I'm sure we all know that providing a safe and comfortable working environment is important, however as the saying goes "If you can't take the heat then......." Also, a four letter word comes to mind; UCLA! There has never been a better example of why PPE is so important. I would work with that individual to try and find a solution, but if a reasonable one can't be found then he would be out of my lab. Fred From: List ModeratorTo: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Date: 02/22/2010 03:46 PM Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab Coat Options Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List From: "Norwood, Brad" Date: February 22, 2010 1:41:52 PM EST Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Lab Coat Options >There is possibility that the chemist is really uncomfortable by the temperatures even they are set to a ÔcomfortableÕ level for most. There are some individuals that require lower temperatures or higher temperatures to be comfortable because of their individual body needs. Maybe HR could request the chemist to see the company doctor to determine of there is a medical condition underlying is causing him to be hot. Of course confidentiality of any medical information is a must but maybe if anything is discovered or not , the doctor may have a recommendation to help the Ôoverheated feelingÕ. This also protects you and the company if he ended up being fired and had a condition that was later discovered, but the company did not rule that out before terminating him from the company. Chris, In the litigious environment of the US, I think weÕd be hard pressed to find anything that ÔtrumpsÕ worker safety as being THE key responsibility of any company Ð and, as a previous poster mentioned, there is NO requirement for Ôreasonable accommodationÕ for comfort. I think to do anything more than to require the individual to comply with the most foundational, rudimentary requirement of ANY lab gives this one person too much power and Ôspecial treatmentÕ. If working in the vicinity of stirrers, hotplates, GC ovens, etc. is causing this individual a problem (and six others do NOT have any complaints), then this individual chose unwisely in his profession. He needs to re-think his priorities, and maybe go back to an academic environment. Dr. Bradley K. Norwood Laboratory Director Arista Laboratories 1941 Reymet Road Richmond, VA 23237 (804) 271-5572 ext. 307 (804) 641-4641 (cell) brad.norwood**At_Symbol_Here**aristalabs.com ************** D i s c l a i m e r *************** This e-mail message is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute, disclose or otherwise use the information in this e-mail. Please also telephone us (804-271-5572), or fax us (804-271-5594), immediately and delete the message from your system. E-mail may be susceptible to data corruption, interception and unauthorized amendment, and we do not accept liability to such corruption, interception or amendment or the consequences thereof.
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