Date: February 16, 2010
4:27:05 PM EST
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab
Coat Options
In three
labs I worked (two as the supervisor) there were no exceptions. You wore the coat since it
was a part of PPE.
Lynn
Knudtson
===
Date: February 16, 2010
4:39:54 PM EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] 10
RE: [DCHAS-L] Lab Coat Options
I too am a person who hates to wear lab coats=85my
solution is to wear nursing scrubs=85they are cheap, easy to launder,
and 65% polyester which is acid resistant unlike
cotton.
I always understood lab
coats were originally worn to protect the dress shirts and ties
scientists used to wear, not as PPE. Wearing a lab coat will
not protect you from splashes=85you should be wearing an apron or
chemical suit if the risk of getting doused is high.
Carole Herriott
Technician III
Weyerhaeuser Technology Center
32901 Weyerhaeuser Way S
Mailstop: 1B22(office)
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 924-5401 (office)
(253) 249-6709 (cell)
===
Date: February 16, 2010 5:07:55 PM
EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Lab
Coat Options
Danielle,
This is
sort of like the room temperature issues in an office complex. At any given time, if you
ask all the employees, about half will say it's too hot and the other
half will say it's too cold.
As for
the lab, it would be at least worthwhile checking room temperatures over
a few days and asking your HVAC guys to see that a reasonably acceptable
temperature is maintained consistent with ongoing
processes.
Unless
this researcher has some reason to be personally hyperthermic such as
taking certain medications which in themselves might constitute a
health/safety hazard or has some medical condition such as inadequately
controlled hyperthyroidism or chronic infection(s), then I'd say that
wearing proper PPE is a condition of employment, and if he can't stand
the heat, perhaps he'd better get out of the kitchen! A referral to your
occupational medicine consultant for a review of medications/medical
conditions might be in order.
Despite the ADA, a person's medical condition that poses a health
risk to him/her-self should be properly evaluated and treated. Then, if indicated,
reasonable accommodation may be in order.
However,
I find no good excuse for anyone not wearing proper PPE in a lab or any
other environment where chemical exposure may occur. When I was in clinical
practice, I wore a lab coat in the office/clinic/emergency department,
even when the ambient temperatures were well above 100 degrees F,
because it was the right thing to do (however sometimes
uncomfortable).
Alan
Alan H. Hall,
M.D.
TCMTS, Inc.
Laramie, WY
Colorado
School of Public Health
Denver,
CO
===
Date: February 16, 2010
4:55:44 PM EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Lab
Coat Options (UNCLASSIFIED)
Just reviewing the string of comments. Regarding medical
conditions, I
would recommend sending the
individual to a physician and request a
medical evaluation in writing to be sure there are no
medical issues
going on, and to get a
written recommendation for the same. If the
person is medically fit, then proceed with all other
suggestions.
Alice Weber
ECBC
Safety and Health Office
