[Histonet] Manual Coverslipping Safety Issues

[O'Donnell, Bill]

Eric,

I agree with Liz. There are several environmental controls that could be
put in place to help with expose to xylene. Many of   these controls
would cost far less than a coverslipper - so mention the health, but put
your eggs in the productivity/cost-saving basket. - 
William (Bill) O'Donnell, HT (ASCP) QIHC 
Lead Histologist
Good Samaritan Hospital
10 East 31st Street
Kearney, NE 68847 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Liz
Chlipala
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 11:39 AM
To: Gagnon, Eric; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Manual Coverslipping Safety Issues

This was back in the late 80's early 90's but I put together a proposal
for a coverslipper at the institution that I worked at.  I combined,
increase in workload statistics, the time it took for the techs to
coverslip verses the time it took for an automated coverslipper,
improved efficiency and overall quality, and then I also added exposure
to xylene into the mix and it worked.

I do not think that you could do it on safety alone - unless you have
data that supports over exposure to xylene fumes.  I think you will need
to add how it would improve efficiency and overall quality too.

Good Luck

Liz

Elizabeth A. Chlipala, BS, HTL(ASCP)QIHC Manager Premier Laboratory, LLC
PO Box 18592 Boulder, Colorado 80308 office (303) 682-3949 fax (303)
682-9060 www.premierlab.com
 
 
Ship to Address:
1567 Skyway Drive, Unit E
Longmont, Colorado 80504

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Gagnon,
Eric
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 10:24 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Manual Coverslipping Safety Issues

Has anyone successfully lobbied their institution for an automated
coverslipper for safety reasons?
 
Still coverslipping manually-stained IHC, neuro autopsy and special
stains, sometimes hundreds per day. There has to be a better way.  Under
budget constraints. That's why I'm wondering if anyone has used concerns
about histology staff safety, specifically techs under direct exposure
to toluene/xylene, to enable purchase of an automated/robot
coverslipper.
 
I'd be interested in anyone's experience with this approach,
successfully or unsuccessfully.
 
Eric Gagnon MLT
Histology Laboratory
Kingston General Hospital
Kingston, Ontario, Canada


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