In response to:
>> Simple question:
>>
>> Do you require eye protection in your NMR room?
>> If so, what kind and why? If not, why not?
>>
>> Thanks. I will report back a summary of answers.
>>
I report:
------------
"goggles are required"
1 academic lab (undergrads only)
------------
"goggles because of Varian automatic sample changer"
1 industrial lab
------------
"safety glasses (at least) are required"
11 industrial lab
2 industrial lab (while handling tubes; not while at computer)
2 academic lab
4 academic lab (required; not fully enforced)
------------
"Only for cryogen-related operations, sample preparation, or special situations
such as sealed tubes."
2 industrial lab
22 academic lab
------------
"not required" (cryogenics not mentioned in this reply)
6 academic lab
------------
observations:
51 reports. Thank you!
Anyone who mentioned it said that eye protection is required for cryogen fills.
There seems to be some debate as to whether the NMR room is a "laboratory"
(requiring stricter rules) or an "instrument room" requiring less strict
rules.
Most reporting industrial labs have a general policy of "at least safety glasses."
Most reporting academic labs require eye protection only during "special
operations" such as using cryogenics, sealed tubes, elevated temps, etc.
Some academic labs reported no eye protection requirement. But don't assume they
mean "no eye protection for cyrogen handling," because these reports don't
mention that situation. My guess is that most if not all of these would require
eye protection for cyrogen handling.
Several people mentioned that gloves are expressly NOT allowed due to the
danger of contamination of equipment.
Several people mentioned experiences involving sealed NMR tubes exploding
and hurting people; one reported an anecdote of serious harm done.
----------
An interesting situation here (undergraduate liberal arts college) is that we
don't have the industrially common "at least safety glasses" option --
undergraduates either wear face-fitting goggles or no eye protection. Certainly
they all wear goggles when they ENTER the NMR room (because they enter from a
lab); our policy up to this point is that being officially an "instrument room"
rather than a "laboratory" students could remove their goggles upon entry to the
NMR room. However, I'm sure we are going to reconsider this, and I thank
everyone for their input.
It also interests me that academic labs would be so dramatically different from
industrial labs, in general (still).
Bob Hanson
--
Robert M. Hanson, hansonr_at_stolaf.edu, 507-646-3107
Professor of Chemistry, St. Olaf College
1520 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield, MN 55057
mailto:hansonr_at_stolaf.edu
http://www.stolaf.edu/people/hansonr
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
Received on Wed Feb 09 2005 - 10:05:52 MST