If Only She Wore Her Lab Coat
In January 2009, a researcher died from injuries sustained in a laboratory fire. The researcher was attempting to draw tert-butyl lithium from a bottle into a syringe when the plunger slipped out of the syringe barrel, splashing the chemical onto her
In January 2009, a researcher died from injuries sustained in a laboratory fire. The researcher was attempting to draw tert-butyl lithium from a bottle into a syringe when the plunger slipped out of the syringe barrel, splashing the chemical onto her clothes and setting her on fire. She was not wearing a lab coat.
Although most lab coats are not designed to be flameproof, they can easily be removed if they do catch on fire. Like other protective gear, lab coats must be worn properly in order to be effective. This means that every button or zipper should be done up, and sleeves should extend past the wrists. An open lab coat is “an invitation for stray spills.”
Other safety tips include:
1. Lab coats should never be cleaned in home washing machines or Laundromats. Only specialists in hazardous waste cleaning techniques should handle dirty lab coats.
2. Sleeves should not be rolled up for comfort or ventilation.
3. Some lab coats have openings for access to pants pockets. It’s better to stay clear of these as they can compromise the wearer's safety.
4. Dirty hands can transfer dangerous or infectious agents through openings in the lab coats themselves, another reason to ensure every button, zipper, and snap is done up.
5. Lab coats made from a blend of polyester and cotton should not have less than a 35% cotton content for maximum benefit.
6. A severely stained or torn lab coat is a hazard and should be replaced immediately.
While the main purpose of lab coats is to ensure protection from hazardous chemicals and infectious agents, it is also “one of the main essentials” of good laboratory practice.