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From: Allen Niemi <anniemi**At_Symbol_Here**MTU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Drinking Fountain in the Lab
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 17:07:00 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: CAN0bzO7iifgscFTUCakpJpq_EK1vJ00vXuGf_0eW8RtCTwpW9g**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com
In-Reply-To <6b8ff15bd04d4ad0acc688bf2d66402d**At_Symbol_Here**BY2PR08MB298.namprd08.prod.outlook.com>


I fully agree with Debbie, tear them out. If you just shut off the water supply, they will be a magnet for criticism and questions every time someone inspects the lab or a guest/parent with safety experience tours the space. Besides, how old is this designer that doesn't know kids nowadays won't drink from a fountain?

Al

On Fri, Nov 14, 2014 at 1:14 PM, Debbie M. Decker <dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu> wrote:

Gotta love a lab designer who doesn't know anything about labs.

Rip =E2=80=98em out. Make the designer pay for it. They have insurance for these types of "errors and omissions."

I hope you would have a policy statement somewhere that states "no food and drink in the lab." If you have such a statement, then it makes the case for taking them out.

It's the policy of UC Davis to prohibit eating and drinking in the laboratory. Here's our policy statement: http://manuals.ucdavis.edu/PPM/290/290-65.pdf (paragraph 12).

Hope this helps.

Debbie

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO

Safety Manager

Department of Chemistry

University of California, Davis

122 Chemistry

1 Shields Ave.

Davis, CA 95616

(530)754-7964

(530)304-6728

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction

that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,

can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Hojjatie
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2014 8:06 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Drinking Fountain in the Lab

We are in the process of building a new Lab and it is almost ready for occupation.

The Lab designer has put two drinking fountains in the Lab. I believe this is not allowed per OSHA's Laboratory Standards, however, the discussion is that "there is minimum chance of chemical contamination" with these drinking fountains. I have requested the removal of these, but it would be costly at this point. I have two questions:

Are the drinking fountains allowed in the Lab area?

Is it OK to shut down the water source at this point and leave the fountains there?

I appreciate the expert opinions on this subject.

Michael Hojjatie, Ph.D.




--
Allen Niemi, PhD
Director
Occupational Safety and Health Services
Room 322 Lakeshore Center
Michigan Technological University
Phone: 906-487-2118
Fax: 906-487-3048

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