I feel the need to point this out.

May 13, 2020 7:41 AM

Emracruel

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918

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24

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9

I would first like to point out that I take COVID seriously and properly social distance, and have kept informed on it since mid January (about the time BunkerJohn made posts, I got really heavily into reading about it).

I am a chemist and I work at University. In my lab we only allow 2 people in at a time right now, and none withing 6 feet of each other. I wear regular glasses and safety glasses when I am working and they fog up to where I can't clearly see my work. Plus I wear chemically contaminated gloves for virtually all of my work. So I will not stop my mask from falling below my nose which I am aware makes it useless. Once it has fallen in order to safely adjust it I would have to remove my gloves, wash my hands, adjust the mask, and put on new gloves. Though I feel I am actually safer with the mask down since I work with chemicals and reagents that if I can't see or smell properly can pose a serious hazard. Additionally as a chemist my brain is hard wired to not go near my face while in the lab. So even with washing my hands and so on I am not real fond of the idea of touching my face or anything close to it.

Honestly chemistry during these times in general is very awkward. Most universities have policies (that aren't followed) that chemists should never work alone. But right now also most places are saying no more than a couple chemists in a lab at once. This creates virtually impossible working conditions. Additionally there are serious safety concerns with changing things to properly assure minimal risk of virus transference, which includes the one listed above.

I know this is kind of one of those confession bears where the confession isn't that bad, but I really like to join in on making fun of people who wear their masks wrong but I feel guilty about it.

covid19

chemistry

masks

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

They make better masks for people with glasses. They make you look steampunk too. You might be ok with it but I bet your coworkers don't.

6 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

The fogging definitely could be fixed by a better mask, but my ability to smell things drops even further. And smell is really important

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Smell in a lab. Are you making perfume?

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

No but we work with chemicals that are toxic if inhaled in decent quantities, but fortuitously wreak something fierce.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

So that means if I smell it something is up and my hood isn't protecting me

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

all the more reason for masks and better safety features that detect the toxicity. Lol. Toxicity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iywaBOMvYLI

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

There isn't a safety feature that is gonna detect every toxic chemical. Just isn't possible. And the masks don't stop contact with 1/2

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

"fortuitously" is a strong word. It is not pleasent to work with them

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1