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Posted By Daniela Cauchi
I am having some difficulty in enforcing the rule of safety glasses in our analytical laboratory.
Does anyone have some good examples of laboratory accidents that I can use to try and get the message through? Or a good video on laboratory safety?
Thanks,
Daniela
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Posted By Paul Daniell
Daniela,
I have a short presentation on eye injuries that I have used to support the wearing of eye protection that may be of use to you. Happy to pass on via e-mail
P.Daniell@surrey.ac.uk
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Posted By Stephen D. Clarke
Daniela,
In a lab safety goggles might be better as glasses don't protect against liquid chemicals which can drip down into the eyes. The relevant standards for safety glasses cover protection against flying particles but not liquids.
This was an issue at a site where I used to work, I advised that staff should wear goggles, glasses had always been worn, a few days later someone suffered an eye injury that goggles would have prevented.
I've found that purchasing a range of different styles of PPE and asking staff to choose before purchasing their own helps. Typically cheap goggles are uncomfortable to wear and staff don't wear them. More expensive ones are much more comfortable, form a better seal on the face, are large enough to easily fit over prescription glasses and don't mist up.
I've a word document that I use in training that might be of use. It lists 18 reasons why people don't wear PPE and how to get them to wear it. Trainees are asked to write down their thoughts before revealing the answers.
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Posted By Descarte
That sounds very useful, could I see a copy of the 18 reasons plz?
Also must agree, staff involvement in selecting PPE should always be a priority
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Posted By Diane Thomason
A good video is "Practicing Safe Science" (sic) by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which can be ordered online free of charge. Very good vid featuring "real" people. Not specific to PPE but good general stuff.
Here, we advise that PPE needs should be determined by risk assessment of the task/area. This should determine the type of eye protection needed, and as others have said, goggles are best where there is any risk of substantial eye splash or the chemicals in use could damage eyes. Safety glasses with brow guards can be acceptable when using low-hazard chemicals and the splash risk is low. In some circumstances you may need a full faceshield.
Where the risk of eye splash is a concern, we advise making the area an "eye protection area" and marking out acordingly with signage. Wearing eye protection is mandatory in these areas.
At the risk of starting a "me too" avalanche - Stephen, I'd be really grateful to see your checklist!
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Posted By Merv Newman
I think I agree with Diana. I worked about 15 years in chemical labs and was later safety manager for a chemical site. Have also done consultant work for a few chemical plants.
I prefer a blanket safety glasses rule for any chemical lab, then risk assessments for specific procedures or work areas. More dangerous procedures/chemicals can be handled in fume cupboards with horizontally (preferred)or vertically sliding screens
Never had an eye injury myself (touches wooden part of head) but lost my shoes, socks and trousers to smashed winchesters of sulphuric acid. Twice. Once my fault, once the other idiot's. Caught whooping cough too (yes, it was work related) And got bitten on the finger by a rabid rabbit. (But that's another story)
Merv
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Posted By Diane Thomason
Crikey Merv, I don't think I want to know what you were getting up to!
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Posted By tac333
I'm H & S Manager for a group of laboratories and we've recently had some problems with re-inforcing the use of safety glasses - even though we provide numerous prescription & non-prescription options. I have to say that we have now gone down the route making people aware that non-compliance with our safety policy (which states that safety specs will be worn in all lab areas) is a disciplinary offence and that further action may be taken against persistent offenders. Its important that people know that wearing safety spepcs in our labs is not optional.
If anyone can pass on any further information that might help me too - then it would be appreciated!
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Posted By snt
This seems a case of organisational culture. Enforcement sometimes work, but I would suggest behavioural safety to approaching this. The first thing is to conduct interview of why they are not using it, are they sharing with other people? Do they have mini-locker to keep it while they are not in use? How often are they replace?
Then embark on massive orientation emphasis personal safety than compliance, then move towards cost to individual and others and company for non-compliance.
What is the management attitude to non-compliance? Are they leading from the front?
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Posted By Gareth Williams
Some very good advise again on the thread.
Mervyn, Wonderful! Its always a joy to read
your informative threads keep it up........
..along with your trousers. I agree with Diane!!
mind boggles what you were doing
wearing safety goggles.
Paul and Stephen I also would appreciate a
copy of the safety material you have for
eye safety / protection.
Therefore, can we have a vote on mervyn's
suggestion Nose ( fume cupboards )to the left
Eyes ( goggles) to the right
Regards
Gareth
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Posted By Jim Walker
Whilst I'm all for gentle persuasion, it makes me wonder the conditions some people work in.
Surely these folks are professionals in their field, not children! Enforce PPE or no job right from day one.
I agree with Diane about goggles and adequate risk assessment. I had a very harrowing accident last year where a corrosive substance was “sprayed” onto an operative’s face and around his glasses. He was damn lucky not to loose his eyes.
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Posted By Merv Newman
Disciplinary procedures are the traditional way to go. And fairly useful, but they tend to breed resentment and "hiding" of unsafe practices.
Try being a bit more positive towards those who do do the right thing. Look and say that you are pleased with the good people. Unfortunately most managers don't know how to do that. It needs practice.
As a school leaver I went to work for a place that manufactured vaccines and anti-sera: whooping cough, tetanus, diptheria, smallpox, some of the gangrenes, rabies, sleeping sickness and the plague (amongst others but memory fails)
As the junior, guess who had to feed and water the animals ?
We usually had a dozen or so rabbits infected with rabies. As I took one out of it's cage to do some cleaning it bit me. (want to see the scar girls ?)
Incident reported rapidly to boss.
Incident enquiry : "What happened ?"
Sworn evidence : "It bit me"
Corrective action : "stop mucking about" followed by a clip around the ear and a series of injections.
No gloves, safety glasses or safety shoes. But we did wear those very neat clean white lab coats.
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Posted By Ron Impey
When I worked in a lab many years ago using a number of very strong corrosives, full face shields were the protection of choice. The worst case scenario severity of harm was a chemical splash in the eyes, but also who wants to risk corrosive burns on the face. When you're drop dead gorgeous like me you have to look after your looks!!
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Posted By Diane Thomason
Daniela,
To return to your message about enforcement (dragging myself away from Merv's fascinating career memoirs!):
Had the same problem years ago in a small company. The safety committee (pushed by me) decided we needed a new eye protection policy, because hardly anyone was wearing their eye protection. The people on the committee were also the managers who would be enforcing it. To cut a long story short: policy adopted after some minor grumping by some people; signed and supported by CEO so now Company Policy. New policy trumpeted in staff meeting. Management told very strongly that it meant them too. All staff told they had to play their part in "reminding" others to wear their specs. All staff allowed to choose the style of specs they wanted. Visitors' specs purchased and intalled in dispensers outside each lab.
(btw this was all low hazard stuff so goggles not usually needed - but did have face shields for some areas.)
The above worked very well, to the extent that when the CEO walked through a lab with no safety specs, a technician complained to me and said I should give him a rollicking for non-compliance. Which I did, and he accepted!!
So it can be done - in the above case winning over the managers was the first hurdle, then when they agreed on "their" policy and it was implemented with a certain amount of fanfare, people took it on board.
Perhaps you could do something similar, suggesting that a more clearly defined policy is needed or something like that?
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Posted By Sean Fraser
Stephen - I would also be interested in your 18 points document if you would be so kind.
I would have emailed my request direct but your username doesn't have the relevant link.
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Posted By John Coffey
Stephen,may I also have a copy of the 18 points?
John
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Posted By John Holland1
Stephen,may I also have a copy of the 18 points? thanks John
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