>"Help", > >I am a new safety in my college of science and am running into >problems with the dean. He does not want to follow standard >laboratory practices regarding clothing (short tops, long pants, >shoes) because it might scare someone. His logic behind the pants >is they could trap corrosives and cause more damage than if the >student was wearing shorts. Does anyone have any suggestions on how >to deal with this issue or knows about an injury resulting from >wearing pants as opposed to shorts? > >I am trying to convince him, using the ACS guide to laboratory >safety but to no avail. If anyone could offer suggestions it would >be appreciated. > >Thanks >Chris Wysong Tell your dean that (with all due respect) you corresponded with a number of safety professionals at other institutions and their consensus is that he is wrong and that it is your understanding that his policy willfully disregards accepted safety practices and invites potential lawsuits. Do this in writing and be sure that your University legal department is prominently cc'ed on the letter. And retain copies of all correspondence in the matter. If you aren't willing to take this on for fear of reprisal (check into your state whistleblower laws first) have a professor take the lead on it.. And there is always the president, board of trustees, local media etc. if you really want to make it a fight. Lab coats and/or aprons may be an acceptable compromise on some issues, but open footware etc. is just plain ridiculous. A few specific comments on his ill-advised logic: 1. I have personally seen laboratory accidents where shorts versus long pants have made a difference in outcome. But rather than dwell on those, here's a better proposal: We'll run some tests. In test 1, he'll put a drop of 12 M sulfuric on his bare leg, I'll put one on my jeans-clad leg, and we'll see who can last the longest. In test 2, we'll poke ourselves in the leg with a glass pipette tip and see if skin affords better penetration protection than jeans. In test 3, we'll drop a flask of concentrated HCl onto the ground next to our feet - him in sandals and me in sneakers - and we'll see if there are differing outcomes. 2. Your dean is inviting a lawsuit the size of Montana - imagine the field day that a victim's attorneys will have when they find out that he ordered you to deliberately violate best safety practices and, oh yes, the recommendations of OSHA. With both OSHA and the ACS having made recommendations *against* what your dean is opposing, it would be a slam dunk liability case. And nothing incites juries more than willful negligence. 3. Alas, as a state school, Marshall does not fall under OSHA's jurisdiction. If it was a private employer, then the OSHA laboratory Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450, Hazard Communication Standard 1910.1200, and a few other PPE standards would require the university to conduct a hazard assessment and appropriate PPE - which in this case would involve proper attire and closed footware. And while failure to do so would invite an OSHA citation, *willful* violations such as the one he proposes could result in a tripling of any monetary fine. Dr. Robert Toreki -- ================================================= Interactive Learning Paradigms, Incorporated (ILPI) 100% custom content development for e-learning programs. Ph: (859) 396-5218, Fax: (859) 523-0606, sales**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com http://www.ilpi.com/training/ Lab & safety supplies? Visit http://www.SafetyEmporium.com/
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post