Removing (doffing) personal protective equipment (PPE) including coveralls for aerosol generating procedures (AGPs)
Updated 17 December 2025
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Airborne precautions
PPE should be removed in an order that minimises the potential for cross contamination. PPE is to be removed carefully in a systematic way before leaving the patient’s room, that is: gloves, then gown or coverall and then eye protection.
The Filtering Facepiece, Class 3 (FFP3) respirator must always be removed outside the patient’s room – where possible in a dedicated isolation room with ante room or at least 2 metres away from the patient area. This is to reduce the risk of the worker removing PPE and inadvertently contaminating themselves or the patient while doffing.
The FFP3 respirator should be removed in the anteroom or lobby. In the absence of an anteroom or lobby, remove FFP3 respirator in a safe area (for example, outside the isolation room).
All PPE must be disposed of as infectious clinical waste.
1. Remove Gloves
Firstly, grasp the outside of the glove with the opposite gloved hand and peel off. Hold the removed glove in gloved hand.
Then, slide the fingers of the un-gloved hand under the remaining glove at the wrist. Peel the remaining glove off over the first glove and discard.
Clean hands with alcohol hand gel or rub.
2. Remove coveralls
The front of the gown and sleeves will be contaminated.
- tilt head back and with one hand pull the coveralls away from the body
- with other hand run your hand up the zip until you reach the top and unzip the coveralls completely without touching any skin, clothes or uniform following the guidance of your buddy
- remove coveralls from top to bottom – after freeing shoulders, pull arms out of sleeves
- roll the coverall, from the waist down and from the inside of the coverall, down to the top of the shoes, taking care to only touch the inside of the coveralls
- use one shoe-covered foot to pull off the coverall from the other leg and repeat for second leg
- step away from the coverall and dispose of it as infectious waste
3. Clean hands with alcohol hand gel or rub
4. Eye protection
Preferably use a full-face visor – goggles can be used as an alternative.
The outside will be contaminated.
To remove, use both hands to handle the straps by pulling away from behind and discard.
5. Respirator
In the absence of an anteroom or lobby remove FFP3 respirators in a safe area (for example, outside the isolation room).
Clean hands with alcohol hand rub.
Do not touch the front of the respirator as it will be contaminated.
- lean forward slightly
- reach to the back of the head with both hands to find the bottom strap and bring it up to the top strap
- lift straps over the top of the head
- let the respirator fall away from your face and place in bin