From: "Wilhelm, Monique" <mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**UMFLINT.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Stools in Chemistry Laboratories
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2018 16:33:33 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 1109037139E1524980CF9CBEB2476618010B2FAE66**At_Symbol_Here**UMF-EX10EMB1.umflint.edu
In-Reply-To


I don't like stools in the labs because of this.  I was fortunate enough to be in on designing our labs in our remodel and we have seating areas at the front of the room for lectures and low risk activities that are separate from lab work areas.  Stools are not allowed in the lab work areas and I do not have problems with them dragging them over there.

 

Monique Wilhelm

Laboratory Manager

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

University of Michigan - Flint

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Laurie Yoder
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2018 12:11 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Stools in Chemistry Laboratories

 

Your lab setup sounds like our general chem lab. The benches are lower than typical standing counter height so some activities are not ideally done while standing, like writing in their notebooks or making observations at the desktop level. But they also stand when needed for better leverage, depending on what they're working on. From a classroom management perspective I like that they can sit during the pre-lab lecture, and the pod design helps with collaborative work. The hazards of our work are low enough that I haven't been concerned that sitting compromises their safety (maybe I should be?). I'm interested in hearing others' experiences here too.

Laurie

 

On Tue, Oct 9, 2018 at 11:22 AM Frankie Wood-Black <fwoodblack90**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

OK folks - it is time to ask the question as we just got new laboratories for one of our campus locations.  In our chemistry labs at two of our campuses we have "laboratory pods"  A bench with a sink in the middle and places for four individuals with under the pod stools.  (Note in the new laboratory - the stools weren't the best choice and are now a tripping hazard, so that is a separate issue.)

 

But, what we are seeing more and more is that if the stools are available the students want to sit to do the experiments.  Understanding of course that there are some that need this type of accommodation, but for most - sitting while doing the experiment is not necessary or desired.  

 

So, I am asking the question - primarily to defend our stance, what  is your opinion about stools in a general chemistry laboratory - we are talking introductory chemistry and general chemistry.

 

 


Frankie Wood-Black, Ph.D., REM, MBA

Principal - Sophic Pursuits

NOTE - ADDRESS CHANGE - Mailing Address - PO Box 433, Tonkawa, OK 74653

 

580-761-3703

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas


 

--

Laurie M. Yoder
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Hygiene OfficerEastern Mennonite University

540.432.4420

 

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