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.
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
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***************************************************************************************
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
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