DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:18:03 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Ralph B Stuart <rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: 8 Re: [DCHAS-L] Broken Foot and Open-toed Shoes
Date: March 28, 2011 11:41:57 AM
EDT
I had a stude
nt with this exact same situation a couple of years ago and we had the stud
ent wear a plastic bag. It seemed to work fine.
Nancy
===
Date: March 28, 2011 11:52:26 AM EDT
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Broken Foot and Open-toed Shoes<
/font>
Cathy:
Depending on the type of protection you need, here are some idea
s.
Call your local medical supply co
mpany. The kind that is open to the public to by wound dressings and
crutches. There are a variety of toe covers available that cover the
toes and/or keep out water. You may need both, the soft kind that are
designed to keep the toes warm with the waterproof cover to provide protec
tion from spills.
You may also con
sider toe caps, if falling objects are the issue. They come in steel
toe protection or just simple plastic. They strap onto the existing s
hoe, in this case boot, using a strap or rubber band. Because of the
boot, you may need the biggest size. If you get your safety sup
plies from a general (not medical) supplier, they will probably have them o
r know where to get them.
If a rubbe
r boot or shoe cover will do, you can get them from a safety supply house.
The employee can cover the bare toes with a sock and then the rubber
boot goes over that. Many of these come in big sizes and some are ver
y elastic so you can get them over the bottom of the boot. Be sure that you
get something with some gripping power on the bottom to prevent slips and
falls.
Donna
Donna L. Wilson, CIH-CSP
IH Res
ources
===
Date: March 28, 2011 10:50:2
5 AM EDT
It is my
experience that the requirement for not having open toed shoes in a lab is
to prevent a chemical exposure. That being the case, I believe that a
boot cover that is designed to prevent chemical exposure and is of a compo
sition that is impermeable to the chemicals in use would be an acceptable a
lternative. If total impermeability is not possible, double layers (b
oot covers) might be required. Just my two cents worth.
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4px; ">
Cheers!
Ray Cook, CIH, CSP
I Cor 1:18
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Sent from my iPhone
==
=
Date: March
28, 2011 10:41:27 AM EDT
I agree wit
h Judy. We don't allow open toes in any of our laboratories. The concern is
, in addition to infectious agents, chemical and physical injury to the foo
t. To protect the worker and the organization, this person would have to ad
just duties and be restricted to administrative or other duties outside the
laboratory.
Karon L. Floyd,<
/div>
Center Safety Officer
Plum Island Anim
al Disease Center
USDHS, S&T
Direct: (631) 323-3332
Fax: (631) 323-3097
Never esteem anything as of ad
vantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect
. -Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
<
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=
Date
: March 28, 2011 10:45:28 AM EDT
C
athy,
The other problem is absorbancy. Most casts are made of materials
that absorb liquids. Not good. Homemade protective devices are probably wo
rse in that they would likely not meet safety codes.
If there is an office type temporary positio
n available, that might be more comfortable on the foot.
There is an OSHA-compliant device that fits ove
r street shoes and adjusts by 2 large rubber-like straps. These may not be
good on the broken foot.
OMHO,
Bill Parks
CHST, CHMP, CEHT, LSP, RPIH
CHEMPHYXX......is now L
inkedIn
630/380-4032
===
Date: March 28, 2011 1:21:00 PM EDT
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Broken Foot and Open-
toed Shoes
<
font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">How abo
ut wrapping and taping a nitrile glove around the exposed area to protect i
t from any chemical splash? It can then be easily removed at the end of the
lab session.
Neil EdwardsDept. of Chemistry
Long Island University<
/font>
C. W. Post Campus
720 Northern Bl
vd
Brookville, NY 11548
<
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===
Date: March 28, 2011 10:49:12 AM EDT
Cathy,
There is a covering for stree
t shoes. Fits over the toe and heel, and adjusts by 2 large rubber-like str
aps. OSHA-compliant, but may not feel very good on a broken foot.
The other problem is absorbancy. Most foot ca
sts would hold liquids - Not good. Homemade covers would likely not be comp
liant.
If there is an office type temporary position available, that mig
ht be more comfortable on the foot.
OMHO,
Bill Parks<
/font>
CHST, CHMP, CEHT, LSP, RPIH
CHEMP
HYXX......is now LinkedIn
630/380-4032
===
Date: March 28, 2011 12:08:51 PM EDT
Catherine,
Which chemica
ls might she be working with? How likely is exposure? I assume
that she does not need steel-toed shoes/boots for foot protection from
;lift truck or other physical hazards?
If that is so, use any of the comm
on protective suits/gloves selection guides, find an appropriate mater
ial for the chemicals involved, and modify say a glove, or detached le
g/sleeve, or a booty and cover the part of the foot in question. Duct
tape would work fine to hold the protective material in place over the boo
t. Should some type of exposure occur, such could readily be stripped
off and proper decontamination measures initiated. An overboot of th
e proper material would also be an obvious option. Slip and fall prot
ection might be an issue, so look at the walking/standing surface as well i
n case some modifications would be in order. Also, check to see that
the student can adequately reach a safety shower/eye wash within the recomm
ended 10 seconds (ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009 Standard). Naturally, documen
t everything.
Alan
Alan H. Hall, M.D.
TCMTS, Inc. Laramie, WY
C
olorado School of Public Health
Denver, CO
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