1. For my facility, lab coats are purchased through various means. All our students are required to buy lab coats as part of the academic requirement for all laboratory classes. They can purchase lab coats via the university book store or other means. For research labs, either the PI (via grant funding) or the department (department budget) purchases lab coats for staff, researchers and faculty.

2. Sometimes, the individual launders their own lab coat. Most of the time, coats are stained so bad that the PI ends up buying new coats the following year. My facility has laundry machines for our dormitories, but there has been no attempt or request to allow the science departments to use the laundry machines.

3. We managed to persuade the science department to mandate the use of laboratory coats in all instructional science courses. This requirement is enforced by the instructor of these classes and inspected during EHS laboratory inspections. We also gave recommendations for laboratory coats to the science departments.

Michael Ng
Environmental Health and Safety Manager
Long Island University Brooklyn Campus
Buildings and Grounds
1 University Plaza M101
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: (718)-488-1608
Fax: (718)-488-3337
michael.ng**At_Symbol_Here**liu.edu

From: >
Reply-To: DCHAS-L >
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 08:18:12 -0500
To: >
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Lab Coat Management? Who, what, how?

We are reviewing how lab coats are managed on our campus. We'd appreciate feedback on how your university/college handles lab coats (non-clinical) for research labs:

1. How are lab coats purchased?
       Each individual student/staff/faculty buys their own?
       Lab PIs buy them for their labs?
       Departments buy them?
       Other?________________

2. How are they laundered?
       Is it up to the individual to launder their own lab coat?
       The lab uses only disposable lab coats?
       The lab has a washer/dryer for individuals within their own group to use?
       The departments have a washer/dryer for individuals to use?
       There is a lab coat laundry service on campus?  (who runs it?)
       There is a lab coat exchange program with an outside vendor on campus?  (whois vendor and who manages the program?)
       Other? __________________________________

3. How is EH&S involved in the lab coat program?
       Runs the lab coat purchase &/or laundry program?
       Only recommend lab coat types when asked?
       Includes lab coat use as an inspection item during lab inspections?
       Other? _________________________________________
I'm sure that there's lots of different things happening across NYS! If any of you are running or have a full lab coat laundry/exchange program on your campus, please let me know so I can ask lots more questions.

You can email me directly (kim.auletta**At_Symbol_Here**stonybrook.edu) and I'll compile results & post back to the list.

Thanks!
Kim Auletta
Lab Safety Specialist
EH&S
Stony Brook University
New York
kim.auletta**At_Symbol_Here**stonybrook.edu
631-632-3032
FAX: 631-632-9683
EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/

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