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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: MSDS Electronic Programs Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:18:40 -0500 Author: Kim Auletta |
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We had an event last week that raised questions about some of our conventional advice to laboratory workers. A lab tech spilled some phenol on his lab coat and shirt. His reaction was to ask his labmate to call 911 and then to go past the safety shower in his lab, 4 floors downstairs and into a bathroom with a shower and start decontamination there. He ended up with some skin damage, but no large health concern associated with this incident. In the lessons learned e-mail I sent to the lab community, I mentioned (among other things) that we recommend people start decontamination in the lab rather than travel to another shower because of the increase in contact time with the chemical (I tried to phrase this in a way that was non-blaming). The responses we got from all over campus, from lab techs we respect for their safety awareness and attitude, is that they would never use the safety shower in their lab because of the fear of destroying nearby equipment, damaging samples, and the possibility that rinse water would leak downstairs into labs below, as well as privacy issues. We were surprised by this reaction and realized that 1) our advice was somewhat limited and idealistic and 2) safety showers are a rather clumsy way of dealing with many emergency but less severe skin exposures, which leads to a reluctance to use them. In order to respond to this controversy, I am mulling how we might modify our general advice. Clearly, safety showers are important in cases when people are on fire or there is a large skin exposure, particularly exposures in the face which would hinder mobility. But I wonder if there is appropriate alternative advice in less severe cases. Some of our laboratories are fitted with drench hoses at the sink, which are a more controlled response, but these labs are a significant minority. I would note that this line of thought is partially trigged by the 2006 CHAS symposium on skin decontamination in San Francisco, but the alternative products discussed there aren't currently available in the U.S. Thanks for any thoughts or comments you have in this regard. - Ralph Ralph Stuart, CIH Environmental Safety Manager University of Vermont Environmental Safety Facility 667 Spear St. Burlington, VT 05405 rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu fax: (802)656-8682
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