Greetings from Stockholm, Sweden.
At KTH Royal Institute of Technology, we have similar policy regarding use of masks as Samuella describes below - for lab courses. Additionally, visors are provided that
can be cleaned or plastic laminate replaced.
Now the semester has started and as I understand we will continue doing this.
Regards,
From:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Samuella Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Date: Thursday, 19 August 2021 at 15:15
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [External] Re: [DCHAS-L] How would you answer this student question?
I decided when we worked out our hybrid plan last semester that it was not a good idea for students (and faculty) to wear their personal cloth (or disposable)
masks in lab due to the possibility of contamination. I was worried that if a student got chemicals on the mask through some transfer from their hands and then kept wearing it after they left, they would be breathing the contamination.
So, we require and provide a new disposable mask for students (and faculty) in the labs to wear and dispose of before leaving. After washing their hands, they should put on their personal mask.
It may seem as overboard, but since the university was willing to pay for it, we are doing it.
S-
On 8/19/2021 9:01 AM, Ralph Stuart wrote:
Are reusable masks okay in lab or only disposable ones because of chemical contaminants?
I'm not sure if you are thinking in terms of cloth or paper masks, but I would recommend that any masks that have been splashed on be replaced immediately. Cloth masks present similar challenges as other clothing worn in the lab. Paper masks are not likely to retain fumes, but also wear out fairly quickly. For that reason, new paper masks each class make sense to me.
Good luck to us all!
- 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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******************************************************************************
Non-Tenure Track Faculty - Qualified to cook the meals and wash the dishes, but not eat at the table.
Samuella B. Sigmann, MS, NRCC-CHO
Fellow & 2019 Chair,
ACS Division of Chemical Health & Safety
Senior Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair/Director of Stockroom
Chemistry
Appalachian State University
525 Rivers Street
Boone, NC 28608
Phone: 828 262 2755
Email:
sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu
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