I had to work a little late yesterday.  Some guys come into the lab (somebody must have let them in because it’s a locked door).  I ask them if they needed help, which is the polite way of saying who the fuck are you and why are you here.  They tell me that they are doing some work on the tissue culture hood and go into the tissue culture room.  There is also one lone hood in the corner on the other side of the lab (this is a big lab). Everyone has moved or is in the process of moving out so I’m the only person there.  I get a snack – they are not there – so I think they left.  Right when I’m finishing up my testing the really nice EHS guy is strolling through the lab, sees me, and says “do you know they are decontaminating the hood on the other side of the lab”.  I say no.  This is a process where they seal the hood, use formaldehyde gas (read: deadly) to kill everything in the hood. They also seal the room off.  EHS guy and I go up to the guys and I ask when can I get back in tomorrow. They are confused.  Apparently the gas is already in the hood but they did not seal the room or tell me what exactly they were doing. I say something like “what do you think you are doing, I’m 7 months pregnant” , then leave the lab ASAP. I didn’t have any symptoms of formaldehyde exposure. But I still freak out a little, go home, almost quit my job, freak out some more at 3AM, talk to my OB – she says I’m fine.  I get a call from the nice EHS guy this morning - who used his little device after I left that tests the air. He said there were no abnormal readings and that everything is fine.    He is also filing a x,y and z reports – including a complaint to the company.  I am beyond relieved and very happy with Harvard’s safety.

current mood: relieved