From: "heinz and inge trebitz"Subject: [DCHAS-L] Removing PPE When Leaving Chem Labs Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 16:09:24 -0500 In answer to Larry McLouth' policy question, I'd like to offer a few thoughts: The activities to be covered are manifold and reach into different working/living environments. Writing a fit-all policy may be very difficult. Enforcing a policy which may reach into the home of a lab worker (i.e. to cover laundering the PPE at home) may be altogether impossible. Unless an instituition takes over the cleaning of used PPE, work related hygiene is out of the institution's control. At best, good work place practice recommendations can address common PPE issues. Below is a (incomplete) list of factors to be considered when making decisions, offering advice or writing policies: 1. What kind of lab activities, what chemicals/agents involved 2. Duration of lab work 3. Whom do you want to protect: students, professionals, janitors, maintenance workers? 4. Whose PPE is involved: employer provided, employee owned? 5. When is a lab coat deemed due for cleaning? 6. How about one time splashes requiring immediate cleaning? I consider a strict separation of soiled/ready for cleaning/laundering PPE from personal clothes an absolute must. Industry routinely uses clean/dirty systems of lockers/washrooms. If PPE is allowed to be taken home for cleaning it must be laundered separate from any personal clothing. Lab hygiene must be part of periodical lab safety training. Heinz H. Trebitz, Ph.D. GBK/TRE SERVICE 480 Colby Road N Thetford Center, VT 05075 Tel: 802-785-2129 Fax: 802-785-2124 e-mail: iht63**At_Symbol_Here**valley.net == Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] 5 RE: [DCHAS-L] Removing PPE When Leaving Chem Labs Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 16:13:59 -0500 From: "Rigel Lustwerk" As a consultant, I've noticed that there are three kinds of companies when it comes to PPE. 1) Those that actually follow the guidelines as to where PPE should be worn and where it should not; 2) those where I can't get people to put on their lab coats; 3) those where I can't get them out of their lab coats! If there is good infrastructure as far as coat hooks, personalized lab coats, easily accessible areas for changing, easily accessible hazardous waste containers for contaminated gloves etc., compliance is generally MUCH easier to achieve. Other facilities related issues include labs that are too hot, office areas that are too cold, which tempt people to not wear the coats in the lab or to wear them in the office. With regard to coat hooks/coat racks, it is very important to have enough coat hooks to avoid hanging 2 coats on one hook, which means that the inside of one (which one wants to keep clean) is in direct contact with the outside of the other (which is likely contaminated), and enough space between them so that there isn't cross contamination. Having the hooks personalized helps, so people don't have to take the time or touch the outside of every coat on the rack to find their own Rigel Lustwerk Safety Consultant Safety Partners, Inc. Hands-On Workplace Safety == From: lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 5 RE: [DCHAS-L] Removing PPE When Leaving Chem Labs Hmm, I always have more problems convincing people to put their PPE on. My facility is very small, and it is stressed in training that we change our gloves often, wash our hands often, take off your PPE in the gowning area , and wash your hands before you leave the lab. Senior lab personnel are very good about this, and new people follow their lead. In almost 4 years here, I only remember seeing someone bolt out of the lab with his/ her lab coat on twice, and one of those only got about one step out the doo r before remembering to go back and take off her coat. Lucy Dillman == Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 22:21:20 -0500 From: pzavon**At_Symbol_Here**ROCHESTER.RR.COM >Our parent company has had > tremendous success in promoting the removal of PPE, and has > said that it is just a matter of changing the culture Changing the culture is what is required, but doing that is rarely easy and ALWAYS requires sustained, high-level support. Sounds like you are on the right track. Did your parent company representatives actually say "just a matter of changing the culture" or did you read the "just" into it on the basis of your reading their "body language?" Peter Zavon, CIH Penfield, NY PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com
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