Donning and Doffing of PPE Checklist
This comprehensive checklist provides step-by-step guidance for correctly donning and doffing personal protective equipment to minimize cross-contamination risks. It covers the full sequence from gowning and shoe covers through double gloving, respirator seal checks, and eye protection, followed by the safe removal order and proper hand hygiene. Adhering to these protocols helps safeguard against exposure to infectious agents and reinforces consistent safety practices across the workplace.
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How to Use This Checklist
- **Prepare before you start.** Record the date, who prepared the checklist, and the location. Read the instructions so you know the full sequence before you put anything on, and confirm the number of complete PPE sets available at the station.
- **Don your PPE in order.** Work through the gown, shoe covers, first layer of gloves, mask or respirator, and goggles or face shield if applicable, then the second layer of gloves. Each step in the checklist describes exactly what to check — such as full coverage of the torso and arms, ties fastened at the neck and waist, and gloves inspected for tears, pinholes, or defects.
- **Seal-check the respirator.** Position it firmly under the chin, secure the top strap high at the back of the head and the bottom strap around the neck, mold the nosepiece to the nose bridge, and exhale sharply over the mask. Readjust if any leakage is detected.
- **Rate and record.** Note the comfort and fit of the donned PPE, record the respirator or mask model, and document any observations or equipment defects.
- **Doff in reverse order, handling only clean surfaces.** Remove the outer gloves, eye protection, gown, shoe covers, mask or respirator, and inner gloves in that order, discarding each item in the designated waste container as you go.
- **Finish with hand hygiene and a record.** Select the hand hygiene method used and confirm hands were washed thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. Document any incidental contamination events or near-misses, then sign off and record the finished time.
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What donning and doffing of PPE involves
Donning and doffing is the controlled process of putting on and taking off personal protective equipment in a defined order so that contamination is not transferred to your skin, clothing, or surroundings. Donning builds up protection in layers — gown, shoe covers, gloves, mask or respirator, eye protection, and an outer layer of gloves — while doffing strips those layers away in an order that keeps the contaminated surfaces inward and away from you. This checklist walks through the full sequence in 44 steps across two main phases: donning and doffing. It starts with basic details — the date the check was conducted, who prepared it, and the location — and then covers each item of equipment in turn.
Why a consistent sequence matters
PPE only protects you when it is worn correctly and removed carefully. If a gown is left unfastened at the back, if a glove has a pinhole, or if you pull a contaminated mask forward with bare hands, the protection breaks down. Following the same sequence every time reduces the chance of cross-contamination and makes it easier to see where a step was missed. The checklist also supports consistency across a team. Because each step is written out explicitly, different people performing the same task can follow the same standard, and any departures or defects are recorded rather than overlooked.
What a good donning sequence covers
The donning section of the checklist breaks the process into five steps: 1. **Gown** — ensure it fully covers the torso from neck to knees, arms to the end of the wrists, and wraps completely around the back, then fasten the ties at the back of the neck and waist. 2. **Shoe covers** — pull them completely over footwear so the soles and sides are fully covered. 3. **First layer of gloves** — apply and carefully inspect for tears, pinholes, or defects. The checklist also covers creating a small thumb hole in the lab coat cuff as a secure anchor for the sleeve and threading your thumb through so the cuff sits snugly over the hand. 4. **Mask or respirator** — cup it in your palm with the nosepiece at your fingertips, position it firmly under the chin with the nosepiece facing upward, pull the top strap high at the back of the head and the bottom strap around the neck below the ears, then mold the nosepiece to the nose bridge. 5. **Goggles or face shield (if applicable)** — position over the face and eyes and adjust the straps for a secure, comfortable fit. Once the mask is in place, you perform a positive-pressure fit check: place both hands over the mask and exhale sharply, then readjust if any air leaks around the edges. The second layer of gloves is applied over the first, extending to fully cover the wrist and cuff. You also record the type or model of respirator or mask used, rate the overall comfort and fit on a scale of 1 to 5, note how many complete PPE sets are available at the station, and document any observations or equipment defects.
What a good doffing sequence covers
Doffing is where contamination control is most easily lost, so the checklist spells out exactly where to hold each item: 1. **Outer gloves** — grasp the opposite outer glove at the palm and peel it off inside out, holding it in the still-gloved hand; then slide fingers of the freed hand under the remaining outer glove at the wrist, peel it off over the first glove, and discard both in the designated waste container. 2. **Goggles or face shield** — handle only the headband or ear pieces, avoiding the front surface, and place in the designated receptacle for reprocessing or disposal. 3. **Gown** — unfasten ties carefully from the neck to the waist, pull the gown away from the neck and shoulders while turning it inside out to contain contamination, then roll or fold it into a compact bundle with the contaminated surface inward and discard it. 4. **Shoe covers** — touch only the highest part behind the ankle, pull each cover off, and step that foot into the designated clean area. 5. **Mask or respirator** — the front is considered contaminated, so handle it only with gloved hands; grasp both side straps or ties simultaneously, lift the mask away from the face by pulling the straps up and forward, and discard it. 6. **Inner gloves** — slide the fingers of one ungloved hand under the remaining glove at the wrist, peel it off inside out over the fingers, and discard immediately. 7. **Hand hygiene** — select the method performed after doffing and confirm hands were washed thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, covering the backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails. The doffing section also provides a place to document any incidental contamination events or near-misses that occurred during the process.
How to carry out the check
Work through the checklist in real time as you put equipment on and take it off, rather than reconstructing it afterwards. Begin with the header details, read the instructions, and confirm what is available at the station. Follow the donning steps in order, performing the respirator fit check before adding eye protection and the outer gloves. Rate the fit and comfort and record the respirator model while the equipment is on. Then remove the equipment in the doffing order, holding only the parts the checklist identifies and discarding each item into the designated waste container as you remove it. Finish with hand hygiene, note any contamination events or concerns, and sign off with the finished time so the record shows when the procedure was completed.
Who this checklist is for
This checklist is designed for anyone who wears PPE to protect against exposure to infectious agents — clinical staff, laboratory workers, and others in environments where cross-contamination is a risk. It is equally useful as a training aid for new staff learning the sequence and as a reference for experienced practitioners who want a repeatable standard to work to. Supervisors and safety leads can use completed records to spot recurring issues, such as equipment defects or fit problems, and address them.
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