PPE and Safety Apparel

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is frequently used in medical, chemical, cleanroom, lab, and emergency environments. PPE refers to protective gowns, goggles, face masks, face shields, gloves, and shoe covers. These items are designed to protect the wearer from injury or the spread of infection.

PPE is commonly used in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and clinical labs and acts as a barrier between contaminants and dangerous chemicals and your skin, nose, eyes, mouth, feet, and body. The barrier blocks the transmission of contaminants from the body or infectious material brought in by healthcare workers. The primary goal of PPE is to minimize the spread of infection or contamination.

Disposable shoe covers are an essential component of PPE when running an effective cleanroom.

What is the Purpose of Shoe Covers?

Disposable shoe covers are slip-ons that fit snugly over your shoes. They are designed to keep an environment sanitary and sterile. They are personal protective equipment that helps specific settings meet regulatory requirements.

Medical shoe covers also protect from liquid, dirt, and blood seeping through and staining your shoes. The non-slip soles protect wearers from falls and accidents. In summary, shoe covers are safe, sanitary, and cost-effective.

What Material Are Disposable Shoe Covers Made From?

Disposable shoe covers are designed to be quick and easy to put on and take off. The covers are made with elastic bands so that they are adjustable and remain secure when fitted around the ankle. The elastic bands also cater to the one size fits all design.

The fabric is durable and typically made out of polypropylene. The Tians Shoe Cover is made out of polypropylene which is 100% virgin spunbonded low-linting fabric with a latex-free elastic that is adjustable for a snug fit and machine-welded seams for durability.

This material is non-static, meaning that particles won’t stick to it and non-woven, which means particulates can’t become ground into the cover since there is no weave. This keeps the shoe cover clean and sterile.

Most shoe covers have an added tread on the bottom, making them anti-skid. Non-skid shoe covers ensure traction and reduce slips and falls caused by slick floors.

Can You Wash Disposable Shoe Covers?

The beauty of having disposable shoe covers is that they do not need to be washed. Wear them once and then simply throw them away. Since they come in large quantities and are one size fits all, they are cost-efficient enough to provide for your entire staff multiple times throughout the day if needed.

How Many Times Do I Need to Change Shoe Covers In My Cleanroom?

Using PPE effectively entails removing and disposing of shoe covers properly. The general rule is that shoe covers must be discarded every time personnel leaves the cleanroom environment.

Otherwise, if you go outside of a cleanroom environment into a non-sterile environment, if you don’t change shoe covers when you re-enter, you are just bringing the contaminants from the non-sterile environment into a sterile environment. This then contaminates the sterile environment, and it becomes non-sterile.

Remember also that anytime shoe covers become soiled, damaged, or safety and protection become compromised, the shoe covers should be disposed of immediately and replaced with a new pair.

What Gives a Shoe Cover Its Cleanroom Rating?

Since the goal of a cleanroom is to minimize particles and contaminants, personnel must wear cleanroom-approved apparel. Cleanrooms are categorized by their cleanliness level, so therefore the PPE or shoe covers, in this case, must be made of material that meets the requirements of the specified particle shed level. Shoe covers just so happen to be required in all cleanroom rating classifications.

Where Can I Purchase Shoe Covers to Meet My Laboratory Needs?

Shoe covers can be obtained from your laboratory inventory supplier. Lab Pro Inc can provide shoe covers in various colors and quantities. For over 40 years, Lab Pro Inc. has been committed to delivering the highest quality chemicals, PPE such as Shoe covers, lab supplies, laboratory equipment, and cleanroom apparel to medical device and electronic manufacturing laboratories worldwide. To learn more, visit the biggest Lab Supply showroom in California, or contact us online at 888-452-2776.