From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Jeffrey Lewin
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 11:57 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] PPE Excuses for Non-Compliance

• The activity I'm doing doesn't require eye protection (using a microscope in a biology lab)
• The activity I'm doing isn't hazardous, nor are there any hazardous activities in the lab (using a computer with no "active" experiments running, i.e. no one else working in the lab, but there are unattended experiments running)
• The activity I'm doing isn't hazardous and other hazardous activities are "far enough" away (putting tape on the floor to designate "office" activity areas - especially problematic where students regularly use, either by choice or assignment, office space in the lab as their primary working area)
• "I'm wearing safety glasses" i.e. impact glasses when the hazard calls for splash goggles
• "That noise isn't _that_ loud "
• "I'm wearing my ear buds, doesn't that count as ear plugs?"
• "I have a face shield on, why do I need safety glasses?
• (In a shop) holding up your hand in front of your face instead of putting impact eye protection
• "I have leather boots on, why do I need safety toes?"
• We once had a student show up in lab who claimed he had a "right" not to wear shoes; needless to say he was denied entry to the lab...and he never came back...but honestly, we wanted to see how he was going to go barefoot when it was 10F outside with snow coming down...

Hi Pauline:

 

 

I was hoping that you all could help me brainstorm additional excuses that you all have heard

 

Eyewear:

My glasses fog up.

I have to wear prescription glasses and safety glasses don't fit over my prescription glasses.

They hurt my ears.

The lenses are scratched.

I can't get close enough to my work (microscope use).

I'm working in the biosafety cabinet,  fume hood, glove box and I have the sash/window in front of me.

 

Lab coat:

Too hot 

Too tight 

Too loose

Too long

Too short

The sleeves drag in my work.

Someone else wore it and it's not clean.

It might get caught in the equipment.

I don't care if my clothes get chemicals on them.

I'm allergic.

 

Fundamentally,  I think, it's ill-fitting PPE that people don't want to wear. If you go down this road, I hope the Institute is prepared to invest in a variety of sizes and shapes of PPE.

 

Itll be interesting to see what others come up with. 

 

Best 

Debbie

 

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