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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 10:46:53 AM Author: Laurence Doemeny <ldoemeny**At_Symbol_Here**COX.NET> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Shorts/skirts in Research Labs Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2016 16:00:12 +0000 Author: "Wilhelm, Monique" |
Thank you, Larry. It is great for many of us newbies to understand the history of how where get to where we are.
Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Manager
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan Ð Flint
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of Laurence Doemeny
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 10:47 AM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
Eileen Segal working with David Votaw of NIOSH was instrumental on getting NIOSH to develop the NIOSH contact lens policy. The policy was finally developed after Ms. Segal held a successful ACS/CHAS symposium on the subject of contact
lenses in the laboratory. Following the symposium and the subsequent papers NIOSH released its Current Intelligence Bulletin 59 Contact Lens Use in a Chemical Environment (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-139/pdfs/2005-139.pdf)
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of roberth_hill
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 6:35 AM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
Several years ago restrictions on contacts were removed (by NIOSH, as I remember). I remember an article in JCHS by Eileen Segal addressing this. Thanks. Bob Hill
Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "Wilhelm, Monique" <mwilhelm@UMFLINT.EDU>
Date: 9/14/16 8:43 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
The ACS CCS seems to support wearing contact lenses.
https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/about/governance/committees/chemicalsafety/safetypractices/contact-lens-policy-letter-to-niosh.pdf
Also, SACL does not prohibit contact lenses, but does state that they cannot be a substitute for goggles or safety glasses.
https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/about/governance/committees/chemicalsafety/publications/safety-in-academic-chemistry-laboratories-students.pdf
I know that SACL is currently under revision. But, I have not heard anything about changing this recommendation.
Neither document brings in an exception when working with MeCl2.
Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Manager
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan Ð Flint
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health
and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of Peter Zavon
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 8:24 PM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
The meaning of ÒshouldÓ and ÒshallÓ in the OSHA regulatory context is clear and long established.
ÒShouldÓ is advisory and ÒshallÓ is mandatory.
The MeCl standard you quoted is recommending that contacts not be worm, it is not forbidding. It is not requiring some additional assessment before they
can be permitted. It is merely recommending.
I believe the American Ophthalmological Association issued a position paper a good many years ago saying that use of contacts in a chemical lab is not
a hazard in the vast majority of situations, but is not a substitute for safety glasses or goggles.
Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY
PZAVON@Rochester.rr.com
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health
and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of Biersack, Mary
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 5:32 PM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] contact lens use in chemistry labs
Hello,
Our chemistry lab currently does not allow anyone to wear contact lenses in the labs. IÕd like to propose that we allow contacts under safety glasses, goggles or face shields.
We do use methylene chloride, many different corrosive chemicals and potent compounds (mostly in chemical fume hoods but sometimes on the open bench top if dilute or in very small quantities). The dilemma IÕm facing is that OSHA states in 1910.1052 for Methylene
Chloride that contact lenses should not be worn when working with this chemical. I take this a recommendation not a hard rule. Some of my safety colleagues interpret Òshould notÓ to mean that contacts can be worn as long as I can prove that a
hazard does not exist (which I donÕt think I can do but I feel comfortable with the risk level, citing NIOSH recommendations and scientific studies but not all studies are well enough designed to prove there is no hazard).
My hazard evaluation would include listing the chemicals that are more of a hazard and training the chemists accordingly and letting the chemists decide if they want to take the
risk or decide not to wear contacts and order the prescription safety glasses that the company will buy. Some safety people want me to limit contact lens use only for chemical use that will pose no hazards. However, in a very large lab with hundreds of chemicals
that are constantly changing this would be more work than I feel value added and would confuse the chemists leading to non-compliance.
I would like your thoughts,
Mary
Mary Biersack
Lab Safety and Chemical Hygiene Specialist
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
P: +1 610-594-3278
530 Herman O. West Drive
| Exton, PA 19341 | United States
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