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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: software for modeling thermodynamics of a reaction Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:14:09 -0500 Author: "Steven I. Meszaros" |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: Working with chemicals and anosmia Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:20:57 -0500 Author: "Norwood, Brad" |
Comenting on Samuella Sigman's questions as well as the responses posted: Whether exposure to a chemical is harmful or not, or whether the volatiles released into the lab environment are non combustible or present a physical hazard (explosion, fire), the affected person lacking olfactory capabilities is at increased risk. As mentioned by Steve in his 2/07 comment, you can minimize that risk through moving operations with volatiles into a tightly controlled hood. But Steve's suggestion to not allow the worker to do solo work acknowledges that these controls are not fail safe. I disagree with Steve when he states that "Safe conditions should not require that a person needs to be capable of smelling the reagents". Humans are provided with the sense of smelling for selection purposes. It helps us searching for good tasting food. It provides warnings to keep away from decaying carcasses or the presence of hazardous gases. Public safety relies on warnings through odor, for example by putting an ethylmercaptane tracer into propane or natural gas. Odor threshold data are used to provide a preliminary measure for the concentration of volatiles in a given environment. I am not suggesting that a person with anosmia should be banned from all lab work. But a careful evaluation of the type of work performed in the lab and the available safeguards against chemical exposure should govern the work assignment for the person. The affected person must be an active and informed participant in that evaluation. An open discussion of all the issues will help the person to better understand the risks involved. As a result the person may agree to a transfer into a field of work where the risk of exposure is much lower. The discussion will also increase the person 's awareness of potential risks during daily life and how to avoid exposure hazards. To Samuella's philosophy "Don't always believe what you think" I would add: Don't think that all exposure problems can be solved through engineering. Heinz H. Trebitz, Ph.D. 480 Colby Road N Thetford Center, VT 05075 Tel: 802-785-2129 Fax: 802-785-2124 e-mail: iht63**At_Symbol_Here**valley.net
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