From: Julie McLachlan <Julie.McLachlan**At_Symbol_Here**GREENCENTRECANADA.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Use of fire resistant lab coat
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 17:05:08 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: CFF1A744.29765%julie.mclachlan**At_Symbol_Here**greencentrecanada.com
Demystify:
We require the use of Blue Nomex lab coats only when working with pyrophorics or a lot of highly flammable solvents. This allows everyone in the lab to instantly know that hazardous work is happening. Otherwise everyone always wears a white cotton/polyester blend lab coat.
A question I'm wondering about as we as a professional community consider the aftermath of the UCLA lab fire and its legal follow up is whether there is a reason beyond finances to not use fire resistant lab coats in the lab setting. I recognize that both the initial and maintenance costs associated with fire resistant coats are significantly higher than alternatives, but I wonder if there are other disadvantages associated with their use.
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