"As the lab safety manager for Texas A&M University at Qatar, I feel uniquely qualified to answer this question as at least 50% of our female students wear either the Burka or Hijab. I will briefly outline the PPE requirements we use for Organic Chemistry Laboratory (which I also used to teach here) below.

Basically, lab coats with elastic cuffs are required to secure loose sleeves from the abaya.  The Hijab or Burka is required to be securely tucked into the lab coat collar.  For those students that wear a Burka, we require them to wear a surgical mask in lieu of the facial covering (it basically covers the same amount as the Burka).  Of course goggles and closed-toed shoes are required.  In the 5 years I have been here, this has been the standard policy and we have not had any negative feedback.  Thus far, we have not had any students that insist on wearing the full face veil covering everything including their eyes.  Some wear this in the hallways, but have no problem removing it for lab courses (all of our courses are coeducational).

Another thing you may want to be aware of is male TAs or faculty responsibilities for the students.  I assume your lab instructors are trained to render basic first aid or deal with chemical spills on a student.  Due to religious sensitivities, if this is the case, it is a good idea for the instructor to ask for a female volunteer to act as a "helper" in emergencies as the male instructor will not be allowed to touch a conservative female muslim student.  It could be something as simple as the female volunteer applying a bandage or manning a  drench shower."

I also wanted to mention that in the case of Mechanical Engineering labs and machine shops, they wore coveralls in order to deal with the loose sleeve issue.

Brandon S. Chance, M.S., CCHO

Program Manager, Chemical Safety

Environmental Health and Safety

Princeton University

262 Alexander Street

Princeton, NJ 08540

609-258-7882 (office)

609-955-1289 (mobile)

609-258-1804 (fax)

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