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Check PPE Requirements for a Chemical

For: All roles | Tier: Standard and Pro (basic SDS Section 8 display on Starter)

Before handling any chemical, you should know what personal protective equipment is required. Tellus provides specific PPE recommendations for each chemical based on SDS data, GHS hazard classifications, and NIOSH guidelines.

Prerequisites​

  • The chemical must be in your inventory
  • An SDS must be linked to the chemical (PPE data comes from the parsed SDS)
  • For AI-powered recommendations, your plan must be Standard or Pro

Steps​

  1. Navigate to ChemIQ > Inventory
  2. Find the chemical you need PPE information for — use search or filters
  3. Click on the chemical to open its detail page
  4. Scroll to the PPE Recommendations section
  5. Review the recommendations for each category:
    • Hand Protection — Glove material, thickness, and breakthrough time
    • Eye Protection — Safety glasses, splash goggles, or face shield
    • Respiratory Protection — Respirator type, cartridge selection, and assigned protection factor
    • Body Protection — Lab coat, apron, coverall, or full chemical suit
  6. Note the confidence level for each recommendation:
    • High — Based on specific SDS data; well-supported
    • Medium — Based on hazard class and NIOSH guidelines
    • Low — Based solely on GHS classification; consult your safety professional

Expected Result​

You see specific, actionable PPE requirements for the chemical — detailed enough to make purchasing decisions and inform workers about the protection they need.

Tips​

  • Low confidence = consult an expert — When the confidence level is low, the SDS did not provide detailed PPE information. Have your safety professional review these recommendations before relying on them.
  • No single glove fits all — Different chemicals require different glove materials. Check the recommendation for each chemical rather than assuming one type of glove works for everything.
  • PPE icons on the inventory list — You can also see PPE type indicators directly on the inventory list view without opening each chemical's detail page.
  • Print for the work area — Consider printing PPE requirements alongside GHS labels so workers have the information at point of use.