Safety Moment- Lab Coat Design

Lab coats are designed to provide skin and clothing protection from incidental chemical contact and small splashes. In order for your lab coat to perform this job best we recommend the following specs when looking for a lab coat:

1. Snap Enclosures: Opt for lab coats with secure snap closures for quick and efficient fastening, ensuring a snug fit and easy removal in case of an emergency.

2. Knit Cuffs: Look for lab coats featuring knit cuffs, offering a comfortable yet secure seal around the wrists. This feature prevents accidentally dragging the sleeve along the lab bench and causing contamination or spills.

3. Material Quality: Fabrics like polyester-cotton blends offer durability, comfort, and protection against spills and potential fire hazards.

4. Flame resistance: If a hazard assessment has indicated a need for flame resistant lab attire, make sure to purchase a lab coat with an “FR” tag- indicating flame resistance.

These elements collectively contirbute to a safer work environment by protecting yourself and those around you.

Incident Spotlight

A student in a biology lab was working near a bunsen burner, as many biologists do. The student was wearing a long sleeve, loose fitting sweater. At some point during their work, their sleeve got too close to the burner and the researcher could not feel the heat since the sweater was absorbing much of it. The synthetic material caught fire quickly and melted, causing burns on the researcher's arm and wrist. Thankfully the flame was quickly extinguished.

What went wrong? What PPE could have prevented the accident?

End of Year Cleanup

There is no better feeling than coming back from vacation to a clean house, why would your lab be any different! Take some time at the end of the semester to clear out old reagents, organize equipment, disinfect surfaces, dispose of old samples and general cleaning to ensure a fresh start. This process not only maintains safety standards but also sets the stage for efficient work in the upcoming year.

There will be no newsletter in January. Enjoy the holiday break!!!!