LAB COAT
IMPLEMENTATION
TEAM UPDATE
EHS CoordinatorLead Contact Meeting
Presented by: Mary Lindstrom
3/12/13
UPDATED LAB COAT RULE
“At a minimum, a laboratory coat
or equivalent protective clothing is
required for work with hazardous
chemicals, unsealed radioactive
materials, and biological agents at
BL2 or greater.”
Chemical Hygiene Plan Template Revision 13 (1/31/2013)
APPLYING THE NEW RULE
 Some MIT groups already had more
restrictive language – these should
be unchanged.
 DLCs using the original CHP
language could see an increase in
demand for clean lab coats.
IMPLEMENTATION
Create a program that
will aid DLCs in providing
coats people want to wear
in an efficient manner.
COMMON COMPLAINTS
 Coats don’t fit
 Don’t know how to get clean
coats
 Coats don’t offer protection
 Costs too much to buy/launder
LAB COAT CONSIDERATIONS
Safety
Price
Convenience
SAFETY
 There is currently no standard lab coat
model at MIT with respect to safety
features.
 Goal:
 Identify best features available in lab
coats.
 Encourage standardization of coats within
research areas to promote consistency.
STYLE CONSIDERATIONS
“CLASSIC” LAB COAT RECOMMENDED FEATURE
Cuffs Loose
Front Closure Buttons
Material Polyester/cotton
Fit Loose/ill-fitting
Neckline Low top button
Color User’s choice
Knit/snap
Snaps
Varies based on hazards
Fitted, appropriately sized
Higher neckline
Color based on features
FLAME RESISTANT COATS
Labs should have flame resistant
(FR) coats available for researchers
as needed based on a hazard
assessment.
FR coats (ex: Nomex) should be worn
whenever working with pyrophorics.
FLAME RESISTANT COATS
 “A coat that is advertised as flame
resistant has not been tested using
criteria involving flammable chemicals
on the coat.”*
 Wearing FR coats is only one step to staying
protected.
 Researchers should utilize other engineering
controls and proper experimental techniques to limit
hazards associated with flammable materials.
* Laboratory Coat Selection, Use, and Care Guidance Document
https://ehs.mit.edu/site/sites/default/files/files/LabCoatGuidance.pdf
SPLASH RESISTANT COATS
 OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard:
 Personal protective equipment will be considered
"appropriate" only if it does not permit blood or other
potentially infectious materials to pass through to or
reach the employee's work clothes, street clothes,
undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous
membranes under normal conditions of use and for
the duration of time which the protective equipment
will be used.
* Laboratory Coat Selection, Use, and Care Guidance Document
https://ehs.mit.edu/site/sites/default/files/files/LabCoatGuidance.pdf
SPLASH RESISTANT COATS
 FR or poly/cotton coats may not provide
protection needed if there is a
substantial splash hazard.
 If chemical splashes are a concern, use
of a rubber apron over the lab coat is
recommended.
 When in doubt, perform a hazard
assessment!
LAB COAT CONSIDERATIONS
Safety
Price
Convenience
LAB COAT MODELS
CONVENIENCE
 The Lab Coat Team has researched a variety of
lab coat supply and laundry models.
 Most convenient model for reusable coats
involves combination rental/laundry service.
 Reduced up-front cost vs. buying coats.
 Sizes/numbers of rented coats can be changed
on demand.
 Automatic repairs of minor problems.
 Automatic replacement of old coats.
LAB COAT CONSIDERATIONS
Safety
Price
Convenience
PRICE
 Cost savings possible when multiple labs
combine resources.
 Lab Coat Team has facilitated cheaper
prices from multiple laundry companies
vs. previous MIT contracts.
 Request for Proposal (RFP) will
potentially bring costs down even
further.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
 MIT is soliciting bids for lab coat supply
and laundry services using an RFP.
 Covers both rental and lab-owned coat
models.
 Supplier’s Questionnaire to help MIT
understand each Supplier’s capabilities.
 Price Proposal to o utline Supplier’s pricing
structure, including pricing to implement and
maintain proposed solutions.
EVALUATION OF BIDS
Key Factor Evaluation Criteria
Quality Overall experience and capability of Supplier meets or exceeds
MIT’s mandatory requirements.
Personnel Ability to provide highly trained and experienced personnel.
Service Willingness to provide immediate response to situations or
concerns as they arise.
Pricing Competitive pricing that will be guaranteed for the term of the
Agreement.
Financial Stability Sound financial condition.
Commitment Willingness to work with MIT in providing on-going cost effective
and quality services.
Contract Willingness to execute a contract prepared by MIT.
CENTRALIZED SERVICE
 Benefits:
 Consistency across labs in coat quality and
laundering
 Take advantage of volume discounts
 Questions to consider:
 Who is in charge?
 Where are clean/dirty lab coats stored?
 How do we track inventory to limit loss?
 Which model will best serve the labs within an area?
 How is billing for a centralized service handled?
OVERALL LAB COAT GUIDANCE
 Upon completion of the RFP process,
overall lab coat guidance will be provided
to the MIT community.
 Information to be include:
 Style considerations
 Preferred vendor information
 How to set up the service (physical locations,
management, billing)
 Ongoing monitoring of service and feedback
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
 If your DLC has a lab needing lab coats
immediately, contact Mary Lindstrom for a
summary of suppliers and contacts.
 Start considering coat supply in your DLC(s).
 Is there centralized service now?
 If not, could your labs benefit from a more
centralized system?
 When the preferred vendor(s) is selected by
MIT, talk to your AOs and labs about how they
can improve lab coat supply for their areas.
LAB COAT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM





John Fucillo
Scott Ide
Dan Herrick
Donna Johnson
Rosa Liberman





Mary Lindstrom
Michele Miele
David Petricone
Emily Ranken
Steve Wetzel