Posted By Robert K Lewis
We always segregated fully in the 1970s so I think the standards have been set.

Bob

Posted By Merv Newman
Go back to HACCP principals for kitchens and restaurants and consider your lab (contaminated area) to be the toilet.

No direct access (two doors) between kitchen and toilet, hand washing station between the two.

In theory (ho ho ho, never happens) possibly contaminated clothing (whites) should be removed before eating.

Perhaps it depends a bit on what your lab is handling. Inorganics I may not worry too much. Organics and it might get serious.

Merv

Posted By Robert K Lewis
Merv

Shift leaders in our place were encouraged to discipline those who went into the mess rooms with lab. coats on. That was if the other inhabitants had not strung them up first. Peer pressure is a wonderful thing but rather more vigorous than disciplinary action.

It does make me wonder at times though, as noted on my Buncefield Flixboro thread, that the many things learned in the past are still questioned now. All lessons have a shelf life and constant updating is always required. This is just another example of the covert pressure from managers to act in a de minimus manner - no comment against Warren though as he is clearly striving to find the best route through the morass.

This is when these forums score heavily as it is almost certain somebody somewhere has dealt with the same issues.

Bob

Posted By Merv Newman
Alright, I'm going back umpteen years but our whites were a sign of status. Technicians in crossovers, doctors in "button down the front"

We dealt with all sorts of diseases, haemophilus pertussis to pasteurella pestis (look 'em up) small pox, tetanus, Clostridia welchia.

I once dropped and smashed a pint bottle of blood. Later wore my stained whites to the canteen. Badge of courage. Got cheers.

Nowadays we know that we MUSTMUSTMUST separate clean from dirty. Two doors.

Come to the canteen in your whites and your mates will kick you out.

Suspected of not washing your hands after the bog ? people will move away from you.

Merv

Posted By Merv Newman
Bob,

you are right. To paraphrase a recent poster "people have memories, companies don't"

I think (at least you and me) that we are trying desperately towards a culture shift. Not necessarily towards "safety first" but towards "think safety first"

it may be climbing a mountain, or going down a deep well (done that) but the first thoughts must be "how do I stop it from going pear shaped" and "what do I do when it goes pear shaped"

For the Break-out areas the thinking must be "how do I stop the toxics from getting in the break-out room ? " and then, when someone starts to go green (or blue, or yellow) "how do we handle the situation"

In my first ever job after leaving school (50 years ago) they pointed out the brass plaque on the wall : " in memory of doctor so-and-so, died in faithful pursuit of his duties""

Seems he sucked on his pipette rather than his pipe.

Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine, Dagger lane, Elstree. Any friends ?

Merv

Posted By Lilian McCartney
Here's a story about why you shoul dwash your hands before you go to the loo.

A chef was chopping loads of chillis (for a curry) and went straight to he toilet.

You guys out there can work out how sore he was!

Its a true story by the way, I'm not going to say where from though (he was really embarassed at the time)

Lilian