[Histonet] alcohol lamps

[sharon.osborn <@t> comcast.net]

Dan,
    About ten years ago, in setting up a new histology laboratory, management, techs, pathologists and I had this discussion.  Safety regulations require no open flames in a laboratory area due to the explosion capabilities as well as the fire hazards.  I had already told the techs we would not be using the alcohol lamps and we did not install gas lines in the new facility build out.  This was already determined by the pathology group before the building commenced.  
   There were 2-3 older techs (like me) who preferred to use the flames to clear the forceps of contamination from tissue and paraffin before embedding a new block.  Yes, it is faster, however, very dangerous.  i, too had done it for millenimum as you w/o risk.  Management thought they would get on the good side of the techs and surprise them with alcohol burners.  I discovered this before the techs came in and removed the alcohol lamps.  Thank goodness, the head pathologist backed me up.  As a post-doc he had a horrific personal experience in having an alcohol lamp ignite his lab coat when he accidentally brushed his sleeve across it.  He understood the implications of the open flame in the lab.  Also, where there  are alcohols,  xylenes or other similar flammable solvents around, the vapors could accidentally build up to create an easily combustible  situation.  So, the techs learned to use lots of Kim Wipes on the forceps before placing them in the warmers and to use Q-tips to k
eep the warmers clear of tissue pieces that could contaminate a block.  And, over time, it really does not slow you down that much in the embedding process.
    It is a change to not use the alcohol burners; however, the safety benefits far outweigh the hazards imposed by the open flame.  And, as is often the case, the embedding person may be the only one in the laboratory EARLY in the morning and no one would know there was a fire until it might be too late.

Sharon Osborn, BS, HT(ASCP) C
Lab Vision
Fremont, CA



Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:21:28 -0500
From: "Peterson, Dan" <1dpeterson <@t> meriter.com>
Subject: [Histonet] Alcohol lamps
To: <histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu>
Message-ID: <328CBAE62F31C642B422970E879DFADC01A80301 <@t> pcwex01>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Fellow Histonetters,
I am in disagreement with our lab's Safety officer with regards to
alcohol lamps. We use them in our embedding area to keep our forceps
clean.
The officer says that they're a fire hazard (even though we've used them
without incident for over 30 yrs). There are no flammable reagents
(other than the alcohol in the lamp) near the embedding area. I know we
could use the warming wells on the embedders, but try to find more that
1 pair of forceps that you like, or better yet, try to find a forceps
that the tech before hasn't left paraffin all over it. (Yes, I am a
fussy old goat, 27 yrs of Histo, with my 1 favorite pair that NOBODY
touches)
Petty issue? Are there others out there using lamps? I am willing to
change if necessary (or so ordered), but would like to hear from those
who do the work, not be told what to do by those who know nothing of the
work. Thanks in advance!!

Daniel R Peterson HT(ASCP)
Histopathology Section Head
Meriter Laboratories
(608)-417-6557
1dpeterson <@t> meriter.com