Respirators would be necessary in areas that exceed exposure limits set by
OSHA.  These limits are on the MSDS sheets.  People with allergies to
certain reagents or chemicals should be required to use a respirator or one
should be available for their use. The decision to use a respirator may
also be task dependent.

 I was told during my supervisory days by the safety department that
respirators are ineffective unless they are  individually fitted to the
users face and the proper filter provided in accordance to the hazardous
material the individual/s are exposed too.  Documented training  should
take place  by a trained safety officer on how to properly use the
respirator. This is what we did.  This rule may not be followed by many but
it is the employers responsiblity to provide employees with a safe working
environment.

I don't know of any changes to the rule.  Laboratory Safety Supply,
1-800-356-2501(this is their techline) is a good source for this type of
info.  Give them a call.

Rande Kline HT (ASCP)
Technical Services
EM Science






"Hoye, Glenda F. (Fka Hood)" <ghoye@iupui.edu> on 09/22/99 10:15:11 AM

To:   "'Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'" <Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
cc:
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