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From: Andy Glode <00001c047c05fd7f-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Carpet in labs
Date: Jun 26, 2024 15:40 UTC
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: <CH0P223MB00740784E0BD8C5E6B7FB0488AD62**At_Symbol_Here**CH0P223MB0074.NAMP223.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM>
In-Reply-To: <DM3PR08MB9587F7B99BCF87002C257BE1A3D52**At_Symbol_Here**DM3PR08MB9587.namprd08.prod.outlook.com>
As others have pointed out there aren’t clear regulations to cite here, but it may be worth focusing on why they want to keep the carpet. Maybe they are simply avoiding the cost of removal
and associated downtime. In this case, there is a strong argument that there will be more risk and cost down the road with spill cleanup and disposal of contaminated carpet. Or maybe they like the comfort of carpet under feet, but this could be addressed with
anti-fatigue floor mats which are more effective and cleanable.
Additionally, since there’s carpet I’d be concerned about whether this room was designed to be wet-lab space in the first place. Is the ventilation one-pass air (non-recirculated), is airflow
negatively pressurized with respect to adjoining corridors or non-lab spaces, and are eyewash/safety showers available?
Good luck,
Andy
Andy Glode, MS, CIH
Director, Office of Environmental Health and Safety
University of New Hampshire
https://www.unh.edu/research/environmental-health-and-safety
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
On Behalf Of Alex Hagen
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 7:25 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Carpet in labs
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We have a lab in our radiology department that stores and uses chemicals in space with carpeting. They have also conducted lead soldering in that space in the past. We state in our laboratory safety manual that carpet is not allowed in
labs and we have noted this issue on all of their inspection reports, but they have said that they will not prioritize this unless there is a state or federal regulation that we can point to. We have explained that the manual is an institutional policy document,
but that doesn’t seem to mean much to them. Does anyone here know of a regulation that specifically addresses this issue?
ALEX HAGEN
fischera**At_Symbol_Here**uw.edu /
www.ehs.washington.edu
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