From: Jeffrey R. Cogswell <Jeffrey.R.Cogswell**At_Symbol_Here**DARTMOUTH.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Engineering controls for Covid?
Date: Thu, 27 May 2021 16:35:47 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: BL0PR03MB420949E4E28D4AC5CE215672D1239**At_Symbol_Here**BL0PR03MB4209.namprd03.prod.outlook.com
In-Reply-To


I cannot believe that I forgot physical barriers. That one is from the John Hopkins article, thanks Andy. It is such a great example. I do not have to do any work to protect myself (or the hard-working cashier) at the grocery store because of the Plexiglas between us. It is interesting that they put “working from home” as an administrative control. I would consider that as substitution, but it could depend on the question being asked. Question: “How do you substitute the Covid virus?” Answer: you cannot. If the question is “how do you minimize the risk of getting Covid at a work setting?”, the answer is work from home.

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Glode, Andy
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2021 11:00 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Engineering controls for Covid?

 

I agree that hand washing is not an engineering control, it’s administrative. Researchers at Johns Hopkins proposed a version of the hierarchy of controls for COVID that I’ve been referencing in trainings throughout the pandemic, maybe you’ll also find it helpful: https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-education-and-research-center-for-occupational-safety-and-health/can-a-mask-protect-me-putting-homemade-masks-in-the-hierarchy-of-controls

 

Thanks,

Andy

 

Andy Glode

Interim Director

Office of Environmental Health and Safety

University of New Hampshire

https://www.unh.edu/research/environmental-health-and-safety

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Jeffrey R. Cogswell
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2021 9:38 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Engineering controls for Covid?

 

Caution - External Email

Hello DCHAS community

 

This has been a very informative week about SDSs, and it has reinforced an observation I have had since starting in this field; EHS members are extremely passionate about their work. I believe you must be, to do a good job and keep people safe.

 

This passion that has been seen throughout the tread this week, has reminded me about a talk I wanted to put together for researchers.  Ever since the pandemic started, I have seen this as an opportunity to use a real-world example for the hierarchy of controls and risk assessment comparison.  During the beginning of the pandemic, where there was so much unknown about the virus and how it spread; I saw parallels with the high risk in lab work. Once we fully open, I plan to use Covid as an example on how researchers should approach risk assessment for experiments.. 

 

I came across an interesting article https://safetyrisk.net/covid-19-and-the-hierarchy-of-control/ that I am definitely going to adopt into my talks, but I am not convinced on the Engineering Controls portion. In my option it is a stretch to call taking your temperature and washing your hands an Engineering control. Examples I have used in the past are fume hoods and machine guarding. I corresponded with Ralph and he came up with building ventilation. http://kscehs.kscopen.org/ventilation-research/ksc-classroom-building-ventilation-roster/

 

Does anyone else have another example for an Engineering controls for Covid?

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

Jeffrey R. Cogswell, Ph.D.

Chemical Inventory and Laboratory Resource Center Technician, EHS

37 Dewey Field Road, HB 6216

Hanover, NH 03755

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ehs/

 

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.