From: John Callen <jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Price gouging.
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2020 16:01:26 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 08502488-AC6F-4D5B-8102-04BB157480C3**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com
In-Reply-To <01F79A63-EC38-4CD3-8846-525244918288**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com>


All,

Thank you Rob!

As most of you know, I worked for 3M Personal Safety Division before I retired.  Here is 3M's official press release regarding another "Price Gouger" as reported by 3M yesterday and a subsequent Bloomberg Law article.  3M filed a lawsuit against the alleged "Price Gouger" yesterday in the LA Federal District Court.

3M Sues Seller on Amazon Who Charged Grossly Inflated Prices for Fake, Defective and Damaged N95 Respirators Falsely Advertised Under 3M Brand

https://news.3m.com/English/press-releases/press-releases-details/2020/3M-Sues-Seller-on-Amazon-Who-Charged-Grossly-Inflated-Prices-for-Fake-Defective-and-Damaged-N95-Respirators-Falsely-Advertised-Under-3M-Brand/default.aspx

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/3m-sues-amazon-seller-for-n95-price-gouging-trademark-misuse

The alleged "Price Gouger" was selling the 3M(TM) Particulate Respirator 8210Plus N95 for an average price of $23.21/each where 3M=E2=80™s list price ranges between $1.18/each to $1.50/each, depending upon the packaging and market served with an average list price of $1.27/each.  That's 18.3X the average list price per each.  Just so that you know, depending upon the model, product features, packaging and market served, 3M Brand(TM) N95 Respirators list pricing average between $0.63/each to $3.40/each as shown in the 3M Bulletin Rob references below.

As Rob did, please report to 3M any fraudulent activity, price gouging, counterfeit products or other spurious activity by calling 1 (800) 426-8688.

If you have any questions about the above information, please let me know.  Thanks!

John B. Callen, Ph.D.
3M Personal SafetyDivision - Retired
DCHAS Founding Member
(312) 632-0195  



On Jun 9, 2020, at 1:44 PM, ILPI Support <info**At_Symbol_Here**ILPI.COM> wrote:

Quick followup on reasonable pricing.  About a week and half ago I came across a site claiming in stock availability for cases of 150 3M 8210's for $2,600 (over $17 a mask).  3M is holding their official distributors to pre-pandemic normal pricing and has been very vigorous in pursuing action against distributors who violate their policy as well as taking both legal and civil action against  outside profiteers, counterfeiters etc.   I reported this rogue site to 3M at https://engage.3m.com/covidfraud?utm_medium=redirect&utm_source=short-url&utm_campaign=covidfraud and they made sure that that page is now gone.  In their followup on the matter, they referenced this page which shows current list prices (if you can find them; don't know anybody that has them): https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1803670O/fraudulent-activity-price-gouging-and-counterfeit-products.pdf

So there's one solid data point that reporting price gouging definitely helps to stop it.  If you're unable to determine the manufacturer to work with them, you can always file a complaint with your state attorney general's office. eBay, Amazon etc. all have policies as well: https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/we-are-actively-removing-price-gouging-prohibited-items-from-ebays-marketplace/

I've mentioned before that price gouging and counterfeit stuff is rampant; the stories I've heard from purchasing folks will make your heads spin, especially with the number of people who were promised masks that were never delivered.  A general rule of thumb I'll throw out there is that if you're a normal business/institution and they are asking cash in advance before shipment, you should be extremely circumspect and do some deep homework!

Rob Toreki

 ======================================================
Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names
you know and trust.  Visit us at http://www.SafetyEmporium.com
esales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com  or toll-free: (866) 326-5412
Fax: (856) 553-6154, PO Box 1003, Blackwood, NJ 08012




On Jun 8, 2020, at 3:15 PM, Michelle DeWitt <dewittmi**At_Symbol_Here**GVSU.EDU> wrote:

Pete-

How did Princeton make the decision to provide face masks for students and faculty in chemistry/biology labs?  I am on group for my University looking at how masks should be used on campus. Why disposable? Why provided? Who's budget did these come from? Do you have source selling them bulk at a reasonable price? Are you calling them PPE for lab? Any sources of recommendations on masks in labs would be helpful.

Some are looking at face coverings in lab as one would a shirt or pants and that the student/faculty should bring them and wash them at home. Are there any recommendations or studies showing that they pick up contamination in lab? Can you walk us through how your school came to justify the cost of providing disposable masks in labs?

Thank you,

Michelle DeWitt
Grand Valley State University
Chemistry Lead Laboratory Supervisor
1 Campus Drive, 313 Padnos Hall
Allendale, MI 49401
Desk 616-331-8925/ Stockroom 331-8986
dewittmi**At_Symbol_Here**gvsu.edu

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of Reinhardt, Peter <peter.reinhardt**At_Symbol_Here**YALE.EDU>
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 2:57:26 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Update from Yale
 
A quick trip to the bathroom is fine-I assume most people understand that.
 
Taking laboratory PPE home or to a cafeteria Is different and discouraged. That's the point we are trying to make.
 
Initially, we give every researcher 50 surgical masks. After use, it is to be disposed of at the end of the day.
 
Pete
 
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of "Wiediger, Susan" <swiedig**At_Symbol_Here**SIUE.EDU>
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Date: Monday, June 8, 2020 at 1:55 PM
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Update from Yale
 
Hi Peter,
What's the rationale behind switching masks in-lab and out-of-lab? Unlike gloves and lab coats, facemasks would seem not to touch common areas like seats and doorknobs. Changing them seems like it would add extra face touches and disposals. If the facemask is contaminated, then it should be changed anyway. I can see not wanting lots of surgical masks walking around outside of labs, but for a quick trip to the bathroom (for example)-?
Thanks for any insight you can offer,
Sue
 
 
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Reinhardt, Peter
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 4:43 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Update from Yale
 
Colleagues,
 
I have some news from Yale that you may find of interest.
 
Yale began Phase I of our research reactivation last week. Please see https://ehs.yale.edu/covid-19 for info for PI and lab staff, some nice fact sheets, and "ramp-up" checklists for both labs and non-labs. Much of this is governed by State rules, so if you see something curious, let me know and I will try to explain.
 
Anyone can take our "Reactivation Training for Researches:" https://ehs.yale.edu/trainings/reactivationm It is mandatory, and we also have training for non-researchers.
 
People who can work from home should continue to work from home. Yale's move to Phase 2 will likely be early July. At Yale, Phase 2 will see the return of non-laboratory faculty to campus.
 
Face coverings are required on campus and surgical masks are required in labs. See:
 
We've made a cute video about the lab masks! https://youtu.be/GlaRBVANdys
 

Our campus posters are at:  https://ypps.yale.edu/returntoyale-signage-download Simple messaging with a common format.

We are offering testing for everyone who is returning: https://covid19.yale.edu/screening. In 8,000 tests so far, we've only found 1 asymptomatic positive. Social distancing DOES flatten the curve!! Still, Connecticut and New Have have recorded 4,038 and 999 COVID deaths, respectively. This is real and awful, and we are planning for the second wave.
 
We are being strict about the six foot distance rule, but recognize the need to develop an EHS (internal) risk-assessment procedure for people on campus who cannot avoid doing necessary work within six feet of another person. I call this "proximity work." If you've developed such rules, please let me know.
 
No decision has yet been made about the return of students to campus, but we are planning feverously.
 
We've developed our own apps for symptom reporting and contact tracing, but these are behind security walls. They look pretty beta to me.
 
Yale has established COVID Safety Officers in labs and departments, and COVID safety committees at our schools to remind and inform faculty, students and staff to social distance, use face coverings, etc. We've established a campus COVID resource line for questions, and are using our hotline for anonymous complaints. Thankfully, EHS is not the "COVID police" except in egregious situations.
 
Yale EHS is divided into two teams working separate shifts (environmental staff) or separate weeks (office-resident staff). I think cohorting is important.
 
Some interesting stuff: Yale continues to receive pallets upon pallets of donated PPE, stored three shelves high in our West Campus warehouse. EHS evaluates the PPE and decides if we can use them on campus, if we should store for the second wave, or if we should forward to our hospital. While most of these donations are helpful, this is a lot of work! About half of the donated PPE is from China, including 33,000 donated KN95s. Why from China? Among U.S. universities, Yale has perhaps the deepest relationship with China and many Chinese alum.. Yale's first medical clinic in China opened in 1835. It's an amazing story: https://world.yale.edu/news/yale-and-china-centuries-old-partnership-0
 
Re KN95s-we can't fit them either, but they might make suitable surgical masks for lab use, with better filtration. When a French professor or dining hall worker demands an N95, we give them a KN95.
 
Hope that helps,
 
Pete
 
Peter A. Reinhardt (he/him/his)
Director, Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Yale University
135 College St., Suite 100
New Haven, CT   06510-2411
(203) 737-2123
Cell: (209) 410-0444
 
 
 
--- 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
--- 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
--- 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
--- 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

--- 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

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.