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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Use of fire resistant lab coat
Date: Monday, July 21, 2014 9:27:19 AM
Author: Daniel Crowl <crowl**At_Symbol_Here**MTU.EDU> 		Next by Date:
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Use of fire resistant lab coat
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 07:44:29 +0000
Author: Paul Dover

From: Leogane Olivier <o.leogane**At_Symbol_Here**UMONTREAL.CA>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Use of fire resistant lab coat
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 20:12:34 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 37B45A389BCCD24080FF917E15D1D31A17B7A299**At_Symbol_Here**asphodel-cour.sim.umontreal.ca
In-Reply-To <53d5f28a772947b1a4aa0ee9c70dd25e**At_Symbol_Here**BY2PR04MB743.namprd04.prod.outlook.com>


Since the UCLA accident cotton/polyester blend labcoat have been demonized and people fears are more
focused on fire accident while the most common accident in research or teaching labs is chemical spill,
and particularly corrosive material. Cotton ie Cellulose is prone to acid hydrolysis that means it offers a pretty
poor resistance against acids. Regarding the initial and maintenance cost the student will quietly see his labcoat falling
into pieces... In my opinion, the cotton/polyester version is the best fit for general purposes. But as mentioned by Julie,
as soon as your protocol required the use of pyrophorics or hightly flammable solvent swtich to Nomex labcoats.

"Just wrapping people up in a lab coat doesn't automatically make them safe." (thanks Debbie)

Have a good one,
______________________
Olivier LEOGANE, Ph.D
Chemical safety Officer
University of Montreal
Phone : (514)343-6111 ext 2824

-----Message d'origine-----
De : DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] De la part de Ralph B. Stuart
Envoye´ : 18 juillet 2014 12:23
A` : DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu
Objet : [DCHAS-L] Use of fire resistant lab coat

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

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