Lab coat Q&A
Q: OSHA requires that PPE provided must “fit” employees properly. I work in a clinical lab that provides one size fits all isolation gowns as our PPE and, of course, one size does not fit all. On most employees they are very large and have lot of extra fabric on the sleeves that hangs down. The lab has requested lab coats, but the hospital does not want to make the change, because of the increased cost of supplying lab coats or disposable lab coats. In your opinion, should lab coats of varying sizes be provided if the lab is to be compliant with the OSHA standard?
A: Lab coats, much like gloves should fit adequately in order to provide appropriate protection for the employee. Although OSHA does not recommend one brand of coat over another, in its compliance document CPL 2-2.69 it states that fabric for lab coats must meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) requirements. This includes being able to repel fluids, withstand water pressure, not break under stress, release soil and retain appearance after 150 washings.
When calculating the true cost of a lab coat, you need to include the cost of cleaning the coat over its useful life. While disposable coats are convenient, they do create a landfill issue and may cost more than a reusable one. A lab coat that meets the ASTM requirements may cost twice as much as a cotton coat that does not meet the ASTM requirements. The fabric in the coat with the ASTM fabric could make it last many years and require less replacement cost thereby making it a cheaper alternative.
At a previous hospital I worked at, we purchased a lab coat that exceeded ASTM requirements. The coat cost around $35 compared to $15 for a cotton coat. The cotton coat lasted 60 washings and less than 2 years if we were lucky. It was torn and threadbare and was no longer repellent. The $35 coat had a useful life of 6 years and looked almost as good as it did when it was purchased.
For more information go to Complete Guide to Laboratory Safety pages 54-59 for more information on the ASTM required tests.
Q: How should one wash a pathogen exposed lab coat? With bleach? How much bleach? for how long an exposure? We work with some pathogens and even if I don’t get any one me there are still aerosols contaminating the coat.
A: Laundry of a lab coat depends on the fabric. Your best bet is to contact your coat vendor for specific instructions.
Generally speaking, lab coats must be laundered in water temperature that is 160 degrees F or higher to remove contamination from blood and body fluids.
Have more lab coat questions? Submit them below and the Safety Lady will answer them.
Also, if you enjoy these Safety Lady posts you may be interested in the “Academy for Lab Safety.” Click here for more information.
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Terry Jo Gile
Terry Jo Gile, MT(ASCP), MA Ed.,The Safety Lady® has more than 40 years experience as a certified medical technologist. As president of her own consulting firm, Safety Lady LLC, she is a world renowned speaker and consultant who helps organizations create safety savvy laboratories. Click the links to visit her Web site and her blog.
Terry Jo has written 49 posts.
Comments
Hello,
The Association of Biology Students of our University rents out lab coats for the students to use during their laboratory classes, which usually last around 3-4 hours. How should the lab coats be handled in order to maintain proper safety and health standards?
From Terry Jo Gile:
“If the coats are reusable they need to be removed aseptically and placed on a hook for use another day. If they are soiled, they must be placed in the soiled laundry bag for cleaning. If they are disposable, they need to be removed aseptically and placed on a hook if they are not soiled. If they are soiled, they must be placed in the regular trash or if contaminated with blood or body fluids the must go in the red bag waste.”
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