DCHAS-L Archives, Aug 10 2013 - Re: [DCHAS-L] New PPE video from UCSD

John

Thanks for the explanation. I think these videos are superb because they improve laboratory safety. Period. Nothing is perfect or will please everyone.

Pete Reinhardt

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of JP
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 4:15 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] New PPE video from UCSD

Folks, I usually just lurk - but I'm going to have to jump in on this thread...

First - let me add my congratulations - Professor Weizman (Haim), my thanks to you and your team for sharing yet another outstanding example of a "short and educational" laboratory safety relevant video. (FYI: I'm excluding myself from that 'team' - because I am now "officially retired" from UCSD - and besides I was out of town when Haim produced this video... but he did exactly what I would have anticipated - had I been available during the filming).

Second - let me expand on what I see as the merits of Haim's approach to video shorts for 'educating' the academic lab 'workers' (students, p-docs, faculty etc.) on their environment and it's risks.

1. They are very compact but full of realistic tips and information...

2. They don't attempt to be 'perfect' in their safety message. They serve to prompt "you" the audience to think about risks you may face in your lab environment... they are "EDUCATIONAL". They DO NOT try to address every possible concern.

3. They use real students from our labs as actors and actresses - which helps make the scene seem more relevant and realistic than most "safety-training videos"...

4. They are directed at target audiences (usually subsets of the 'academic' research community) but remain broadly relevant to everyone in our labs and beyond... In this case the inclusion of "Phenol" in this short clip is undoubtedly intended to catch the interest and attention of 'biomedical and biological researchers' - who often seem to assume that everything they use is pretty 'benign' (i.e. "we only use buffers"...) despite their employing things like Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)..., or ... 'Phenol' in extractions...., or 30% Hydrogen peroxide..., or formalin, or a host of other hazardous -- but underestimated materials and risky procedures.

5. (and finally) I find these videos are actually quite readily 'accepted' by the target community (students/young researchers) as useful guides to enhancing their in-lab behavior leading to real risk-reduction.

Because of these videos I have seen "marked" improvements in behavior - and in the frequency that 'our' researchers are approaching campus safety professionals with concerns or questions. The real challenge is in getting them to even think about risk assessment in the lab... In my opinion - these videos are definitely going to reduce the number of serious accidents and injuries.

As far as "PPE" is concerned - clearly wearing some eye protection is better than not wearing 'any' eye-protection... In my experience, getting folks to regularly wear even minimal eye-protection and other PPE, seems to lead to even better choices in wearing "appropriate eye-protection" and PPE over the long run.

Sorry - got a bit long winded... guess that's just me... Soap-box off...

Have a safe weekend,

jp.

Sent from my iPad john palmer

jpalmer**At_Symbol_Here**ucsd.edu / (858) 967-9124

On Aug 9, 2013, at 7:35 AM, Rita Kay Calhoun <r.calhoun**At_Symbol_Here**MOREHEADSTATE.EDU> wrote:

Actually, Russ, you need to watch the video again. At 0:53 the post-doc uses phenol as a solution with which one can only wear safety glasses. The grad student does later specify goggles as she is placing a bottle of crystalline phenol in the hood.

Kay

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Russ Phifer
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 9:53 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] New PPE video from UCSD

Actually, Kay, you need to watch the video again. At 1:28 in the video, they specifically say you should wear safety goggles when you work with Phenol. While you are right that much of the focus seems to be on safety glasses, the "disclaimer" in the beginning specifically indicates those are only for use with small quantities of lower hazard reagents where there is no splash hazard.

Russ

Russ Phifer

WC Environmental, LLC

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610-696-9220x12/ fax 610-344-7519

Cell - 610-322-0657

rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**wcenvironmental.com

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visit http://wcenvironmental.advanceonline.com !

P Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail or any other document

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Rita Kay Calhoun
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 6:25 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] New PPE video from UCSD

I'm sorry but I must disagree with all the praise for this video. Yes, there are parts that are very good, but at the beginning the post-doc mentions phenol solution as one with which it is ok to just wear safety glasses. No mention of the concentration of solution. I know that phenol is an active ingredient in some throat sprays, but there the concentration is very low. In lab the concentration can certainly be high enough to cause damage to the eye. I was also disturbed by the fact that most of the glasses were open across the forehead. There was no shielding. In those cases where safety glasses are deemed sufficient I require said glasses to have a barrier on top.

Kay

P. S. I did like the dissolving head. That was cool.

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Debbie M. Decker
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 4:47 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] New PPE video from UCSD

Awesomely done! Another winner from Haim and you and the talented gang at UCSD!

Thanks so much for sharing.

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO

Safety Manager

Department of Chemistry

University of California, Davis

1 Shields Ave.

Davis, CA 95616

(530)754-7964

(530)304-6728

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction

that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,

can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Harvey, Doug
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 9:09 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] New PPE video from UCSD

Dear all,

I hope you are having a great week.

Here is an excellent PPE video that was produced by Professor Haim Weizman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXmG8mjUviI

Be safe out there,

Doug

Douglas Harvey

Environment, Health & Safety, CCHO

Chemical Safety Officer

University of California, San Diego

Office phone: (858) 822-1579

Cell phone: (858) 583-3257

Email: daharvey**At_Symbol_Here**ucsd.edu

Mail code: 0089

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