AboutMike Brown CSP Retired Expertise I specialize in the professional management of occupational safety and health as well as workers` compensation to reduce losses and improve production and address related issues through a comprehensive approach by senior management using proven principals.I worked for over twenty (20) years in the management of occupational safety, health and workers` compensation and safety training (Retired from employment in 1996 due to a stroke, which prevented the extensive travel required).
Expert: Mike Brown CSP Retired Date: 4/22/2008 Subject: Drinking water from bathroom or mop sink
Question I saw that someone else had a similar question and saw your response regarding as long as it is safe from the tap it is fine. That being said can you please explain this portion of that section of the CFR. If you can not hang out and drink in the area of a bathroom or mop sink (exposed to chemicals) How then is it ok to drink from those sinks? Thanks for your time.
(2) Eating and drinking areas. No employee shall be allowed to
consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area exposed to a
toxic material.
Answer Subject: Drinking water from bathroom or mop sink.
Question: I saw that someone else had a similar question and saw your response regarding as long as it is safe from the tap it is fine. That being said can you please explain this portion of that section of the CFR. If you can not hang out and drink in the area of a bathroom or mop sink (exposed to chemicals) How then is it ok to drink from those sinks? Thanks for your time.
“(2) Eating and drinking areas. No employee shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area exposed to a toxic material.”
Answer: As with many of the CFR’s I am at a loss to explain them literally. Generally, I understand the concept and support them, but they can be interpreted in many different ways depending on who is making the judgment. What the above could mean is you cannot take a cup of coffee into the men’s room with the sports section on your morning break. Try explaining that to a millwright. Since I do not have any young children at home or visiting, we keep any number of containers filled with what would be considered “toxic” materials under the sink in our kitchen. And we sometimes consume food or beverages in that area.
Just try to remove my cup of coffee when I am working in my shop. As a matter of reason I normally don’t spray paint when I have open containers of beverages around but my concern is keeping the “toxic” materials out of the food or drink and my hands clean so there is not a hazard of ingestion. How far do you go with the literal interpretation of stands such as the one you quoted? I don’t know but I have seen many inspections where I felt perhaps common sense and concern for safety was not the prime concern. I do not worry about drinking from faucets as long as the water supply is drinkable (read pure) and not process water. I have filled coffee pots from sinks in restrooms and would do so again after I washed the faucet off but that would be against the code. As a safety manager, I had the misfortune to be involved in or reviewing several fatal investigations. I do not recall any or hearing of any where water in or from a “toilet room” was an issue but I am sure such could exist. (If anyone who reads this could provide me with the proper documentation of such an incident I would be glad to change my tune.) I did investigate a case of an occupational illness where an employee did not practice good hygiene before eating and ingested some materials on his sandwich which made him sick. (Not often have I seen a sandwich from which you could have gotten fingerprints.) The matter was resolved even though there may not have been a rule violation. Rules are not a substitute for common sense. And we have all seen the hidden videos of disgruntled employees placing “disgusting” foreign materials into coffee pots or such.
The CFR’s do address a large number of important issues and where ever possible should be observed. But ………..
Michael Brown, CSP Retired
