[Histonet] alcohol lamps

[Jackie M O'Connor]

In 1971 in Chicago, there was a fire in a histology lab in Chicago because 
of an alcohol lamp.   The ignited lamp was knocked off the bench, fell to 
the floor, jar broke, all the spilled alcohol was ignited over a large 
area which went on to ignite another open container of another flammable 
on the floor (cleaning xylene, I think).   A terrible fire resulted.  Two 
techs were badly burned, since there was only one door to the lab, they 
had to run through the fire to get out (lab was on the 9th floor).   I 
don't know who they were, or how they are now - but I was the technician 
who went to work there after the fire. 
Jackie O'




sharon.osborn <@t> comcast.net 
Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
07/28/2008 01:29 PM

To
histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu
cc

Subject
[Histonet] alcohol lamps







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

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