Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:03:58 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Yarrow, Gary" <Gary.Yarrow**At_Symbol_Here**SDSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Leg Coverings in Labs
In-Reply-To: <4E847101.FB11.0089.1**At_Symbol_Here**waubonsee.edu>

At SDSU (in this case South Dakota and not San Diego), we require as Kathy states below.  We will allow them to embarrass themselves and wear a plastic garbage bag (usually only happens once a semester), or as a fellow did a couple years ago when he drove in (lives about 40 miles away) to cover their legs in duck tapeÉ.yes, duck (or if you prefer, duct).  Yes, we have a picture.  Putting it on is one thing, taking it off must have been another.  Bio labs must do a risk analysis to determine if its required for the specific lab.

Gary

Dr. Gary L. Yarrow, Director
Environmental Health & Safety
Avera Sci Center 143, Bldg 2202
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD  57007-0896
605-688-6332

We required long pants in our Chemistry labs (community college).  I've accepted long skirts, but they must be to the feet and straight (not full).  I don't know about the biology labs.
>>> "Shiel, Dan" > 9/29/2011 10:55 AM >>>
I am interested to benchmark  what other organizations do/ require regarding leg coverings in labs.  Are legs required to be covered in all labs?  Or in some labs, but not others (e.g., in chemistry labs, but biology/ biotech)?  I realize that the default answer most of us who are EHS professionals would provide is "yes, of course leg coverings are required in labs!", but again I am curious to learn what others actually doing and if the issue is directly addressed via your site CHP or other documents.

My site currently "strongly recommends" leg coverings in all labs and require them in labs using radioisotopes in our CHP (and in general have very few folks who actually wear shorts and/or skirts in labs, but some do on occasion), but are re-visiting this issue as part our ongoing risk assessment process.

Regards,

Dan

Dan Shiel, MBA, CSP, CHMM
Director, Risk & Quality Management Services
Pfizer La Jolla
10777 Science Center Drive
San Diego, CA 92121

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