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-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Liz Chlipala Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 11:39 AM To: Gagnon, Eric; histonet@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-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Gagnon, Eric Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 10:24 AM To: histonet@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 _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet