Fed OSHA has done some work in this area, as did my employer way back
when I was in the private  sector. My then employer had a long-standing
policy against radios in the workplace, mostly to avoid fights. When the
Walkman craze started (okay, I said it was a while ago), it was first
thought that the personal radios would be okay. That didn't last long,
as our industrial hygienist decided to do some sampling in an assembly
area. The area in question was within allowable limits for noise, but,
when the employees turned up the volume to drown out the background
noise, the limits were exceeded and the Walkmen were banned. (I also had
a coworker who used his to drown out the office noise so he could sleep.
That use was also forbidden.)
 
While this would be seldom an issue in labs, it could be in pilot plant
 operations.
 
- Diane Amell, MNOSHA

>>> Lisa Van Loo  3/18/2008 7:28 AM >>>

What about hearing protection issues? Has anyone looked at this from
the
perspective that employees could crank these things up very high, thus
damaging their hearing? Any thoughts?

Lisa 

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf
Of
Lipsky, David
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 6:14 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU 
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Headphone use in labs

There is another issue to consider particularly if using the ear-bud
type of earphones, that the earphones will fall out or dislodge.  This
could result in splashing of liquids or breaking of glass beakers
etc.,
if the phones drop on the lab bench.  Also, there is the natural
instinct to try to prevent the earphones from falling-which in itself
might result in spillage or splashing or dropping of laboratory
equipment, glassware, etc. 

I imagine this same scenario (of persons reaching out to prevent the
earphones or cellphone, or IPOD from falling) accounts for quite a few
of the cellphone, IPOD related auto accidents. 



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