Hi Aniello,

 

I agree with those below that your dept needs to set policy that provides at least the MINIMUM covered by legal requirements.   In my labs, those pants wouldnÕt be allowed not only because they donÕt completely cover, but also because they are not made of natural fabrics.  We had a fire!  Trust me, you want to stay away from synthetics in an organic lab!!!  Just like with gloves, it is not just the covering but also the right type of covering that we shoot for.  It is stated in our written policies and explained on the first day.  But, a biology setting may not be as strict and a physics lab may not even require the full length.  It is all a matter of what they work with in that dept.  The wording for my chemistry dept is copied below.

 

Proper attire that covers the body from the chest to the toes must be worn at all times!  Any exposed clothing or coverings should not be allowed to hang loose or be made of synthetic fabric.

 

Best,

 

 

Larry has the right idea, your department is responsible for training these students for the work place. You do not need government regulation to make it institutional policy. Be sure it is in writing, perhaps add it to your chemical hygiene plan, safety lectures, and safety rules and then have you chairperson announce the amended policies in a memo. Scrubs are a great and students do not have to change, just put them on over their street clothes and they will work like a lab coat does. You can have you book store carry an inexpensive set of scrubs for student to purchase for $10-20 they roll up nicely and fit in the lab locker or book bag for use each week. There are many solutions if you and your Faculty want to see them.

 

The lab is NOT an ordinary environment. Right? ThatÕs what I ask students, and then I tell them that their conduct in the lab can NOT be ordinary, this includes dress code. Some may trivialize this issue, but you are doing a disservice in training and education. Consider what happens when someone drops a glass vessel of liquid (hazardous or not) on the floor, you get splashed with the liquid and small fragments of glass, I also like to use the example of getting bleach or gasoline on your skin, how it is so quickly absorbed that repeated washing does not remove the odor because it has penetrated to the lower epidermal layers. I would also consider telling them that attire like that is not tolerated in the science, healthcare, and other industries, so you want them to start doing the right thing now.

Good Luck!

James Saccardo, CHMM

Environmental Health and Safety Officer

ŅAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.Ó

                                             Benjamin Franklin

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From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Lawrence J Tirri
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2016 10:43 AM
To: DCHAS-L@PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab PPE Question

 

We observed the same fashion choices among our students too.   We established a departmental policy that skin may not show.  Legs, ankles a d feet must be completely covered and protected.  Students must provide surgical type scrubbs, sweat pants, socks, and closed shoes to change into before entering the lab.  If skin on legs, ankles or feet show, the student is not permitted to enter the lab.  Same goes for lab coats and eye protection. 

This is explained in first lab discussions and enforced.  Students not acceptably prepared for lab are allowed to turn in  prelab assignments but are then turned away.  There are no makeup labs.  After one or two students are turned away, word spreads and it is no longer an issue.  We do not cite any regulation, just departmental policy.

During the first lab discussion, you can also describe the possibility, that even with lab coats, an accidental spill could splash onto slacks or whatever is being worn to protect their legs, ankles and feet, so you can suggest wearing or changing into older clothing so if a splash were to occur, new and/or expensive clothing would not be ruined.

I hope this helps.

Dr. Larry Tirri
Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Univ. Nevada Las Vegas
Larry.tirri@univ.edu

On September 29, 2016, at 6:59 AM, "Tambasco, Aniello" <aniello.tambasco@wilkes.edu> wrote:

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