EHS Coordinator-Lead Contact Meeting

Presented by: Mary Lindstrom

LAB COAT IMPLEMENTATION

TEAM UPDATE3/12/13

“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.”

UPDATED LAB COAT RULE

Chemical Hygiene Plan Template Revision 13 (1/31/2013)

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.

APPLYING THE NEW RULE

Create a program that will aid DLCs in providing

coats people want to wear

in an efficient manner.

IMPLEMENTATION

Coats don’t fitDon’t know how to get

clean coatsCoats don’t offer protectionCosts too much to

buy/launder

COMMON COMPLAINTS

LAB COAT CONSIDERATIONS

PriceConvenienceSafety

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.

SAFETY

STYLE CONSIDERATIONS“CLASSIC” LAB COAT

RECOMMENDED FEATURE

Cuffs Loose Knit/snapFront

Closure Buttons Snaps

Material Polyester/cotton Varies based on hazards

Fit Loose/ill-fitting Fitted, appropriately sized

Neckline Low top button Higher neckline

Color User’s choice Color based on features

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.

FLAME RESISTANT COATS

* Laboratory Coat Selection, Use, and Care Guidance Document https://ehs.mit.edu/site/sites/default/files/files/LabCoatGuidance.pdf

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.

SPLASH RESISTANT COATS

* Laboratory Coat Selection, Use, and Care Guidance Document https://ehs.mit.edu/site/sites/default/files/files/LabCoatGuidance.pdf

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!

SPLASH RESISTANT COATS

LAB COAT CONSIDERATIONS

PriceConvenienceSafety

LAB COAT MODELS

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.

CONVENIENCE

LAB COAT CONSIDERATIONS

Price

Convenience

Safety

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.

PRICE

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 outline Supplier’s

pricing structure, including pricing to implement and maintain proposed solutions.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

EVALUATION OF BIDSKey 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.

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?

CENTRALIZED SERVICE

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

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.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

John Fucillo Scott Ide Dan Herrick Donna Johnson Rosa Liberman

Mary Lindstrom Michele Miele David Petricone Emily Ranken Steve Wetzel

LAB COAT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM