Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lab coat is not optional for risky working place

By Alexa Shepherd

Any doctor, nurse, surgeon or support staff that is working in a medical institution will immediately tell you that your lab coat is a vital part of your daily work. Especially if you are a researcher dealing with highly toxic chemicals that are being experimented with, you will find that your lab coat is an extremely fundamental component that is used to protect you from any accidents that might occur during your course of work.

If you have the impression that most lab coats are white, you might be surprised to know that today, there are lab coats available in any color your could possible want. Even though the color of the lab coat does not necessarily mean anything significant, colors are useful in differentiating the many roles that different individuals play in any large medical institution, whereby everyone can be identified by the color of their lab coats.

Traditionally, doctors are assigned the white lab coats, whereas other staff members, who assist the doctors, are normally assigned green or blue lab coats. However, it is important to note that different organizations will distribute the color of lab coats different, as there is no universal guideline to follow.

You might also be surprised to know that there is actually more than one type of lab coat. Most lab coats are made from treated cotton, but today, there are lab coats made from all sorts of materials, designed specifically to give you maximum protection from specific chemicals and substances you might be handling. Also, there are disposable lab coats that allow you to dispose them easily and cleanly, without having to constantly send your lab coat for washing.

It is common practice for medical practitioners to take off their lab coats if it has gone through too much contamination, and even send it immediately to a specialized cleaning company that has the equipment to remove toxic substances from your contaminated lab coat. This is practice is very significant, as it prevents anyone from getting hurt as a result of exposure to the chemical substances that your lab coat might be stained with.

Should the amount of chemical contamination exceed acceptable levels, you would have no choice but to throw your lab coat away. If you have to do this, you will need to ensure that your lab coat is properly disposed of, as it should not be mixed with the rest of the trash.

To ensure that you are well protected from any accident concerning chemicals that might be harmful to you, you should always remember to wear your lab coat properly and at all times. To check if you are doing so, you will need to make sure that all buttons and zippers are well utilized and you have your arms covered by your entire coat sleeve.

These are just some of the reasons why a lab coat plays a vital role in any medical practitioner?s line of duty. As a result, you should always wear a lab coat whenever necessary, and never underestimate the amount of protection you get from it. - 15683

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