From:
Jeffrey Lewin <jclewin**At_Symbol_Here**MTU.EDU>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] PPE Question
Date:
Feb 22, 2023 18:32 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CAEwQnqjO8krTOVbAeH+8BjOu_GaiW1uq2+mUJ8mZiFr0atsq3Q**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<607722115.2314627.1676917432598**At_Symbol_Here**mail.yahoo.com>
Amy,
Your email address implies you are in Ohio.
Ohio has adopted the EPA's
Generator Improvements Rule. So my first question is are you within the rules by moving waste to the "waste rooms" (is it a designated Central Accumulation Area for hazardous wastes?) instead of managing near its point of generation.
That said, chemicals, both wastes and non-wastes, should be transported in secondary container, preferably one that is sealed. At the very least, they should be packaged in a way that doesn't require wearing gloves.
Some institutions allow a "one glove" rule for transporting - using a gloved hand for carrying the container and the second ungloved for pushing buttons, open doors, etc. I would discourage this since it implies you can carry the container in your gloved hand vs. putting in a secure secondary container or transporting in a sealed container on an appropriate cart.
Jeff
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 1st 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
--
Jeff Lewin
Director of Chemical Laboratory Operations
Research Integrity Office
Laboratory Operations
205 Lakeshore Center
Michigan Technological University
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