[Histonet] Handling paraffin

[John Kiernan]

Gloves and "Paraffin hazards?"

1. Flammable. White candles are made of paraffin wax. We light them ungloved. 
2. Hot when melted, but not hot enough to cause even a first degree burn from a small amount on the skin. 
3. Liquid enters clothing and solidifies therein. This is a real annoyance, but the safety experts couldn't care less. Wax is removable by soap & water at >60C (thank you, René Buesa) or by dry-cleaning. 
4. Solid wax has to be trimmed with a sharp knife to prepare for microtomy. Gloves thick enough to prevent a cut finger probably would impede this skilled task.
5. Every microtome has a dangerously sharp knife, less so in recent decades with short disposable blades. This is a hazard of microtomy, not of paraffin wax. It might be possible to cut, recover and mount sections while wearing very thin (surgical) rubber gloves, but why? 

John Kiernan
London, Canada
= = = 

On 03/08/15, "Johnson, Carole via Histonet"  <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
> This is kind of an odd question, but I was asked by a pathologist for any SOPs or references for the necessity of wearing gloves when embedding and working with paraffin. I am not aware of sources other than the MSDS for the different formulations. Does anyone require gloves to be worn during embedding, specifically related to paraffin hazards?
> 
> Carole Johnson
> Carole Johnson, HT(ASCP)cm
> New Mexico Department of Agriculture
> Veterinary Diagnostic Services
> 505.383.9299
> 
> To understand is to stand under, which is to look up, which is a good way to understand
> 
> 
> 
> (http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet)
> 
>