Scientists study about many things including germs and bacteria that carry diseases. As many of these could be very dangerous if touched or even breathed in, it is essential for the scientists to wear protective clothing like masks, gloves, body and head protection. Scientists sometimes handle radioactive material, exposure to which can be fatal.
For these purposes, scientists use robots. But if human hand is needed, scientists wear protective clothing to protect themselves.
Below Protective Clothing info from Wikipedia (Read More):-
Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment designed to protect the wearer's body or clothing from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, and in sports, martial arts, combat, etc. body armor is combat-specialized protective gear. In British legislation the term PPE does not cover items such as armour. The terms "protective gear" and "protective clothing" are in many cases interchangeable; "protective clothing" is applied to traditional categories of clothing, and "gear" is a more general term and preferably means uniquely protective categories, such as pads, guards, shields, masks, etc.
PPE can also be used to protect the working environment from pesticide application, pollution or infection from the worker (for example in a microchip factory). The protection may be important in both ways, as with the use of disposable gloves by surgeons and dentists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protective_clothing
