If you have a job function in a lab that requires you to handle chemicals, you should always wear the proper lab coat so you are properly
protected in case of a splash or accidental spill. Not all lab coats offer protection against liquid penetration or chemical burns,
so when you shop for a new lab coat, be sure to read the fabric label to make sure it is chemically resistant.
Cotton lab coats
provide the least chemical resistance, but since they are so absorbent, they will soak up liquid chemicals until they become saturated
which might allow you enough time to strip the lab coat off before the chemical comes in contact with your skin. Generally, for a
lab coat to be considered chemically resistant, it should be made from or coated with polyethylene which is a common type of plastic.
Lab
coats, called PP lab coats, are made from polypropylene and coated with polyethylene. These are are lightweight, low cost and provide
excellent protection from water-based chemical splashes. They have long sleeves to protect your arms and are disposable.
Spun
polyethylene lab coats are also lightweight and work as a barrier against splashes and spills. Polyethylene lab coats can be light,
medium, or heavy weight depending upon their degree of resistance. High-density polyethylene is called Tyvek and it is virtually impenetrable.
It is so tough it is puncture resistant as well.
Other types of fabrics have been created to make fluid repellant, chemical resistant
lab coats. To ensure the lab coats you choose for your laboratory staff are of high quality check to make sure they are certified
by OSHA for personal safety and that they have been independently tested for chemical resistance. The manufacturer should disclose
the test results that include the chemicals tested and the time required for them to break through the material.
One advantage
to most styles of chemical resistant lab coats is that, being made of plastic, they are lightweight, flexible, and comfortable enough
to wear all day while working in the lab. Another benefit is that the lightweight polyethylene fabric is very inexpensive and these
lab coats can be purchased in bulk for just a few dollars each. They are inexpensive enough to be disposable after use, which eliminates
the risk of transferring chemicals out of the lab on a lab coat you have to take home to launder.
