From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of James Kaufman
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2022 10:16 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Advice about laboratory attire

Until you get to have the shower curtains, have drills using the fire blanket.  

That's excellent advice; I'll see about getting those installed here. 

Dr Hugo G. Schmidt
Lab Manager, Cambridge CARES
Tel.: +65 9018 2051

________________________________________
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Eugene Ngai <eugene_ngai**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2022 11:51 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Advice about laboratory attire

I would also tell them to wear natural fiber clothing. Synthetics even under Nomex will met and adhere to the skin

One of the challenges I have for HazMat response is decon of a victim splashed with a chemical. Because of modesty we periodically have people suffer bikini burns because they will not remove their underwear which may be saturated. To reduce this problem modesty curtains are a must around safety showers. Also in the ER Kits we have disposable robes and slippers, We had the unpleasant experience of trying to strip a pregnant victim who was suffering from Selenious acid burns in order to decon her using 1% bleach

Eugene Ngai
Chemically Speaking LLC
www.chemicallyspeakingllc.com [chemicallyspeakingllc.com]<http://www.chemicallyspeakingllc.com [chemicallyspeakingllc.com]>



From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Margaret Rakas
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2022 10:38 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Advice about laboratory attire

We tell them "your clothing plus your labcoat must fully cover your body from your shoulders down to your shoes" (so no bare ankles-for example, capri pants are OK if worn with socks that extend up to the pants-fashion horror, but whatever).  This could easily be gender-neutral---I don't think you want cargo shorts, for example, or the sleeveless undershirt designed for men, in the lab either...

I also encourage lab instructors to verbally state these rules (they're also written) at the beginning of the semester AND after spring break (when the urge for shorts and flip flops seems to be universal).  That way, no one feels singled out.  Maybe your crew can plan to reset when classes take up again after spring break?

Good luck!
Margaret

On Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 10:30 AM Jessica Martin <jessica.a.martin**At_Symbol_Here**uconn.edu<mailto:jessica.a.martin**At_Symbol_Here**uconn.edu>> wrote:
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,
Jessica A. Martin, Ph.D.
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2018-2021)
Joint Safety Team, Founding Member (2018-2021)
Pinkhassik Group, Department of Chemistry (2016-2021)
University of Connecticut
323-327-3974
jessica.a.martin**At_Symbol_Here**uconn.edu<mailto:jessica.a.martin**At_Symbol_Here**uconn.edu>
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaannemartin/ [linkedin.com]

"Anger is temporary - and often useful.
But the project is forever!
Seriously - this thing is never going to end is it?"
-I said this


On Mar 10, 2022, at 10:17 AM, CHAS membership <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG<mailto:membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>> wrote:

*Message sent from a system outside of UConn.*


From: Wendy L Hom <Wendy.L.Hom**At_Symbol_Here**hofstra.edu<mailto: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<mailto:Wendy.L.Hom**At_Symbol_Here**hofstra.edu>

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Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Lab Safety & Compliance Director
Clark Science Center
413-585-3877 (p)
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