Lab Safety

Villanova University is committed to the safety of every student, faculty and staff member working in our laboratories, as well as the protection of our environment through safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials.

Villanova University provides rental lab coats for all of the students, staff, and faculty members working in our science laboratories. Lab coats must be worn while working at the laboratory bench.  Lab coats are unisex and available in a wide range of sizes.  Lab coats must remain in the science buildings to minimize the possibility of spreading chemical contamination.  Laboratory supervisor will assign lab coats to instructional lab students and provide a suitable storage area.  Faculty, staff, and research lab students may obtain a lab coat from the departmental locations listed below. Dirty and chemically contaminated coats must be removed immediately and placed in one of the laundry bins assigned to lab coats.  You may then get a clean replacement coat from your laboratory supervisor.   Villanova recommends you return your lab coat for cleaning at the end of each semester.

Villanova currently provides 2 types of lab coats.

Traditional white lab coat - provides protection from chemical contamination on both your skin and underlying clothing.

Nomex blue lab coat – Nomex has the additional benefit of being flame resistant.  Nomex coats should be worn when working with pyrophoric or highly flammable chemicals.

Lab coats from research laboratories are available in the following departmental areas.