From:
Margaret Rakas <mrakas**At_Symbol_Here**SMITH.EDU>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] lab coat quality (educational settings)
Date:
Jan 10, 2024 19:29 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CAAszpky4XHv_Y6tQnVyE29cnPki5LH_f+HW0VqB00J4HWZ7dkw**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<CH2PR07MB648850ED0D05BF59D404EC6CC8692**At_Symbol_Here**CH2PR07MB6488.namprd07.prod.outlook.com>
Hello Susan-
We require 100% cotton lab coats in our organic labs--did away with the cotton/poly blends a while ago as they are generally not as fire-resistant (of course, cotton labcoats not FR treated will still burn!)
Here is a link to MIT's lab coat selection guidance (unlike other sites I quickly googled, they have information in tabular form under the "Selection" heading)-I hope it's helpful
best,
Margaret
Hello!
‘tis the start of a new semester, which means new student questions.
We usually require lab coat purchase of our organic laboratory students – basic white coats, not flame retardant. So naturally, students are seeking alternative deals to those stocked in the bookstore. (e.g….: VOGRYE Professional Lab Coat
for Women Men Long Sleeve, White, Unisex https://a.co/d/ceiRr5M)
I see the NIH guidance (https://ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/Documents/laboratory-coat-selection-guidance.pdf#search=laboratory%20coat%20guidance)
that references a range of lab coat standards, but I don’t see that very many lab coats list whether they meet any standards (although some of those mentioned in the NIH doc do).
My initial thought is that means that most “lab coats” are simply another layer of fabric in a particular shape, and that lab coats are like goggles – if they don’t list any standards, they don’t meet any.
Two questions:
What are the flaws or gaps in my reasoning above?
What standards do other educational institutions have for lab coats beyond flame retardant or not? I’m not talking about specialized research issues, but more the mass lower level (gen chem, organic) labs.
Thanks for any input.
With regards,
Sue
_______________________________
Susan D. Wiediger, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
swiedig**At_Symbol_Here**siue.edu 618-650-3088
---
For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
-- Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Lab Safety & Compliance Director
Clark Science Center
Smith College
413-585-3877 (p)
---
For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
