Good morning and Happy New Year!
When I taught community college microbiology (students were pre-clinical nursing majors), I impressed that all of the safety requirements of a chemistry lab (especially
with PPE) apply to this lab, and a few the chemists never thought of. With microscopes, I can’t see anything in the lens through goggles either, so I had the students disinfect the eyepiece with an alcohol prep after use. My “day job” is science supervisor
of a K-12 school district, and I’ve advised teachers not to do microscope work during hybrid learning during covid. For that age group, the experience can be replicated with micrographs from the internet, and it’s very difficult to help a student focus a
microscope while maintaining appropriate distancing. The risks outweigh the educational benefits at the moment.
Regarding the question, when should I wear goggles (in all of our classes, we use ANSI Z87.1 D3 chemical splash goggles), I think of one of our 7th grade
classes going over safety protocols. The classroom was lecture seats in one half and lab in the other half. One student pointed to the lab and asked, “wouldn’t be easier to just say, if we’re working there, we have to wear the goggles?” I hope the kid got
extra credit!
Eddie McGrath
Edward J. McGrath
Supervisor of Science
Red Clay Consolidated School District
1502 Spruce Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 552-3768
We did not inherit the Earth from our parents. We borrowed it from our children.
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
On Behalf Of Rakers, Rosemary S.
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2021 11:19 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [External] [DCHAS-L] Goggles or no goggles?
WARNING: External Email - This email originated
outside of the State email system. |
Hi all,
I'm relatively new to this CHO business. Definitely new to anything related to biology safety. What do you do in your instructional biology labs for PPE? Goggles? Glasses? Lab coats?
Gloves? Does it depend on the lab?
I can understand not using goggles/glasses when using a microscope, I can't see through the eyepieces with even my prescription glasses. How about when pipetting? Always? Or only when
the volumes are a certain amount? Only when dealing with toxic chemicals?
I appreciate any and all comments.
Thank you.
Rose
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