I believe in low tech daily checks, too. I've seen techno-gremlins ruin lots of things. But my point to the lab, especially since they were trying to get compensated for ruined stock due to improper gas = how can they prove that there wasn't a leak in the box? The gas reps aren't just going to take their word for it that they were sure there was no leak (which could also account for the ruined stock). Whether its the gauge or some other check, they need to keep the log. From my experience, if you didn't write it down, you didn't do it. Kim Auletta Lab Safety Specialist EH&S Z=6200 Stony Brook University kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu 631-632-3032 FAX: 631-632-9683 EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/ Remember to wash your hands! From: Rita Kay CalhounTo: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Date: 11/08/2010 10:13 AM Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Glove box inspection checklist? Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List Not to be contrary, but the "lab folks" test is much more dependable than a gauge which can be broken and misreading pressures. When they built a new wing to our building, the first lab they finished didnÕt have enough supply air. According to which hood sashes were open, there would be flow out of the hood into the lab. The air flow display still read 100 lfm which was correct in terms of magnitude. It just didnÕt indicate that the flow was in the wrong direction! I also once had the risk management person in charge of keeping the hoods functioning correctly tell me that everything was ok in a lab that had positive rather than negative pressure based on what the computer readouts said. IÕm not saying not to check gauges and checklists. IÕm saying donÕt denigrate low-tech checks. They can be more reliable. Kay From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Kim Auletta Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 7:30 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Glove box inspection checklist? The box does have a gauge on it. I asked the lab folks if they look at it. They said their test was that if the gloves were poking out, then they knew it was ok. !! I did remind them that once they graduate & go to a "real" job, recording things like pressure gauges in their lab book or checklist were considered basic requirements for any work. They said they'd set up a log sheet to do that. Can't make this stuff up! Kim Auletta Lab Safety Specialist EH&S Z=6200 Stony Brook University kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu 631-632-3032 FAX: 631-632-9683 EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/ Remember to wash your hands! From: Christopher Suznovich To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Date: 11/08/2010 07:18 AM Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Glove box inspection checklist? Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List If you are just looking to to ensure there are no leaks of gas from the box or into the box, you could do a pressure test to determine if the pressure remains with an acceptable limit once filled with argon. The opposite can also be done by performing a vacuum test, drawing a complete vacuum inside the box and determine if the vacuum holds then you would know that there are no leaks. You could also leak a container of liquid smoke inside the box, purge the box with argon or any other gas and once under pressure watch to see if any of the smoke escapes from the box. Chris From: Kim Auletta Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:15:00 -0400 To: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Glove box inspection checklist? I have a lab that is using a glove box to maintain an inert atmosphere with argon while working with lithium ribbon. While the operation looks ok on the surface, they can't document or prove that they haven't had any failures (research labs are not production & no one ever thinks of these things!). Does anyone have a glove box inspection checklist or other info they can share? Thanks in advance for your help! Kim Auletta Lab Safety Specialist EH&S Z=6200 Stony Brook University kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu 631-632-3032 FAX: 631-632-9683 EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/ < http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/> Remember to wash your hands!
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