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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Free Lab Safety Q&A Date: Friday, April 24, 2020 at 4:02:07 PM Author: James Kaufman <jim**At_Symbol_Here**LABSAFETY.ORG> |
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Personally, I would just like them to stop all of this priority emphasis on hand washing. I think they’re dancing around the priority training/communication issue.
This is predominantly AIRBORNE, probably >95% of the transmissions.
Handwashing, along with basic sanitation practices are good to prevent INCIDENTAL transmission.
Cloth facemasks are EYE CANDY, they make you feel like your doing the right thing, but if your not keeping at least 6’ apart – its irrelevant.
The only thing that is going to stop this virus is herd immunity, which can be obtained either by immunization or natural transmission.
Yes more testing is needed, and more studies, but It appears from the few studies that have been conducted so far that natural immunity is occurring and if this continues, herd immunity will occur.
The questions that need to be asked – and answered – is how is herd immunity going to be obtained the fastest.
A immunization is 12-18 months out and that is a very best guess estimate (normally >5 years, if obtainable at all).
The priority should be to prioritize those receiving herd immunity to those showing the lowest rate of severe or any complications.
The initial goal of the lockdown was to prevent the overload of the healthcare system. Done.
What happened in Italy was truly tragic, but that is nothing that will be seen in 3rd world countries. I read of one that had 1 ventilator/10,000 citizens. That’s truly sad.
We can make a difference, in the U.S. and world wide – if we speak up.
My Father used to say lead, follow or get out of the way. I have not heard the hierarchy of controls fully implemented yet. We’ve proven they work and eliminated workplace costs/impacts.
What can or should we be doing now?
Bruce Van Scoy
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Yaritza Brinker
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 11:48 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [EXTERNAL] Re: [DCHAS-L] Minimizing risk in reopening research laboratories
To reinforce your point… has anyone noticed that Anthony Fauci has been extremely careful when answering questions regarding cloth masks. Every interview I’ve seen, he has refrained from recommending them.
I respect him for not bending to the pressure to recommend them. I’m also disappointed in Jerome Adams for creating a YouTube video on how to make one from household items.
Thank you,
Yaritza Brinker
260.827.5402
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Frazier, Alicia S
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 11:07 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [EXTERNAL] Re: [DCHAS-L] Minimizing risk in reopening research laboratories
** External Email **
The issue of cloth face coverings is one that I have talked about until I am practically blue in the face but here goes:
1) Cloth face coverings do not protect the wearer from anything and in fact may cause more harm than good if the wearer does not wash their hands each time before touching it.
2) Cloth face coverings do not protect persons near the wearer from virus. The cover will absorb large liquid droplets only, airborne virus is not stopped by cloth.
3) Asymptomatic means that a person is not coughing, if an infected person is not coughing then wearing a cloth face covering provides no benefit
The hazards potentially introduced by cloth face coverings (not FR, potential for holding infectious material closer to eyes, nose&mouth, potential skin irritation etc.) is not worth it.
Other measures are far more effective at preventing virus spread. Those measures are enhanced facility cleaning, maintaining physical distance from others, washing ones hands frequently and making sure that sick people stay home until they are well.
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 8:23:11 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [DCHAS-L] Minimizing risk in reopening research laboratories
> In fact, just compiling a list of coronavirus-related issues that should be addressed would be valuable.
>
I'll throw one in: An issue I am concerned about in regard to reopening any public area is the cloth mask protocol. Cloth masks are community health measures rather than personal safety measures, so I would be reluctant to impose OSHA style expectations on the use of cloth masks by the public. On the other hand, I can imagine that these masks are likely to become reservoirs for many contaminants beyond the Covid virus.
I think that we face a major challenge in maintaining the quality of the cloth masks if we ask people to wear them in public areas while relying on the wearers to maintain them. I suspect that professional laundry services will be required to assure co-workers and the community that the masks are being appropriately cleaned.
A related question is: Are labs public areas? Few academic labs I have seen have security protocols that control who enters them and it will take a significant change in both protocol and culture in change this situation.
Thanks for asking an interesting question.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
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