Sara,
I work in an industrial setting for product development and so do not have
all the tissue hazards you have in a clinical pathology laboratory.
However, we are required to wear lab coats in the lab areas and I wear an
apron for protection from stains and sectioning.  These are required by our
internal inspector for OSHA and as common sense.  When I worked in a
research and clinical years ago either lab coats or uniforms (like scrubs)
were a requirement for us.
  Pam Marcum

-----Original Message-----
From: Garza-Williams, Sara (by way ofHistonet)
[mailto:Garza-Williams.Sara@tchden.org]
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 11:44 PM
To: HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Clothing etiquette for the bench tech.




Please, please I need the your help regarding my argument to a CAP
inspector (lab general).


She gave me a huge "Ding" regarding the fact that our techs were not
wearing lab coats(in the cutting and staining area), they do wear gloves.
She also justified her point by indicating because the techs were wearing
jeans it was "unprofessional".  Of course, I could hardly contain myself
and had try very hard to control myself from stating what I really wanted
to say...


I did tell her,  specimens were never triage in the main lab, so full PPE
was irrelevant.  Our techs do wear nitrile gloves for protection from the
reagents and chemicals.


She said full PPE was essential because the blocks and slides were
considered infectious. So of course I said "At what point does the slide
and/or block ever become non-infectious-when it reaches the pathologist?"
She said "They should continue to be considered infectious and that the
pathologist should be wearing lab coats when they read out slides."  I said
"Should the pathologist wear gloves as well, they have to touch the
slide".  Our exchange went on and on until she said "I have to give you the
deficiency".


My pathologist went ballistic, as I did.  He and I would like to know what
do other labs do?
We are determined to argue for principle sake only.  My pathologist feels
that PPE is essential when you consider every situation with logic but he
doesn't care if the techs cut naked (metaphorically). in the lab because
they do such good work and work safe.


So my question is,  Do you require techs to wear a lab coat in the main
part of the lab?  What is your lab policy?  Our policy (approved by the
Infectious Disease department)  specifically states that no PPE is required
in the main lab area, but full PPE is required in the gross room ,morgue or
when cutting frozen sections.


Of the hospitals that I've seen (a least a dozen) none of them require
their techs to wear coats.
I'd love the hear from other labs.  Sorry about the long story but I'm
still steaming....


Thanks
Sara