PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Definition
Gloves, scene suits, overshoes, and masks worn by scene examiners. PPE protects the examiner from hazardous substances at the scene, and protects the evidence from contamination by the examiner.
- Typical items
- Gloves, scene suits, overshoes, masks
- Primary functions
- Examiner safety and evidence anti-contamination
- Worn by
- Crime scene examiners
- Applies to
- Every scene attendance, not just biohazard scenes
Common questions
Why does PPE serve two purposes at once?+
It creates a barrier in both directions: it keeps hazardous substances at the scene, such as blood-borne pathogens or chemical residues, off the examiner's skin and clothing, while also stopping the examiner's own DNA, fibres, and skin cells from transferring onto evidence and causing contamination.
What happens if PPE is not changed between exhibits?+
Reusing gloves or a suit across multiple exhibits or scene areas risks cross-transfer of trace material between them, which can later be challenged in court as a contamination pathway undermining the evidential value of a match.
Related terms
- Bindle
- A small tamper-evident paper packet folded to contain trace evidence. All four edges are tucked inward so no material can escape and...
- Exhibit Number
- The unique reference code assigned to each recovered item at the moment of collection. It appears on the label, in the scene...
- Primary Container
- The packaging that is in direct contact with the evidence item: a bindle, an evidence bag, a rigid box. The primary container...
- Search Pattern
- The systematic geometric route walked by a dog handler to ensure uniform coverage of the search area. Standard patterns include the ladder...
- Wet-to-Dry Transfer
- The process of air-drying wet biological exhibits (bloody clothing, wet swabs) before final sealing. Sealing wet biological material in any container causes...