Good morning Wendy,
It’s so funny that this comes across my desk as I just had to deal with this issue, especially professors not wanting to speak to students about not wearing proper
attire in labs as the weather is warming. One of the things that helped was I created signs with actual pictures of clothing and footwear with a big red X over it that is not permissible in lab, and placed them both inside and outside of all lab entrances
and exits.. This allowed the professors the ability to actually point to a sign with a picture of the unacceptable clothing that took place, so it won’t seem like the professor is just picking on the student individually and making a judgement call.. This
helped the professors then felt both supported and empowered. After also having a meeting with the professors to address this and let them know that the signs are there as a visual backup, I also placed these same signs in areas frequented by students on
our chemistry and biology floor so they would see them multiple times. I agree with Jessica as the need to specifically mention anyone’s body or body parts isn’t necessary when speaking of a lab infraction since it’s not the body part that is the issue,
it’s the exposed skin. Hope this helps!
Dwayne F. Henry
Instructional Lab Manager of Chemical and Biological Sciences
Co-chair College-wide Biosafety and Infectious Materials Subcommittee
Montgomery College-Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
Office: (240) 567-1418 / Fax: (240) 567-1410
Email:
Dwayne.henry**At_Symbol_Here**montgomerycollege.edu
Perhaps some role play with the female staff would be helpful for these men?
I tell students that they need to wear clothes that effectively cover their skin, even when reaching for items. I also mention the idea of having reasonably loose clothing that is easy to remove if a spill happens, but not so loose that
it gets caught in lab work. I have also discussed more flammable and less flammable types of materials of which clothing is made. Finally, I tell them to tie back hair if there is a possibility that their hair is long enough to block their vision or interfere
with their lab work.
I’ve never felt the need to specifically comment on anyone’s body in an inappropriate way when I have delivered those instructions. I simply go back to the rules above. Am I missing something here? Can an example be provided?
Best,
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2018-2021)
Joint Safety Team, Founding Member (2018-2021)
Pinkhassik Group, Department of Chemistry (2016-2021)
University of Connecticut
"Anger is temporary - and often useful.
But the project is forever!
Seriously - this thing is never going to end is it?”
*Message sent from a system outside of UConn.*
From: Wendy L Hom <Wendy.L.Hom**At_Symbol_Here**hofstra.edu>
Re: Advice about laboratory attire
We had less of this before the pandemic but since coming back, there are students that have not been wearing appropriate lab attire and it has been challenging trying to get the instructors to enforce this. I was told by another female colleague that some male
colleagues find it awkward to tell young ladies that they need to cover up as it goes against the societal rule that older men should not comment on the bodies of young women.
They know and we all know that it is important for safety and we have this in the lab safety guide that all students review and attest to, and we have posted signs on the outside of the lab doors.
Does the group have any advice or suggestions to address this? I always thought it was entirely appropriate to tell someone that they were not wearing appropriate attire for the lab and they could not continue since it was not directly commenting on one’s body.
Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
--
Without Wax,
Wendy Hom
Department of Chemistry Laboratory Director
Environmental Health & Safety Officer
319 Berliner Hall
151 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
(516) 463-5541
Wendy.L.Hom**At_Symbol_Here**hofstra.edu
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