All,

Again, thank you for your feedback. Having some ammunition tucked up my sleeve gave me more confidence as I worked with my supervisor and HR on this issue.

HR has stated the following =E2=80=93 I need to investigate if there are other lab coat (full length, long sleeved) options that provide adequate protection in his wo rk environment. If there is an adequate alternative, we will provide it. If not, he will be required to comply with our company  policies and wear the coats we do provide.

His work environment is a synthetic chemistry lab where he is a research che mist. The lab is kept between 69=C2=B0F-70.5=C2=B0F, and is not uncomfortably warm for the other 6 chemists who also work there. He must be protected against organ ic solvents, acids, bases, etc =E2=80=93 the basic hazards in any industria l synthetic laboratory.

If anyone has suggestions of long sleeved lab coats that are adequate prote ction for this type of environment, I would appreciate the link.

Thank you,

Danielle Boren

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Peter Zavon
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 7:27 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab Coat Options

>From: "Lucy Dillman" <lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net>

>Date: February 17, 2010 3:36:09 PM EST

>Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 2 Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab Coat Options

[snip]

>And I do not think signing a waiver is necessarily appropriate, because I believe you can

>not compel anyone to sign away their right to sue.  You may think someone would take

>responsibility for their own bad and unsafe actions, but when it comes down to an incid ent

>that results in harm, and there is money involved, don't count on that being the case.

You cannot sign away someone else's right to sue, but waivers of various sorts ar e common in which, in return for a consideration such as continued employm ent, an individual signs away a right to sue for a variety of causes.  You can't sign away a right to such things as Worker's Compensation coverage , but getting a company to agree to a variation on policy such as use of lab coats in return for your not suing the company if your not wearing a lab coat damages your $700 suit is quite another matter.

 

Such a waiver will not protect the company if there is an injury as a result of not using proper protective equipment, but it at least puts the employee on notice that they are accepting some form of personal responsibility by that refusal.

 

Pe ter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com