> >https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/western-guilford-student-aimee-green-burned-in-classroom-experiment-chemistry/83-6f380df7-188b-4247-81be-9b73fb33040c
>
I thought this quote from the story above was interesting in light of our discussion last week about safety glasses vs. googles:
>Western Guilford Student Burned During Chemistry Class Experiment, Parents Say

>2. The school district has several safety guidelines for experiments. Depending on the experiment, students are required to wear goggles. Officials did not confirm whether the student was wearing goggles.

Neither glasses or googles are designed to protect either lab workers or an audience from fire hazards. I think that this may have been the challenge that David was pointing to with his original post on the topic - risk assessment skills that identify prudent protective measures appropriate to the work being conducted need to include not only the name of the chemical, its quantity and concentration, but also scenarios that are likely to occur related to that chemical.

I have had several experiences where PPE got in the way of safe conduct of the work I was doing, usually due to poor fit of the equipment I was using. On the other hand, PPE can provide the advantage of enclothed cognition. Students need practice in understanding and balancing both the pros and cons of various safety measures. This is particularly true for those measures such as PPE and fume hoods which present serious ergonomic challenges when used.

In my experience, blanket statements about which eye protection is appropriate are based on managing a large number of workers in a lab and can overlook the human factors involved in safe lab work.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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