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@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) > > _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
