Our lab requires that all techs wear lab coats.  They must be fluid
impervious.  This is an OSHA regulation.

> ----------
> From: 	Garza-Williams, Sara[SMTP:Garza-Williams.Sara@tchden.org]
> Sent: 	Saturday, May 13, 2000 10:43 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
>