DCHAS-L Archives, Mar 23 2016 - Re: [DCHAS-L] Thought question: Chemical safety for biologists

The art, architecture and theater schools are all just about ricky-ticky feel good courses with no technical content. After a presentation to architects and engineers yesterday, I talked to two young ladies in a school of architecture here in NYC who had just taken a course in the Chemistry of Color. They learned nothing about the Colour Index, what dyes and pigments actually are, or anything other than the way people perceive color and how to use it effectively in an architectural environment. They even used artist's paints in this course and had never even read the labels since they did not recognize the ASTM D 4236 conformance statement or the C.I. color name on the tubes. One swore those statements weren't even on the labels, and since it is not legal to sell an art material in the U.S. without the conformance statement, this is not likely.

You will have PROBLEMS in these departments. I am working on a new art building in a Western state and when I did a walk through of the current facility, there were massive OSHA and EPA issues all throughout. When I talked privately to the Art School Chair, he told me that he and Facilities both know about the problems but the Chair was told by the Dean that he was not allowed to bring in Facilities to document or correct any of these problems. Both Facilities and the Chair said they would look forward to my report to try to change this.

Facilities also talked to me because they don't have an IH or anyone trained to really do this properly. Even in the science departments, where they are allowed to go, they are actually taking their direction from a couple of profs who seem to know what the rules are.

So there is always the report I write, and, in my heart, another report that I dearly would like to write.

-----Original Message-----
From: Wilhelm, Monique <mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**UMFLINT.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Wed, Mar 23, 2016 9:10 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Thought question: Chemical safety for biologists

Monona,

You raise a very valid point. I was just speaking with the Staff Coordinator for our Art Dept yesterday. He has only been with us for a couple of years, was originally only hired to check out equipment, and is really nervous about the lack of chemical safety in his dept, especially as he is anticipating having to move the dept to a new building soon.

Do you have any suggestions for someone new to this role to start implementing safety in an academic lab dept? Did I mention that he is also only part-time?...uuuggghh

Monique Wilhelm

Laboratory Manager

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

University of Michigan - Flint

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Monona Rossol
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 3:32 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Thought question: Chemical safety for biologists

Everybody seems to be doing a good job of this. Is anyone taking a look at the art and theater departments?

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: Norm Bell <nbell**At_Symbol_Here**WILLIAMS.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Tue, Mar 22, 2016 2:36 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Thought question: Chemical safety for biologists

I also do the complete lab safety training for anyone working in a lab where chemicals are used. As part of our hazard communication plan, I include those people who are not actively working with chemicals but working in a lab where others are using chemicals (this is not unusual in Physics and Geoscience labs with multiple lines of research).

I try to create broad categories for general PPE use and then expand for specific instances. For example, all organic and corrosive chemicals require gloves, all liquid chemicals require eye protection etc.

Norm Bell

Science Coordinator and CHO

Williams College

Williamstown, MA

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Penny Manisco
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 2:05 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Thought question: Chemical safety for biologists

I do the complete lab safety training. They do need to know about the Chemical Hygiene Plan, PPE, haz waste, storage, etc. Anyone working with hazardous chemicals must be trained on recognizing hazards and risk mitigation.

Cheers,

Penny

Penny Manisco

Chemical Hygiene Officer

Harvey Mudd College

On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 10:56 AM, Funck, Steven <sfunck**At_Symbol_Here**messiah.edu> wrote:

My biggest issue with biologist is convincing them of the necessity of goggles!!

Steven S. Funck, MS, CSMM
Natural Sciences Laboratory Program Manager
Messiah College
One College Ave.
Suite 3049
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Phone: (717) 796-1800 (ext. 2079)
Fax: (717) 691-6046
SFunck**At_Symbol_Here**messiah.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Stuart, Ralph
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 1:29 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Thought question: Chemical safety for biologists

I have a question that I'd like input from the DCHAS community on:
The quick version is:
What information about chemical safety do biologists need to know?

The longer version of the question is that I'm working with the KSC undergrad biology lab coordinator to develop introductory lab safety training for biology research students who work with a relatively limited suite of chemicals, some of which are flammables, others of which are significantly toxic, many of which are neither.
- For example, do these students need to hear about all of the GHS hazard classes in the 1.5 hours available for the training?
- What kind of information do they need about chemical resistance of lab gloves?
- How much detail do they need to understand best practices for chemical storage cabinets and use of other lab ventilation devices?
etc.

Thanks for any help with thinking this through.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

Penny Manisco,
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Harvey Mudd College

(909)6074217

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