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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Shorts/skirts in Research Labs Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 1:36:16 PM Author: "Chance, Brandon" <bchance**At_Symbol_Here**MAIL.SMU.EDU> |
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The lab safety textbook that my dept just adopted recommends having those that wear contacts identify that they have the contacts by putting red dots on
the goggles in case they somehow still get something in their eyes. I have taken quite a few great ideas out of this book!
Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Manager
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan Ð Flint
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of Jim Kaufman
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 1:30 PM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
NIOSH published a Current Intelligence Bulletin in 2005 about the use of contact lenses in chemical environment.
And, CCS ten years earlier published what almost amounted to an apology for misleading people into believing that the use of contact lenses in lab should be
prohibited.
James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
President/CEO
The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
A Nonprofit Educational Organization for
Safety in Science, Industry, and Education
192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062
Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335
Skype: labsafe; 508-319-1225
jim@labsafetyinstitute.org
www.labsafetyinstitute.org
Chair, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education
International Council for Associations of Science Education
P We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of roberth_hill
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 9:35 AM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
Several years ago restrictions on contacts were removed (by NIOSH, as I remember). I remember an article in JCHS by Eileen Segal addressing this. Thanks. Bob Hill
Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "Wilhelm, Monique" <mwilhelm@UMFLINT.EDU>
Date: 9/14/16 8:43 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
The ACS CCS seems to support wearing contact lenses.
https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/about/governance/committees/chemicalsafety/safetypractices/contact-lens-policy-letter-to-niosh.pdf
Also, SACL does not prohibit contact lenses, but does state that they cannot be a substitute for goggles or safety glasses.
https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/about/governance/committees/chemicalsafety/publications/safety-in-academic-chemistry-laboratories-students.pdf
I know that SACL is currently under revision. But, I have not heard anything about changing this recommendation.
Neither document brings in an exception when working with MeCl2.
Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Manager
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan Ð Flint
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health
and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of Peter Zavon
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 8:24 PM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
The meaning of ÒshouldÓ and ÒshallÓ in the OSHA regulatory context is clear and long established.
ÒShouldÓ is advisory and ÒshallÓ is mandatory.
The MeCl standard you quoted is recommending that contacts not be worm, it is not forbidding. It is not requiring some additional assessment before they
can be permitted. It is merely recommending.
I believe the American Ophthalmological Association issued a position paper a good many years ago saying that use of contacts in a chemical lab is not
a hazard in the vast majority of situations, but is not a substitute for safety glasses or goggles.
Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY
PZAVON@Rochester.rr.com
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health
and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of Biersack, Mary
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 5:32 PM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
Hello,
Our chemistry lab currently does not allow anyone to wear contact lenses in the labs. IÕd like to propose that we allow contacts under safety glasses, goggles or face shields.
We do use methylene chloride, many different corrosive chemicals and potent compounds (mostly in chemical fume hoods but sometimes on the open bench top if dilute or in very small quantities). The dilemma IÕm facing is that OSHA states in 1910.1052 for Methylene
Chloride that contact lenses should not be worn when working with this chemical. I take this a recommendation not a hard rule. Some of my safety colleagues interpret Òshould notÓ to mean that contacts can be worn as long as I can prove that a
hazard does not exist (which I donÕt think I can do but I feel comfortable with the risk level, citing NIOSH recommendations and scientific studies but not all studies are well enough designed to prove there is no hazard).
My hazard evaluation would include listing the chemicals that are more of a hazard and training the chemists accordingly and letting the chemists decide if they want to take the
risk or decide not to wear contacts and order the prescription safety glasses that the company will buy. Some safety people want me to limit contact lens use only for chemical use that will pose no hazards. However, in a very large lab with hundreds of chemicals
that are constantly changing this would be more work than I feel value added and would confuse the chemists leading to non-compliance.
I would like your thoughts,
Mary
Mary Biersack
Lab Safety and Chemical Hygiene Specialist
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
P: +1 610-594-3278
530 Herman O. West Drive
| Exton, PA 19341 | United States
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