From: "Ferm, Barret" <fermbarreta**At_Symbol_Here**SAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Facial hair and fire?
Date: January 24, 2013 6:15:00 PM EST
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <510194C0.5030008**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu>


I want to echo Steven's post that this guy's showboating mentality is not in the best interest of science education, and certainly not in the best interest of student health and safety. Perhaps ask him how he would feel if a student tried to do it at home and was injured or died? Bring in the dean, VP or fire marshall.
In general, his beard should be tied back behind his neck or tucked into a high-collared lab coat or shirt. Long hair is long hair.

Ba Fm



On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 2:08 PM, Samuella B. Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu> wrote:
All - Please let me know if anyone out there has had any any experience with this situation.

I have a PI who has a full beard (we are talking ZZ Top style beard here). He is insistent on doing demos with flames - including fire eating. Don't ask me what chemical principal that is demonstrating. Yesterday he asked me what I thought about doing the classic "money burning" demo where you dip a dollar in a 50/50 isopropanol/water mixture that shows how evaporation cools the money and prevents the alcohol from burning it, only he wants to use his beard instead of the money. I am not sure if he was serious or just trying to get a response out of me.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to prevent this fellow from burning his face off? In general, I would like to tell him that if the beard stays, he cannot work with flames. Is that an option? It is so long that he can actually tie it up and fold it in on itself, but it is still hanging pretty low and could easily catch on fire with a Bunsen burner.

Sammye

--

***************************************************************************************

Don't always believe what you think.

Samuella B. Sigmann, NRCC-CHO

Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair

A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry

Appalachian State University

525 Rivers Street

Boone, NC 28608

Phone: 828 262 2755

Fax: 828 262 6558

Email: sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu


Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.