Page 41 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2017

ous chemicals and procedures prior to laboratory work and select appropriate controls, including PPE, to minimize risk. Finally, the standard specifies that lab coats must be worn when working with hazardous materials.
NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals, provides additional guidelines intended to reduce haz- ards and protect personnel from the toxic, corrosive, and other harmful effects of chemicals that may result from fires and ex- plosions. According to NFPA 45, fire-retardant lab coats should be worn where pyrophoric reagents are used outside the inert atmosphere of a glove box. Additionally, the standard states that fire-retardant clothing must meet the requirements of NFPA 2112, Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire.
Those are just a few examples of the regulations and guidelines that you may need to follow when selecting lab coats. Depending on which hazards are present in your laboratory, the type of lab coats you need will vary. You might need lab coats that are flame resistant (FR), offer chemical-splash protection (CP), or provide a combination of both. If you determine that you need protection against both thermal and chemical-splash hazards, it is beneficial to explore your options. This dual-hazard protection used to re- quire the use of stiff, uncomfortable garments and/or multiple lay- ers of protection, but thanks to recent innovations, comfortable lab
coats that provide combined FR/CP protection are now available.
2.Comfort:
When it comes to comfort, there are a few factors to take into account. For instance, some fabrics are more lightweight and/ or breathable than others. If they still provide the proper level of protection, these fabrics can significantly improve comfort. In ad- dition, flexible materials are usually a better choice because stiff fabrics can impair movement and feel cumbersome. Remember, the more comfortable a lab coat is, the more willing laboratory per- sonnel will be to wear it.
3. Fit:
Another important consideration that impacts both comfort and safety is fit. Select lab coats that are long enough in both the sleeves and body to provide good coverage, but not so long that the coat could accidentally get caught on something or be dragged through a hazardous substance. It is equally important to ensure that lab coats are not so tight that they restrict the wearer’s movement. Pro- viding the right fit for each individual in your laboratory will likely mean purchasing lab coats in a variety of sizes and potentially even looking into custom-fit options. Fortunately, a variety of different styles are available in today’s market, including lab coats designed specifically to provide a better fit for women.
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AUGUST 2017 | Occupational Health & Safety 35
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