Unlike commonly conceived by many of us, the purpose of wearing lab coats is not just for appearance sake or for distinguishing the particular professionals that wear them. In addition to cementing the status of a professional, the lab coat provides several benefits. Today, lab coats are not just uniforms but also a mandatory requirement in many industries.
Lab Coats are found to be Essential in Several Contemporary Industries
The lab coat finds its exclusive use in a range of professions such as the following:
- Clinical laboratories and pharmacies
- Health care and alternative therapy
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Veterinarians
- Physician/dental practices
- Food processing and manufacturing
- Audiology/optometry offices
The Modern Industries That Necessitate Wearing Lab Coats
Lab coats offer significant protection to users and are beneficial in myriad ways. Today, lab coats find a distinctive place in the work-life of professionals belonging to varied industries. The following are a few of the major industries that necessitate wearing lab coats:
1. Health care industry
Lab coats are required to be used by several medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, and other supporting staff. Lab coats protect clinicians from splashes and cross-contamination.
2. Forensic science professionals
Forensic technicians are required to perform the crucial process of collecting evidence at crime scenes and analyzing them in the labs. When used at the crime spots and labs, lab coats prevent them from disturbing the evidence while protecting them from harmful elements.
3. Scientists and research scholars
Lab coat protects those working in the science domain from the chemicals that they work with. It ensures that the user’s clothes and body are protected from splashes, drops, spills, and unexpected reactions.
4. Departments related to microbiology
Microbiologists, when they wear lab coats, are protected from harmful microbes, chemicals, and other possible harmful agents. Lab coats not only work as a protection to the users but also as a preventive measure against the spread of microorganisms.
5. Chemists are required to wear lab coats
A chemist is required to perform several functions and experiments that involve chemical substances. Lab coats serve the purpose of protecting them and their clothes from chemical spills and exposure to hazardous elements.
6. Laboratories
Professionals from different fields happen to work in the laboratory setting for various purposes. Wearing lab coats ensures that they are not exposed to risk or hazards related to their work. Lab coats provide protection to the body parts, prevent the spread of contamination, and offer a removable barrier even in the event of any spillage or splashing of hazardous substances.
7. Pharmaceutical industry
Professionals in the pharmaceutical industry must use lab coats to prevent cross-contamination, a high risk involved with their work. Users can protect their bodies from coming into direct contact with the hazardous substances that are present in the lab.
8. Veterinarians
While veterinarians tend to stay comfortable and organized in their lab coats, they are protected from exposure to several harmful materials and microbes.
9. Electronics Industry
Professionals working in the electronics domain are frequently faced with the risk of electronic discharge, the release of static energy. Wearing lab coats enables them to fend off such threats.
The Major Benefits of Lab Coats in the Contemporary Industries
- Protective material: One of the qualities of a good lab coat is its semi fire retardant characteristic. It offers chemical resistance.
- Barrier protection: Lab coat shields the body of the user while providing substantial barrier protection.
- Cross-contamination is prevented: When kept inside the lab or the workplace, you can prevent cross-contamination to other areas.
- Protects the body parts of users: The arms and the torso are the vulnerable parts of a professional’s body. These are protected from direct contact with hazardous substances by the lab coat.
- Hygiene and sterility: Whether it is a laboratory or a research center that you work at, a sterile lab coat ensures shielding you from exposure to the potentially harmful pathogens and substances.
Conclusion
Convenience in work, protection against several harmful materials, and a means to contain the spread of contamination – the number of purposes solved by the humble lab coat is enormous. With the advancement in technology and the increasing concern about health standards, more and more people in various modern industries have realized the need and benefits of wearing lab coats.
