Fed OSHA has done some work in this area, as did my employer way back when I was in the private sector. My then employer had a long-standing policy against radios in the workplace, mostly to avoid fights. When the Walkman craze started (okay, I said it was a while ago), it was first thought that the personal radios would be okay. That didn't last long, as our industrial hygienist decided to do some sampling in an assembly area. The area in question was within allowable limits for noise, but, when the employees turned up the volume to drown out the background noise, the limits were exceeded and the Walkmen were banned. (I also had a coworker who used his to drown out the office noise so he could sleep. That use was also forbidden.) While this would be seldom an issue in labs, it could be in pilot plant operations. - Diane Amell, MNOSHA >>> Lisa Van Loo3/18/2008 7:28 AM >>> What about hearing protection issues? Has anyone looked at this from the perspective that employees could crank these things up very high, thus damaging their hearing? Any thoughts? Lisa -----Original Message----- From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Lipsky, David Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 6:14 PM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Headphone use in labs There is another issue to consider particularly if using the ear-bud type of earphones, that the earphones will fall out or dislodge. This could result in splashing of liquids or breaking of glass beakers etc., if the phones drop on the lab bench. Also, there is the natural instinct to try to prevent the earphones from falling-which in itself might result in spillage or splashing or dropping of laboratory equipment, glassware, etc. I imagine this same scenario (of persons reaching out to prevent the earphones or cellphone, or IPOD from falling) accounts for quite a few of the cellphone, IPOD related auto accidents. _________________________________________________________________ This e-mail message and any attachments are confidential and proprietary to Advion BioSciences, subject to copyright, and intended only for the use of the named recipient(s). If you are not an intended recipient, you have received this message in error and any review, copying, disclosure, distribution or other use or exploitation of it or its contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately notify the sender and permanently destroy all copies of it.
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post