DCHAS-L Archives, Feb 22, 2023 - Re: [DCHAS-L] PPE Question

I would respectfully disagree about wearing PPE when transporting chemicals in hallways, whether for waste transfer or to perform work in other labs.

1) UPS, FEDEX, etc deliver hazardous chemicals in DOT/IATA-approved packaging. The packaging (inner and outer) is specifically tested to show it is able to contain the class of chemical in the event of a 3 foot drop.

2) I 'pulled waste' from labs from 2001-2019, and always wore labcoat, safety glasses (minimum, more if transporting HF or other extreme nasties) and gloves when taking the waste to our accumulation area. One hand was clean and ungloved to push elevator buttons, etc. Containers were in trays on a cart. I had a cart with a (thankfully nonhazardous) material hit a small bump due to a floor drain and overturn. People walking with chemicals can have doors open suddenly, etc. (Our state's hazwaste regulations and our permit do not permit individuals to access waste areas unless trained, so only a few highly trained folks have access). IF they're moving drums of waste solvent, I can tell you our hazwaste disposal vendor's crew is required to wear PPE when they move drums to their truck...

3) We permit labcoats to stay on when they're traveling from one lab to another-one hand is supposed to be clean and ungloved. It's followed MOST of the time...I also see creative use of elbows which, as long as they're not carrying something in that hand, I'm fine with. I don't know what this other department expects them to do without their labcoats, safety glasses, etc when they get to the second lab/waste disposal area--or are they supposed to carry them, then put them on when they get to the lab? Wow, that's not going to happen at least some of the time...

I frankly would put any efforts into making sure chemicals (waste or not) were transported properly in secondary containment --that's the real risk--and help the other department understand that the PPE is there to protect the wearer and there are procedures in place to deal with visibly contaminated labcoats, etc. (Are the labcoats a hellscape of dirt, stains, etc?)

My two cents, not business or legal advice, and may not be the opinion of my employer.

Wishing you good luck with your handling of this--we've only had issues with "a student had gloves on when (insert here)"

Margaret

On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 12:32 PM Craig Merlic <merlic**At_Symbol_Here**chem.ucla.edu> wrote:

Amy,

Researchers should not need to wear PPE when transporting chemicals to waste collection points or from storerooms back to their labs.

Here are the reasons: PPE is used to protect from exposures while working with chemicals. In contrast, chemicals being moved around the building should be sealed and in secondary containment to make them safe for transport. Hence, there is no need for PPE by the researchers OR members of the public also walking through the same buildings. Similarly, UPS and USPS workers do not wear PPE when delivering shipped chemicals. Finally, the researchers can carry PPE with them for an emergency, but they should not need to wear it.

Craig

Craig A. Merlic
Professor of Chemistry, UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Executive Director, UC Center for Laboratory Safety
http://cls.ucla.edu

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Amy Lea Moore <000015f7fb7ee9f7-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 11:42 AM
To: <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] PPE Question

Hello DCHAS group,

I have learned a lot from this group. Thank you! I would like to ask how your institution deals with PPE.

In most of our buildings, the lab areas are not contiguous. So, researchers, will travel from one lab room to another wearing their PPE in the hallways (primarily research spaces, not classroom areas) They do not wear gloves when touching door handles or elevator buttons.

Graduate students also must carry waste from their lab down to our waste rooms on the 1^st floor of the building. When elevator travel is necessary, they use the freight elevators.
Another department in one of our buildings does not want our students to wear PPE when transporting waste or other chemicals from one space to another. Our students know not to go into the lobby, bathroom, lunchrooms, and other common areas when wearing PPE.
How do you handle a situation like this at your institution? This is the first time that I have ran into this issue in a chemistry department and want feedback from other academic institutions. Feel free to email me at my work email address: moore.4061**At_Symbol_Here**osu.edu
Amy

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Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Lab Safety & Compliance Director
Clark Science Center
413-585-3877 (p)

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