We don’t have any policies on body piercings yet, but the flowing scarves, wide sleeves issue is covered by many industries that limit the loose clothing and hair when working is areas that contain rotating machinery (motors, lathes, machinery with PTO’s, etc.). Many of these industries prohibit lab coats due to the loose “tails” and require relatively close fitting coveralls to keep the lab coat flaps from becoming wrapped into rotating machinery. I suspect that a strong case could be made for “loosely draped clothes and long hair” becoming in contact with chemicals in open containers, dragging along the top surfaces of contaminated lab benches, etc., not to mention the usual lack of personal cleanliness and hygiene associated with neophyte lab workers which could easily contaminate loosely fitting garments that become convenient towels. We, in our experimental risk analysis process endeavor to account for these conditions.
Ted Rekart
HSE Manager/IRMR
Air Liquide Delaware Research & Technology Center
200 GBC Drive
Newark, DE 19702
Theodore.Rekart**At_Symbol_Here**airliquide.com
Office: 302-286-5514
Mobile: 302-229-7455
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Debbie M. Decker
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 6:02 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Body piercings on laboratory researchers working in a chemical laboratory.
I’d also be interested in anyone who might have a policy on flowing head scarves or wide sleeves on garments.
Debbie M. Decker, CCHO
Safety Manager
Department of Chemistry
University of California, Davis
122 Chemistry
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
(530)754-7964
(530)304-6728
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction
that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,
can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Rupkey, Steven A.
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 1:33 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Body piercings on laboratory researchers working in a chemical laboratory.
Has anyone had to address the need for an ESH policy on prohibiting, permitting and/or limiting facial and/or body piercings on laboratory researchers ?
Can you share you policies?
Sincerely,
Steve Rupkey, CIH
ESH-QA Safety Manager
ESQ Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Avenue, Bldg. 200/R-001
Argonne, IL 60439-4832
O: 630-252-1497
C: 630-383-9411
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