From: John Callen <jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Shorts/skirts in Research Labs
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2016 13:12:30 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: D672F432-EAD7-46D6-B57A-4BF4A2FC33AD**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com
In-Reply-To <15729c74849-208d-161d**At_Symbol_Here**webprd-m98.mail.aol.com>


Janet,


Makeshift garments like using a large plastic garbage bag for the body and gloves for the feet are totally inappropriate and can get you and the university in trouble if a student has an accident.

I would strongly recommend that you used standard protective clothing for these situations, which include chemical protective coveralls with or without protective overshoes/boots.

They are available through many local and national distributors such as Lab Safety Supply and VWR.

John B. Callen, Ph.D.
3M  Personal Safety Division - Retired 
400 East Ohio Street, Apt. 1903
Chicago, IL  60611-4615
312-632-0195
jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com
On Sep 14, 2016, at 12:39 PM, Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> wrote:

I LOVE it.  Nice going Roger.


Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President:  Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
181 Thompson St., #23
New York, NY 10012     212-777-0062

 


-----Original Message-----
From: Rogers, Janet <ROGERS**At_Symbol_Here**EDINBORO.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Sent: Wed, Sep 14, 2016 12:57 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Shorts/skirts in Research Labs

We make them wear a large plastic garbage bag if they choose to stay and do the lab.  We cut the sealed end off so they can slide the bag on, and then we use tape to  make it fit.  If they come to lab in sandals, they have the option of wearing gloves on their feet, finding appropriate footwear, or not doing the lab.  I don't think we've had any repeat offenders.
 
Janet Rogers, Ph.D.
Professor
Chemistry Department
Edinboro University
230 Scotland Road
Edinboro, PA  16444
 
phone: 814.732.1539
 
 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] on behalf of Chance, Brandon [bchance**At_Symbol_Here**MAIL.SMU.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 10:45 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Shorts/skirts in Research Labs

DHASers, 

I figure its about time to dredge up this old topic again. After scrolling through the listserv archives, I am curious to how all of you handle shorts/skirts in the research labs.  I know most of you have policies either requiring, or at least recommending long pants.  Some may even be a bit looser and be okay with shorts/skirts as long as a lab coat is worn that covers to the knees.   =46rom personal experience, shorts were allowed (although not "recommended") while I was in grad school in undergrad teaching labs and graduate research labs (early-mid 2000s). 

Enforcement in undergradaute labs is relatively easy in my opinion - if a student is not following procedures outlined by the instructor, they don't participate in the lab.  I am curious as to how you enforce a "no shorts" rule in an academic research labs.  I train to a "risk assessment" approach and try and teach students, postdocs, and PIs to make good decisions based on the hazards present within their work spaces by performing cursory risk assessments on everything they do.  Blanket "lab threshold-type" policies I do not think are that effective and call into question EHS credibility - hence my risk-based approach to PPE.     

Closed toed/top shoes and eye protection requirements for researchers are usually met without much argument.  However, the shorts/skirt seems to draw a lot more debate.  

Thoughts?

Regards,

Brandon S. Chance, M.S., CCHO
Associate Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Office of Risk Management
Southern Methodist University 
PO Box 750231 | Dallas, TX  75275-0231
T) 214.768.2430 | M) 469-978-8664

"- our job in safety is to make the task happen, SAFELY; not to interfere with the work-" Neal Langerman


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--- This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety. For more information about the list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
--- This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety. For more information about the list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

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