Laundry of Laboratory Coats (and blue laboratory cloths)

2-23-09

History
In May, 2008, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Facilities approved the installation and use of a Departmental washer and dryer to launder laboratory coats and blue laboratory cloths.

What can be laundered? - Per Environmental Health and Safety and Radiation Safety

1.Only laboratory coats and blue laboratory cloths can be laundered.

a. Lab coats and blue laboratory cloths from areas authorized for radioactive material use must be surveyed and found clean of radioactive materials before laundering.
b. Lab coats and blue laboratory cloths must not be grossly contaminated with chemical or biological materials

2. No personal laundry, no work-out clothes, any non lab related item, etc. can be laundered.

Laboratory Marking on Lab Coat
Using a Sharpie, each lab coat should be labeled with the PI lab name and the owner’s name. Use the first three initials of the PI’s last name, followed by a hyphen, followed by the owner’s name. Example: ORN - Smith

Laboratory Procedure for Depositing Lab Coats (or blue cloths) to be laundered:
Bring lab coat (or blue cloth) to the Autoclave room, McDonnell Science, Room 369A, and place in the laundry bin.

Laundry Procedure:

• A standard home washer and dryer will be used.
• A low-sudsing high efficiency (HE) laundry detergent will be used that is made without dyes and perfumes. • Bleach will also be added to each load.
• Lint trap must be cleaned after every use.

Access to Lab Coat Closet:

• Clean coats will be hung in the closet outside McDonnell Science Room 369A and will be available for pick up, by the labs, from this location. The closet will be sectioned with specific space allocated per PI.
• Unmarked lab coats will be hung in the closet in the “Unmarked” section.
• The lab coat closet door will be kept closed but will be unlocked.

Ironing:
Laboratory coats will not be ironed. They will be hung up promptly from the dryer.

Use of Washer and Dryer:
The washer and dryer can be used only by approved personnel.

Investigator Laboratory Procedure for Laundry of Lab Coats (and blue laboratory cloths):
In accordance with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), each laboratory must write a Standard Operating Procedure and document it in The Handbook for Environmental Health and Safety (also called the Blue Book) that only lab coats and blue laboratory clothes will be laundered. Use of the procedure above has been approved by EHS. Please include this procedure in your EHS Blue Books.

LABORATORY PROCEDURE - For EHS Blue Book

The _____________________ lab acknowledges the above procedure/policy and will abide by it.

____________________________________ Signature

_______________________ Date

_____________________________________
Print Name

Informational: Maintenance on the Washer and Dryer: Official Procedures in the main office.

Lint Trap: The lint trap will be cleaned after every use.

Annual Duct work cleaning: The Department is responsible for contacting Facilities for cleaning of ductwork at least annually.