[SteveG]

in reply to: The Forum #1435

Hi Carys, I’m not a facebooker and probably never will be. I do value the Forum and although I rarely post anything I do read other posts and I agree with many of the other respondents who say that it is nice to know that it is secure and is only used by our members.

[SteveG]

in reply to: Human Bones #1239

Hi Carys,

Watered down PVA Glue is a great bone ‘stabiliser’. start with 25%PVA 75% H2O and increase the PVA content if necessary. If you can immerse them it it’s best because it soaks in and will stabilise as i say the powdery parts of the bone. Cheap and cheerful but it does the trick!

Cheers

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: DUBLIN MEETING #903

Dear All,

Only 3 weeks to the Autumn Meeting at UCD…Can I please encourage all that havn’t returned a booking form but intend to come to the meeting to do so as soon as possible. Gary and the Team from UCD have put together a fantastic programme of events, both in the Lecture room and socially…an event not to be missed!

I’d like to encourage everyone attending to enter one of the IAS Prize competitions also…the more entries the better! Please see the website for details of how to enter.

Look forward to seeing all attending in 3 weeks,

Best wishes,

Steve…

Attached files

IAS FINAL FINAL PROGRAMME.pdf (157.4 KB) 

[SteveG]

in reply to: Formaldehyde #891

Hi Sarah,

As far as we know the HSE will recommend that the level is lowered to 1 Ppm and this will come into effect from Oct 1st 2011. The Professional Guidelines and Practices (Anatomy) Committee will be sending a response from the Anatomy sector to the HSE on the reduction and we will outline the concensus of views that were aired and discussed at the recent Tr-partite meeting of IAS, ASGBI and BACA at Kings College.

Asa you will know Dave Adams is leading on this issue for the IAS, and doing a great job of keeping us all informed.

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Museum pots #880

Hi Dave,

We have bought over a hundred pots from a company called K2…prices were very reasonable…but we were buying in bulk! The last time we bought any was 2007/8 so i’m not sure even if they are still trading…details below though:

Ken Day – Partner

K2

Unit 6, Haslemere Industrial Estate

Pig Lane, Bishops Stortford

Herts. CM23 3HG

t: 01279-508305

f: 01279-755530

m: 07973-508305

[color=#0000ff][size=2]http://www.k2a.co.uk[/size][/color]

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Formaldehyde #874

Hi Dave,

Thanks for taking the lead on this issue…i’m sure there will be some informed/uninformed lively debate at the Meeting in April about it!! It sounds to me that we(British HSE) are settling for the 1% figure. From all my experiences monitoring Formalin levels I cant see that it will be too much of a problem in reasonably modern facilities if they set the WEL at this level…however the STEL is different and I think we all have had experiences where levels have for a short term exceeded 2 ppm let alone the 1 ppm proposed. My view is that the STEL should be left at 2ppm with the WEL lowered to 1ppm. Obviously this all sounds like it will be challenged by the Germans/europeans to get the figure even lower. We all want safe working environments…but we do need to have a product that is effective!!

Very interested to here other folks views on this…we, as an Institute, should have a very loud voice as we represent staff exposed to many of the ‘risks’ involved and also staff that on the ground will be policing health and safety protocols around the issue.

Thanks for the Link to the Draeger monitor Lucie…we’ll definately check it out!

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Test Announcement #869

Thanks for completing the test Don!! Can i ask that we all try and use the Council Forum for future discussions…we appreciate that this is a change to what we do now but it will enable us to keep all communication secure and enable everyone to view the discussion threads as they develope. We are aware that attachment size limits will affect how some info is released though.

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Test Announcement #858

Messages received Don…Sad news that you consider your contributions time expired mate! As I said to you yesterday though I do fully understand your reasons for your decision as you understood mine. Your contribution to the Institute on Council has been immense… no one makes a douible fellow without this oustanding level of commitment. I truly hope you will enjoy the break from Council and make the most of the Scientific meetings as a one of the ‘foot soldiers’ of the Institute!

See you in April,

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: bar coding #841

Hi Chris,

We use micro chips here for nuero specimens quite succesfully…i can tell you who does use a bar code system though and it’s Mark Staveley, Rachel P and the team in Southampton…it would be worth contacting them to see how they have got on with it.

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Future IAS meetings #838

Dear All,

As mentioned i need to get back to Gary in Dublin with a decision from the IAS re next years meeting. Thanks to all of you that have posted comments…I sugegest that i will write and say that we would like to come to Dublin for our Autumn meeting 2010 and that Thursday 26th(12.30 onwards) and Friday 27th(10.30 start) August is ok with us. I asked Kate to try and research costs(planes, ferries etc) to get to Dublin in August but all air/shipping lines dont have their schedules out yet…typical!

Re Autumn meeting 2011…can I suggest that we ask Keele if they will host this one for us…Paul? If you could get back to Council with a definate ye/no we will be in a position to plan dates around August/Sept and get it into diaries now.

Re the Spring meeting of the IAS 2010…Steve Franey has kindly offered to host this meeting at Kings College…you’ll also be aware myself Steve F and Wendy B are trying to negotiate a joing meeting between IAS, BACA and ASGBI to run the day after our AGM meeting at Kings. Steve F has again agreed to host this meeting also(many thanks to SteveF!!). I have suggested to BACA/ASGBI that we go for the 8th/9th April 2010. This is a Thursday/Friday…my suggestion is that we start the IAS(Thurs) at 12 ish allowing buffet lunch, AGM and then 3 or so hours to have talks, tour etc. We would then have an IAS dinner that evening. Start Friday(Joint meeting) at 10.30 and finish 5.00 ish.

I suggested a half day on the Thursday so as to allow members to travel down to London on Thursday… Steve F has commented that it seems a short day for the IAS part of the meeting…which i agree with, but I am concerned that if we have 2 full days members will have to pay more in accomodation….comments from Council please??!!

I would really like to get dates for both meetings(all 3 if we include Keele…well 4 if you can get dates for Cardiff in Spring 2011 Dave W??) sorted as soon as possible and into diaries.

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Proposed new WEL for Formaldehyde by HSE #821

Dear All ,

Please see the correspondense below between Dave Adams and Richard Pedersen from the HSE re Formaldehyde. Firstly, Cracking job Dave in getting some clarity over the situation so rapidly..it is a subject that will affect almost all of the membership. Secondly i’d like to echo other posts as to what a great resource the Forum has proved to be recently in networking information on topics such as this that do affect us all…Big thanks again to Sue O for flagging this up in the first place!

Steve…

Dear Mr. Pedersen,

Thank you very much for the background paper. Since I did not do it in my previous email may I now give you my understanding of what you told me this morning so that you can correct any inaccuracy?

a) That, due to pressure from a number of member states, formaldehyde has been removed from the list of 20 substances in the 3^rd Directive on indicative occupational exposure limit values.

b) That the University of Ulm in Germany is conducting further work on formaldehyde for the European Commission.

c) That, at the moment, the WEL remains at 2ppm.

d) That, for our part, we should keep a close eye on the HSE website since this subject will emerge again at a future date.

e) That those who work with formaldehyde should prepare for the possibility that, at some future date, the WEL will be reduced to 0.2-0.5 ppm.

I am sorry for being pedantic but I wanted to ensure that the advice I give my colleagues is as accurate as possible.

With all best wishes and many thanks,

Dave.

[font=Arial][color=darkred][size=2]Dear Dave

[size= ]In reply:[/size]

[size= ][/color]a) Is correct;

[size= ][/font]b) The study is being carried out at the behest of Formacare the European Trade Association for formaldehyde (part of CEFIC) – the website is useful (http://www.formaldehyde-europe.org/). It is not being done on behalf of the Commission. I’m pretty sure that it’s Ulm University but can’t be totally certain;

[size= ]c) Regrettably yes, the WEL remains unchanged at 2ppm. We have nevertheless been very conscious for a number of years that this figure is too high to be fully protective of health. Other EU countries have national exposure limits for formaldehyde that are considerably lower. We would expect that with good practice, workplace exposures would be reduced much lower than 2ppm (8-hour TWA);

[size= ]d) It is almost a certainty that the Commission will not let formaldehyde drop and that it will be included in a future Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values Directive. There is too much pressure from certain Member States, in particular France, for there to be a stringent occupational exposure limit applicable throughout the EU because of the carcinogenic nature of formaldehyde. I can’t say at this stage, however, when something is likely to appear on the HSE website. Until such time as a Directive has been voted on and adopted, we are somewhat loath to put details on the HSE website. Things can change during negotiations ([i][font=Arial]viz[/i]. the inclusion of formaldehyde) and we have no wish to raise concerns where this is not warranted. Of course, any formal consultation will appear on the website when it is published;[/font]

[size= ]e) Is certainly correct.

[size= ]It may be useful if I quote direct from the Commission’s own Explanatory Memorandum:

[size= ]

[i]“FORMALDEHYDE[/i]

[size= ][i]The Commission originally intended to include this substance with an IOELV of 0.2 ppm TWA in the Annex to this draft Directive.[/i]

[size= ][i]During the TPC [Technical Progress Committee] meeting its members expressed divergent views in respect of the value proposed for formaldehyde. Some TPC members provided information on an on-going scientific study on formaldehyde which is scheduled to be published in 2010. On the basis of this exchange of views the Commission representatives decided to postpone the vote. The Commission took into account the fact that the study will be published in a relatively short time. This will allow the Comm8ission to request SCOEL to evaluate the results of this study, and consider whether there is a need to revise the content of the SCOEL recommendation.[/i]

[size= ][i]In the light of the above-mentioned considerations the Commission decided to withdraw formaldehyde from the Annex to the draft Directive.[/i]

[size= ][i]It is recognised that formaldehyde is a hazardous chemical that can cause adverse health effects to workers who are exposed to it. Therefore, the Commission in the light of the results from the SCOEL evaluation of the forthcoming study report will decide on the most approporiate regulatory action, to ensure that workers’ health is adequately protected.” [/i]

[size= ]I hope that this helps.

[size= ]Richard Pedersen

International Chemicals Unit

Health and Safety Executive

Westminster Office

Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London SW1P 3BT

[SteveG]

in reply to: Spring 2010 Meeting #813

Morning All

I think not everone is getting the reminders Don for the Council Forum…I know a lot of folk are on holiday at the moment, but i would have expected a few more responses…plus John says he’s not getting them! Is this something Robert can sort for us…I think it would be a great way of communicating council business…you have the whole string of the conversations there in front of you…plus we could use them to generate discussion at Forum sessions for the general membership??

Anyway, good discussion so far…just like to add one comment about a potential ‘Joint meeting’ in April. It was ASGBI, BACA’s idea to hold the joint meeting and they were the ones suggesting the topics for the Agenda. One of the nice things about meeting up with the Reps from the other 2 societies is that they get to hear the ‘message fom the coal face’ as it were. It also seems that since HTA…D.I’s are having to put much more effort into the Bequesting, audit trail of specimens etc as the Act is more wide reaching in compliance and regulation. And as most of the D.I’s would naturally belong to the other 2 societies… i think there is a genuine interest in these matters now.

On preservation…soft fix, THiels, fresh/frozen… ASGBI, BACA members appear to be interested in inovations that lead to better ways of delivering their research/teaching/post grad surgical courses??

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Proposed new WEL for Formaldehyde by HSE #805

Hi Sue,

Thanks for the ‘heads up’! It certainly does read to me as if we will all have to comply with a new WEL or a IOELV of 0.2 for 8 hours or 0.4 for short term exposure. I have sent this link to our Safety office for their comment…be interesting if others did the same to see if there is a concensus??

Cheers,

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Test of Council Forum #788

Still seams that we have several council members not receiving the prompts Don! At the bottom of this reply window is a check box for ‘Notifying by e-mail when replies are posted’… do you think we have this box checked and maybe the others dont?? Or is it a ‘Robert’ Fix!

Steve…

[SteveG]

in reply to: Test of Council Forum #784

Hi All,

Receiving you loud and clear from Bristle!!

Cheers,

Steve…

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