Laboratory Coats

Lab personnel must wear protective garments such as lab coats, gowns, aprons, or coveralls to prevent contamination or injury from direct contact with hazardous materials, surfaces, or splashes. Personnel must ensure these garments:

• Are worn only in designated areas and as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Work effectively with other PPE.
• Are inspected prior to use.
• Are put on correctly to ensure they provide the intended protection.
• Are removed correctly to avoid contamination of personal clothing or skin.

Lab coats protect personal clothing and skin from contamination. Personnel may use single-use disposable lab coats or lab coats that an approved service provides and launders. 

To ensure optimal protection, lab coats must:

• Be made of splash-resistant material
• Be worn by all laboratory personnel, students, and visitors as required by hazard assessment
• Fit properly, covering the body from neck to knees and extending to the wrists
• Include quick-release fasteners (e.g., snaps) for emergency removal (no buttons or ties)
• Remain fastened during laboratory work
• Have external pockets only, to prevent contamination of personal clothing
• Include cuffed sleeves to maintain wrist coverage and prevent sleeves from riding up or crossing into hazardous zones
• Be worn within designated lab areas and removed upon leaving
• Be removed when soiled or contaminated and laundered using an approved service
• Never be taken home for laundering, taken to a laundromat or dry cleaning service or laundered at the university. (These locations are not set up to manage laundry contaminated with hazardous materials). 

Type of Lab Coat

Disposable lab coats* or reusable lab coats may be worn.

Laundering Service Method

Contact EHS for more information.

Type of Lab Coat

A lab coat must be worn. Reusable lab coats are preferred; however, disposable lab coats are acceptable based on PPE Hazard Assessment. The lab coat must be compatible with all hazardous materials in use.

Laundering Service or Method

Reusable lab coats must be laundered by a university approved lab coat laundry service (such as Cintas). These lab coats may not be laundered on site or sent to a local laundry or dry-cleaning service. Lab coats must never be taken home to launder. Should the lab coat show visible signs of contamination, contact Cintas or EHS to determine whether the coat should be cleaned or discarded. 

Type of Lab Coat

A reusable fire-retardant lab coat is required.

Laundering Service or Method

Reusable lab coats must be laundered by a university approved lab coat laundry service (such as Cintas). These lab coats may not be laundered on site or sent to a local laundry or dry-cleaning service. Lab coats must never be taken home to launder. Should the lab coat show visible signs of contamination, contact Cintas or EHS to determine whether the coat should be cleaned or discarded. 

Type of Lab Coat

A reusable lab coat that meets the requirements outlined in the Radiation Protection Program must be worn.

Laundering Service or Method

Reusable lab coats must be laundered by a university approved lab coat laundry service (such as Cintas) after being checked for contamination. If contaminated, notify the RPO and either.

1. Determine who is included in the Cintas Service. It can be a department, a work  unit, a laboratory or any other group that makes sense
2. Determine the type of lab coats you need, the sizes and the amount. The Lab Coat Selection Table (link) can help determine the type of lab coat needed. This information should also be part of the PPE Hazard Assessment for each work area.
3. Download and complete the Department Addendum Rental Form (PDF) and reach out to the Cintas Representative who will help get you started. (Our Cintas representative can be reached at [email protected])

Cintas works with units to determine the best option for their needs. 

Cintas suggests 3 lab coats per person (one to wear, one spare, and one in the laundry), but this recommendation does not work for every unit. 

It is more common for a unit to order an assortment of lab coats in relevant sizes. In this case, a laboratorian picks up a clean coat from available sizes when they drop off the other for laundering.

It is also possible to specify lab coats for each person in the unit depending on the unit’s preference

There is a $35 per week minimum requirement for lab coat service to a given location. Please don’t let this prohibit you from initiating the process. Cintas has a number of ways we can meet the minimum (such as having multiple units share one pick up location), and they are willing to work with the Penn State community to ensure everyone has the lab coat they need at the best cost possible.

1. Lab coats that meet Penn State requirements
2. Pickup and delivery - Cintas collects lab coats that have been placed in the laundry bin each week and deliver clean lab coats to replace any collected the previous week. This happens whether you choose to turn in your lab coat weekly, monthly, or as needed. Some instructional labs only turn their coats in once a semester and keep a few extras on hand if a coat becomes contaminated.
3. Laundry service that meets OSHA requirements and maintains the integrity of the lab coat (this is particularly important for Fire Retardant lab coats which have a specific coating that can be damaged by certain laundering methods).
4. Replacement of worn or damaged lab coats as needed. This service is optional and has a minimal fee). If you choose to forego the additional insurance cost, each lab coat has a replacement fee if it is damaged. Units will be expected to pay the replacement fee for lost or stolen lab coats whether you have the insurance or not.
5. Locker systems, Z-rails, and soiled drop storage bins are provided at no additional cost. Additional services such as dispensing machines are available at additional cost (you only pay rent for dispensing machines).

You can also visit Cintas | Procurement

The Unit will receive weekly invoices for lab coat rental. Weekly invoices are useful to verify any changes or updates to the account (such as removal or addition of lab coats, replacements, etc). 

Monthly statements are emailed to the billing contact.

Cintas accepts p-card or purchase order.

Cintas Lab Coat Pricing Guide

No. Old lab coats (those not part of the Cintas rental agreement) cannot be laundered by an approved process; and therefore, should not be donated. They should be treated as hazardous waste. For more information on how to package this waste, contact [email protected] or submit a General Request through LionSafe.