In laboratories, contamination control is never just about clean benches and sealed samples. People move through controlled spaces all day, and lab uniforms are one of the most common contamination vectors—carrying particles, fibers, microbes, and residues from one zone to another. Many labs invest in protocols and equipment, yet still make avoidable uniform-related mistakes that quietly increase contamination risk.
Here are the most common issues—and practical ways to fix them using a managed workwear model like Lindström.
1) Treating lab uniforms like regular clothing
One of the biggest mistakes is allowing employees to wear lab coats or uniforms from home, travel in them, or store them casually. Even a short commute exposes garments to dust, pollen, vehicle fumes, and microbes. Once that uniform enters the lab, it can shed contaminants into clean areas.
Better practice: Use workplace-controlled changing routines and ensure here uniforms are issued, stored, and returned through a controlled system—something that Lindström-style services support through structured delivery and collection cycles.
2) Improper laundering (or mixing lab wear with other textiles)
Home washing rarely reaches the hygiene and process consistency required for contamination-sensitive environments. Temperature, chemical dosing, drying conditions, and separation protocols vary widely—leading to inconsistent results. A major risk is washing lab garments with everyday clothing, which can transfer lint, allergens, pet hair, and microbes.
Better practice: Professional laundering with validated processes and strict separation reduces cross-contamination and ensures repeatable hygiene outcomes.
3) Wearing the wrong garment for the risk level
Not all labs face the same hazards. A basic coat might be fine for a low-risk teaching lab, but it can be inadequate in pharmaceutical, biotech, food testing, or cleanroom-adjacent environments. Using the wrong fabric (high-shedding material, poor barrier performance) or the wrong design (open cuffs, poor closures) can increase exposure and product contamination.
Better practice: Standardize garments by risk zone and task. Managed services help maintain the right garment types in circulation, so staff aren’t improvising with “whatever is available.”
4) Reusing uniforms too long between changes
A lab coat may “look clean” and still carry invisible contaminants—especially around cuffs, pockets, and front panels. Extending wear beyond recommended change frequency increases the chance of transferring residues to gloves, tools, and surfaces.
Better practice: Set change intervals based on risk (daily, per shift, or per procedure) and make compliance easy by ensuring fresh garments are always available and used garments are collected on time.
5) Poor storage and uncontrolled transport inside the facility
Clean uniforms stored in open areas, carried uncovered, or placed on shared surfaces can pick up particles before they’re even worn. Similarly, used garments tossed into open bins can spread contaminants into corridors and changing rooms.
Better practice: Use designated storage and closed collection solutions to keep clean and used textiles separated and contained.
6) Ignoring fit and comfort
When uniforms don’t fit well, people adjust them constantly—touching sleeves, collars, and front panels. Loose sleeves can brush surfaces; tight garments can tear or restrict movement. Discomfort also increases non-compliance (“I’ll just wear this one again”).
Better practice: Offer correct sizing and functional designs that staff will actually follow.
The takeaway
Contamination control is a system, and uniforms are a core part of it. The safest labs treat workwear as controlled equipment—issued, worn, collected, and laundered under consistent rules. With Lindström-style workwear services, labs can reduce contamination risks by improving garment quality, hygiene consistency, and day-to-day compliance—without adding extra operational burden on employees.