DCHAS-L Archives, Nov 15 2014 - Re: [DCHAS-L] Drinking Fountain in the Lab

Janet, Well.......actually no! I'm retained in a case were the client literally badgered the architect to allow a potential hazard to be built into their new building. This architect finally caved in and wrote a letter agreeing to alter the plans to include the desired violation, but his office had him write another letter delivered the SAME DAY to the client rescinding this order. If this architect had not written that second letter, we would be suing only the architect instead of both the architect for his minor lapse and primarily the building owner. The building owner is the primary target since he waited until after the CO was issued and then altered the building to produce this error. The error has led to a serious accident.

An architect is not supposed to provide clients with what they want but what they need. IF what the client wants is in violation of standards or regulations and if the architect builds in this violation, that is the architect's error. If the architect was not familiar with all the regulations, he/she was misrepresenting the firm's qualifications for taking the job. That is what the office code checker is for.

My problem is that often the architect's code checkers are unfamiliar with the OSHA and EPA rules on the projects. And since I have taken on that obligation as a consultant, that's what MY errors and omissions policy is for. Keeps me up nights.

Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist

President: Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.

Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE

181 Thompson St., #23

New York, NY 10012 212-777-0062

actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com www.artscraftstheatersafety.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Janet Baum <baum.janet**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Sat, Nov 15, 2014 12:14 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Drinking Fountain in the Lab

Michael, The question for you to ask is who in your organization told the lab designer and/or the plumbing engineer to install 2 drinking fountains in this laboratory? Due to the cost and risk factors, normally no experienced lab designer or engineer would ever add drinking fountains in a lab. This doesn't meet current professional standards and doesn't make any sense. Who requested this installation?

Janet Baum, AIA

Washington University in St. Louis

On Fri, Nov 14, 2014 at 10:05 AM, Michael Hojjatie <mhojjatie**At_Symbol_Here**tkinet.com> wrote:

We are in the process of building a new Lab and it is almost ready for occupation.

The Lab designer has put two drinking fountains in the Lab. I believe this is not allowed per OSHA's Laboratory Standards, however, the discussion is that "there is minimum chance of chemical contamination" with these drinking fountains. I have requested the removal of these, but it would be costly at this point. I have two questions:

Are the drinking fountains allowed in the Lab area?

Is it OK to shut down the water source at this point and leave the fountains there?

I appreciate the expert opinions on this subject.

Michael Hojjatie, Ph.D.

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