Avoid sandals and wear shoes with closed toes. Most labs don't justify steel toe boots, but they are great particularly for concrete handling. Old clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet and dirty are a good idea. Face shields should be used when working close to failing specimens. Leather palm gloves are available for handling abrasive materials.
Ear plugs are available for noise reduction.
Cement paste is highly alkali so will dry skin very quickly. This is an official publication of the University of Maine. University of Maine Civil Engineering Materials Course Manual CIE 111. 02 November, 1999.