Glenda,
as far as I know, respirators are still required.  Whether it be for TB or
formalin/xylene.  My last air sampling survey performed in April 1999 showed
that our formalin level was 0.001 ppm/ on an 8 hour test and xylene was 0.2
ppm/ 8 hours.  We have a company come and pick up our waste xylene, but when
we transport our containersfrom the lab to the storage shed, we wear a
respirator.  Coming from the old school, I'd rather be safe than sorry.  I
still use respirators and I would want to keep by technicians safe.  Good
techs don't come easy.

Joe Nocito, B.S., HT(ASCP)QIHC
Histology Supervisor
Christus Santa Rosa Hospitals
San Antonio, Texas 


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Hoye, Glenda F. (Fka Hood) [SMTP:ghoye@iupui.edu]
> Sent:	Wednesday, September 22, 1999 9:15 AM
> To:	'Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
> Subject:	safety question
> 
> Have the rulings changed? 
> I have recently presented a lecture in our program about laboratory
> safety,
> and one of the students' assignments included finding out, in their own
> labs, what PPE's were available/required for certain tasks.
> One of the students wrote that respirators are not available in her lab,
> and
> that the supervisor told her that they are no longer required --
> respirators
> of any kind, for any task. Surely, I haven't missed a change that
> drastic.......
> Any of you safety "gurus" out there know anything about all this? I'd sure
> like some input, and will pass along whatever new information you have to
> the students in the training program.
> Thanks in advance,
> Glenda F. Hoye, B.S., HT(ASCP)
> Histotechnology Program Director
> Indiana University School of Allied Health Sciences
> Indianapolis, IN 46202-5119
> 317-278-1599 
>