Some of the mouth pipette experience may be coming from abroad.  During a routine safety inspection of non-US facilities in both Asia and the mid-east, mouth pipetting was considered common & a time saving technique. A mouth siphoning apparatus was also in common use – including for vehicle/motor bike transfers on company property.

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Mike

 

 

 

Michael N. Cooper MS, MPH, CIH

Sr. Managing Scientist

Exponent / Failure Analysis

149 Commonwealth Drive

Menlo Park, California  94025

 

Work (650) 688-1760

Cell (408) 313-2127

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Steve
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 5:02 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Pipetting rule

I know of one chemist who thought it would be a good idea to start a siphon

by mouth to reduce the volume of an over-filled solvent waste drum. I don't

know if it can be attributed to his being foreign or what. If it isn't said,

it isn't policy--I had to re-do an SOP to address this.

JSB

-----Original Message-----

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of

Barbara Mowery

Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 15:19

To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU

Subject: [DCHAS-L] Pipetting rule

Colleagues,

During our annual review of safety rules and printed mataerials, one of my

young colleagues asked me if it is still necessary to include the rule

"Never pipet by mouth." She has never seen it done, and couldn't imagine

anyone who would EVER think of doing it. I guess I could ask the same about

the "No eating or drinking" rule.

Any thoughts?

Barbara Mowery

General Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator

Physical Sciences Department

York College of Pennsylvania

441 Country Club Road

York PA 17403-3651

717-815-6480

Fax 717-849-1653

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