Hello Everyone,
I love this discussion as we are also being told that ALL of our lab coats, regardless of the lab, have to be flame resistant this Fall. Does anyone know of someone who works for a manufacturer that treats the coats? Does anyone know of any tests that have been performed on the resistivity of the coating to various lab solvents (acids, bases, organics, halogenated solvents). The cost is not an issue for me, but the comfort level and durability is.
Thanks,
Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Supervisor/Adjunct Lecturer/Chem Club Co-Advisor
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI 48502
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU]On Behalf Of Frankie Wood-Black
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2014 1:27 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Use of fire resistant lab coat
Most industrial laboratories in the petrochemical industry have gone to that requirement.
Due to the changes in many of the freshman and sophomore - general chemistry labs - I would say no to regular use in a general laboratory course.
But as for research and upper division, I don't see the big change - I don't even thing there is a significant difference in cost anymore between a non-FR and FR laboratory coat - so wouldn't not sure finances are a big deterrent.
FR is becoming very easy to obtain - TSC, Hardware stores and in Midland Texas and in North Dakota - the corner gas station. So - requiring FR for a person regularly using flammable materials in the laboratory - is not a big stretch.
On Fri, Jul 18, 2014 at 11:23 AM, Ralph B. Stuart <ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu> wrote:
A question I'm wondering about as we as a professional community consider the aftermath of the UCLA lab fire and its legal follow up is whether there is a reason beyond finances to not use fire resistant lab coats in the lab setting. I recognize that both the initial and maintenance costs associated with fire resistant coats are significantly higher than alternatives, but I wonder if there are other disadvantages associated with their use.
Thanks for any information about this.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Department of Environmental Health and Safety
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14850
rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu
--
Frankie Wood-Black, Ph.D., REM, MBA
Principal - Sophic Pursuits
6855 Lake Road
Ponca City, OK 74604
580-761-3703
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