While I think pants are good to wear and provide additional protection,
I think that the main protective clothing issue is assuring that lab
coat, close toed shoes, and goggles and all worn in designated areas
(with additional protective equipment as required for specific
experiments/labwork/other activities.)  I only have seen one incident
where wearing pants in addition to the lab coat was serendipitous and
even then, the pants weren't absolutely necessary to prevent damage to
the person (although others may know of such incidents.)

The worst situations I've seen are the students/chemists who "play
around" with chemicals.  I had one gentleman who totally destroyed the
linoleum floor by squirting acetone around the lab and just not being
careful in general.  He also would order materials not needed for the
work, which was against written procedures (e.g. he once ordered HF acid
because it was "cool" but I caught that in receiving and had it sent
back after confirming we didn't need it on sight.)  I wrote this "loose
cannon" up numerous times but the management wouldn't support sanctions
against him (even though they'd signed the procedures specifically
requiring those sanctions.)  Oh well...the company isn't in business
anymore...went bankrupt.

Helen Gerhard
719-574-5577 (h)
719-290-8456 (c)
teamplayer**At_Symbol_Here**pcisys.net

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Edward Senkbeil
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 1:26 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Need Your Opinion on Safety Issues

My chemistry Department (Salisbury University) does not presently have a
policy requiring pants to be worn in the undergraduate teaching labs.  I
know the ACS recommends undergraduates wearing them, but our faculty are
somewhat split on enforcing the wearing of pants, especially in the
general chemistry lab, wear a minimum of hazardous chemicals are used. 
I would appreciate any input on thoughts on a requirement for wearing
pants (not shorts, skits, etc.).

Thank you,
Ed Senkbeil
Chemistry Department
Salisbury University

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