Australia's Science Forum

We have a new science HT who is horrified that the school has never provided lab coats for the students to use for experiments. She feels it is a WHS issue. What do others think?

Have never used lab coats in any of the schools I've worked at.

Where necessary, we use disposable aprons.

It depends on the budget of the school. I've worked in three schools and two out of the three had lab coats. The third school used disposable ones very ocassionally.

I have worked in three schools 2 have lab coats.

Hi,
We have them available in the uniform shop if anybody would like to purchase one. The year 11 and 12 Chemistry and Biology usually take up the offer but i don't think they are necessary for the other years.
shaz

All schools I have worked at or know in my area either provide lab coats or it is part of the booklist. It is one of the science safety points taught...always wear a lab coat and safety glasses. One school I worked at went so far as to not allow students in the lab without a lab coat on. There reasoning is that you did not know what the previous classes had left spilt on the benches.

I think it is good practise.

For the schools that provide lab coats, how do you go about having them washed and how often are they washed?

twice a year or as required, I wash them. i use the food tech washing machine and dryer.

Our yr 11 and 12 chemistry and biology students buy individual lab coats for themselves from the uniform shop, and use them often. They take the coats with them when they leave the school. Other years have communal lab coats in the labs, and/or disposable aprons, but rarely use them. My washing regime is the same as superbug's, usually only once a year though.

Wash once a term (sometimes once a semester depending on what's been going on first and third term). Some schools I have worked at got me to wash them on campus using school washer, others sent them out to be laundered with other school linen.