Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 08:28:26 -0400
Reply-To: Denise Aronson <daronson**At_Symbol_Here**SAFETYPARTNERSINC.COM>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Denise Aronson <daronson**At_Symbol_Here**SAFETYPARTNERSINC.COM>
Subject: Re: Plumbing natural gas into BSC
Comments: To: "Olinger, Patricia L"

reply-type=original Excellent response. This is consistent with everything that I have learned and heard discussed in the biosafety/lab safety area with regard to biosafety cabinets and gas lines. Denise Aronson Safety Partners, Inc. Lexington, MA 781-718-5330 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Olinger, Patricia L" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 8:10 AM Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Plumbing natural gas into BSC > CDC, Health Canada and the ABSA (American Biological Safety Association) > does not recommend that natural gas be plumbed into a BSC. > > Years ago we all learned how to "flame" the top of a media bottle or flame > a > loop to sterilize them. It is not only not necessary but can cause issues > with the containment of the BSC by disrupting the air flow. (Heat waves) > > If the scientist is using good microbiological technique this should not > be > an issue. They will argue that they need it to sterilize their loops or > pipettes. There are disposables but if that is cost prohibiting there are > also available "micro-incinerators" where there are heated glass beads > which > the loop can be placed into to sterilize. Also, most contamination of > cultures comes from poor technique, work practices and BSC set up. Not > flaming issues. There is a good video (free) available from the Howard > Hugh > Medical Institute available that speaks to this. > > Other resources would be the CDC booklet on BSCs, the CDC-BMBL and the > Health Canada Lab Biosafety Guidelines. They are all available from the > ABSA website under resources - www.ABSA.org. > > There are also lab safety issues. Most likely your scientist is still > using > 70% ethanol to wipe down everything. First of all there are better > disinfectants available that are not flammable. The contact time before > the > EtOH evaporates is not long and may not be providing the decontamination > the > scientist is looking for. The other issue is pretty obvious.... EtOH and > a > flame. Not a good thing. > > Patty Olinger, RBP > Council Member - American Biological Safety Association > Pfizer, PGRD/AH Kalamazoo - Associate Director Safety > Michigan Labs - Biosafety Officer > Pfizer, Inc > 301 Henrietta St. MS. 0216-126-732 > Kalamazoo, MI 49001 > 269-833-7931 office, 269-720-1608 cell > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU]On Behalf Of > Kerry Smith > Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 6:15 PM > To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU > Subject: [DCHAS-L] Plumbing natural gas into BSC > > > A professor would like to plumb a natural gas line into a BSC(metal > interior > surfaces). I am awaiting information from the manufacturer. In the > meantime, maybe someone on the list has already dealt with this. Does > anyone have any experience with this issue. The hood interior looks fine, > but maybe there is some unforeseen issue? Thanks > > Kerry J. Smith, CIH > Industrial Hygiene Officer > Risk Management & Safety Department > BYU > 801-422-2943 > Web Address http://www.byu.edu/hr/risk/ >

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