Dan The Lab Safety Man

Most laboratorians remember the fear. In 2014, Ebola dominated the headlines. Images of healthcare workers wearing powered air-purifying respirators and full-body protective suits left many laboratory professionals wondering whether they should even touch a specimen from a suspected patient. Some laboratories refused testing altogether. Others improvised procedures that often...

Every so often, I come across a piece of information that makes me stop and question something I’ve accepted as common laboratory practice for years. Recently, a laboratory safety expert mentioned to me that OSHA says passive dosimeter badges shouldn’t be used to monitor formaldehyde exposure. My immediate reaction was probably the same as yours; “Wait…what?”
After all,...