We've been having an ongoing discussion about how much psychological aspects could play into emergency response. Larry Doemeny circulated an article in September called "How to Get Out Alive" that has sparked the discussion here. The short version is that in an emergency situation, the following happens:
1) About 10-15% remain calm and act quickly and efficiently
2) Another 15% or less completely freak out
3) The vast majority do very little as they are "stunned"...then they revert to physically practiced learned behaviors like searching for keys or making calls.

I would think that modesty fits into that learned behavior pile and is something that we fight against.  But more importantly, to counteract the reaction of the vast majority, you have to practice the desired response so the individual can search the physically practiced, learned behavior memory banks for the right behavior. I don't think I'm actually advocating a total disrobing during training as the answer here, but I'm more convinced than ever that group response drills so that the group as a whole will act marginally close to what's expected is the ticket.

Kim
Kimberly Begley Jeskie, MPH-OSHM
Operations Manager
Physical Sciences Directorate
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Office: (865) 574-4945
Cell: (865) 919-4134 - Note that this is a new number
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Wayne Wood
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 8:31 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] safety shower curtain

There are all sorts of reasons why people don't activate the emergency shower when it is called for e.g. never saw it work, scared to make a mess, not trained, unsure about water purity and temperature and last but not least, modesty.  It has been my experience that in most cases where lab personnel should  have used a shower they chose not to. So anything you can do to alleviate their reluctance, like installing modesty curtains, will improve the likelihood that someone will actually use the shower when they need it.

W.

Wayne Wood | Associate Director, University Safety (EHS) - Directeur Adjoint, Direction de la prévention (SSE), Services universitaires | McGill University | 3610 McTavish Street, 4th floor | Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1Y2 | Tel: (514) 398-2391 | Fax: (514) 398-8047
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Wallace, Michele
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 11:27 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] safety shower curtain

Does anyone on the list have experience or information about using curtains on safety showers?

Recently we had an employee exposure incident that, thankfully, did not turn out to be major, but did not go according to plan.  Employees have requested to have curtains on the showers so they will feel more comfortable using the shower in an emergency - which I know should not be the point.  Someone found a vendor selling a curtain.  I want to address the employee concerns, but I do not want to create unreasonable expectations or more hazards.

Any advice appreciated, because right now I really want to scold someone who should know better.

Michele L. Wallace , NRCC-CHO
Associate Director, Product Integrity
Phone: 919-678-2417
Email:  MWallace**At_Symbol_Here**cottoninc.com
Internet: www . cottoninc . com

"The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved."
- Confucius    Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)

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