Organization Unit Public Health & Safety Department

Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment –

Form sheet title:
Protective Clothing
Doc Ref. DM-PH&SD-P4-TG11

Background: Protective clothing should protect the body and limbs from the hazards
such as chemical liquids and vapors, excessive heat and cold,
electricity, impacts, ionizing radiation and weather conditions. Body
coverage includes work coverall, aprons, leggings, sleeves, caps etc.
The clothing must combine the greatest degree of comfort with the
maximum level of protection. Proper selection and use of protective
clothing to provide adequate body protection should be followed
considering the type of hazard. Every employer shall provide the right
type of body protection required for the job. Every employee shall use
the personal protective equipment provided by the employer.

Dubai Local order No. 61 of 1991 requires the provision of protective

devices by the employer and the use of these equipment by the
employees.

Guidelines:

1. All persons in manufacturing industry or those dealing with an hazardous

substances must be provided with suitable protective clothing.

2. PVC coated fabrics provide excellent protection against a very wide range of
chemical products which include corrosive acids nitric, sulphuric, hydrochloric
or chromic acids and against alkaline substances and organic substances.

3. Where PVC clothing is not suitable for certain organic solvents, protective
clothing manufactured from Polyurethane or Neoprene coated fabrics should be
selected.

4. Cotton or synthetic fabrics are used in the form of overall, coverall, laboratory
coats etc. where there is risk of a splash from innocuous chemicals or very
dilute acids and alkalies.

5. Apron made out of Rubber, PVC, Neoprene or polyurethane coated nylon or

leather should be selected depending upon the resistance required in a particular
low risk operation.

6. Full PVC or Neoprene suits with protective head gear such as caps fitted with
neck and shoulder covers, visors should be used to protect against extremely
hazardous and corrosive chemicals. (High risk of splash of chemicals, sand
blasting, vessel cleaning etc.).

7. Contaminated clothing should always be washed immediately at the workplace

to prevent risks beyond the workplace.

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 Organization Unit Public Health & Safety Department
Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment –
Form sheet title:
Protective Clothing
Doc Ref. DM-PH&SD-P4-TG11

8. Aluminized asbestos coveralls are suitable for protection against radiation heat.

9. Cold temperature clothing for operatives engaged in cold storage work,

manufactured from polyurethane coated nylon attached to terylene quilting is
suitable.

10. Proper clothing should be selected taking into consideration the potential hazard
of static charge generation for work in flammable vapour/air mixture
atmosphere. Synthetic materials are not suitable for sue in flammable
atmosphere.

11. Table - 1 should be used as a guide for the selection of protective clothing for
certain operations.

12. Further References:

British Standard Specification:

BS - 2653 Protective clothing for welders

BS - 3791 Clothing for protection against intense heat.
BS - 4170 Waterproof protective clothing
BS - 4679 Protective suits for construction workers.

American Standard Specification

EN Standard Specification

FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT
Tel: 2064244 FAX: 2270160

4/2:‫الصفحة‬ 2010 ‫أبريل‬:‫تاريخ اإلصدار‬ 2 : ‫رقم اإلصدار‬

 Organization Unit Public Health & Safety Department
Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment –
Form sheet title:
Protective Clothing
Doc Ref. DM-PH&SD-P4-TG11

TABLE 1
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u

 = SUITABLE
Suitable for -
Bitumen spraying    
Blast cleaning (grit, etc.)  
Boiler/furnace operations 
Cleaning - high pressure water jets    
Crane operations  
Production operations   
Electric welding     
Engineering workshops 
Filling cylinders LPG  
Filling drums - chemicals     
Filling drums - oil products   
Filling gantries - chemicals     
Fire - fighting    
Gas welding/cutting     
Handling asbestos      
Handling chemicals       
Handling cryogenic materials     
Handling hot materials   
Handling lub. oils (blending)   
Laboratories - general    
Metal spraying   
Paint spraying      
Radiation heat  
Spillages, oil - clean up    
Spillages, chemical - clean up     
Steam cleaning   

a. Aprons, chrome leather b. Aprons, PVC

c. Aprons, neoprene d. Parkas, PVC cloth
e. Jackets, PVC cloth f. Trousers, PVC cloth
g. Leggings, chrome leather h. Sleeves, chrome leather, 450 mm
i. Polyethylene apron, bib fronted, throw away j. Cap, chrome leather
k. Amlets, PVC (elastic hems) l. Hoods, PVC
m. Coveralls, PVC cloth n. Waistcoats, Fluorescent
o. p. Aluminized asbestos coveralls
q. - mitts r.
s. Overalls, cotton t. Dust caps
u. Dust coats v.

4/3:‫الصفحة‬ 2010 ‫أبريل‬:‫تاريخ اإلصدار‬ 2 : ‫رقم اإلصدار‬

 Organization Unit Public Health & Safety Department
Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment –
Form sheet title:
Protective Clothing
Doc Ref. DM-PH&SD-P4-TG11

TABLE 1 )Continued)
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u
 = SUITABLE
Suitable for -
Tank/Vessel cleaning:
- Chemicals   
- Leaded Gasoline    
- Crude/other products   

Note 1. Gantry Personnel only

a. Aprons, chrome leather b. Aprons, PVC

c. Aprons, neoprene d. Parkas, PVC cloth
e. Jackets, PVC cloth f. Trousers, PVC cloth
g. Leggings, chrome leather h. Sleeves, chrome leather, 450 mm
i. Polyethylene apron, bib fronted, throw away j. Cap, chrome leather
k. Amlets, PVC (elastic hems) l. Hoods, PVC
m. Coveralls, PVC cloth n. Waistcoats, Fluorescent
o. p. Aluminized asbestos coveralls
q. - mitts r.
s. Overalls, cotton t. Dust caps
u. Dust coats v.

4/4:‫الصفحة‬ 2010 ‫أبريل‬:‫تاريخ اإلصدار‬ 2 : ‫رقم اإلصدار‬