of
protection required. The more
detailed the risk analysis, the
easier it is to decide which
protective suit is to be used.

When you select protective garments, the
key issues to be taken into account are:
Barrier protection (penetration and
permeation)
Resistance (garment robustness)
Quality (of garment material, zipper,
seams, comfort, size and fit)
Convenience (garments should be userfriendly)
Environmental compatibility (disposal
should be safe and cost-effective)
Cost (although it is not recommended to
make a decision based solely on price)
Tests and use (once a garment has been
analysed and it meets the necessary
requirements, an in-use test under real
working conditions should be performed)
Choosing the correct size is a prerequisite
not just for safety but for comfort. If a
garment is too big it can get stuck in
production machinery, if it’s too small it can
tear or considerably restrict mobility.

DuPont’s new Tyvek Classic Xpert coverall
has been redesigned to fit better, allow better
movement and importantly, gives a superior
level of protection in the Type 5, 6 categories.

It comes in new packaging that displays not
only a sizing chart, but advice on the donning
and doffing procedures in simple pictograms.

Donning
While you may not think too hard about
how you put on your clothing in the
morning, putting on a protective coverall
correctly is instrumental to the performance
of the garment. Once the appropriate
coverall has been chosen, a contaminationfree
changing room should be made available
away from the workplace for workers to get
dressed. Any object that could obstruct work
should be removed from pockets and left in
a secure environment. Begin by sitting on a
chair and removing footwear. Then, carefully
put your feet into the leg of the coverall one
by one, before putting on and securely lacing
your safety shoes or boots. At this point you
should put on the correct gloves for the
application. If you are using two sets of
gloves, put the first set on now. Standing up,
pull the suit up to your waist and place your
arms into the sleeves. Before zipping up the
suit, put on any goggles, masks etc, and
ensure they are fitted correctly, are
comfortable and that there are no gaps. Pull
the hood up over your head and zip the
coverall to the very top, pushing the zip
down to lock. If you are wearing a second set
of gloves put these on over the first pair,
covering the wrist and sleeves of the coverall.

It is recommended that all gaps and joins
should be sealed with adhesive tape, including
the ends of the gloves and around the face
where hood meets facemask. A colleague
should be present to check that the suit is
donned correctly and that all gaps are sealed.

Doffing
Unless great care is taken in the removal and
disposal of single-use protective garments,
there is a risk of cross contamination from
the surface of the garment to the wearer’s
skin or hair or to other employees and
family. The protective suit should be
removed in a contamination-free space.

Before taking off the protective clothing, it is
advisable to clean gloves and boots to
prevent dust being thrown up. Masks and zip
covers should be wiped clean too. Any
protective items removed, such as adhesive
tape, should be immediately disposed of in a
chemical waste container provided for this
purpose. With the protective gloves still on,
the wearer should begin rolling the hood
back, taking care not to let the outside of the
coverall touch the head. Unzip the coverall
and begin rolling that outwards, rolling it
down over your shoulders. Place both hands
behind your back and pull down each arm
until completely removed. Sit down and
remove each shoe then roll the coveralls
down (ensuring the contaminated side is not
touched and does not come into contact with
clothing) over your knees until completely
removed. Finally discard the suit in the bag
provided and remove your gloves.

When discarding the protective suit, it is
important to hold it by the non-contaminated
inner surface to prevent contact with the
hazardous substance. The process of removing
the suit results in contamination of the
workplace, so this area must be cleaned.

Leaving the danger zone while still
contaminated poses a risk not only to the
wearer of the protective suit, but to others
who are not involved in the procedure.

Further information
DuPont has put together a series of short
videos to explain the difference between SMS
Polypropylene, Microporous films and
Tyvek. They are available at:
www.differentprotection.tyvek.com