DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 16:00:47 -0400
Reply-To: chemcon**At_Symbol_Here**JUNO.COM
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Jay Young <chemcon**At_Symbol_Here**JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Chemical lists for schools - Whoa! Wait a Minute! Elston
Chimes In
Comments: To: helston**At_Symbol_Here**FGI.NET
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Harry is so right! Listen to him!
Jay Young
*************************************************************************
On Tue, 3 Oct 2006 12:29:58 -0500 "Harry J. Elston"
writes:
> >
> >
> >But requiring gloves and N-95's
> >isn't out of the question necessarily and could be an important
> >lesson on
> >real world management of risk.
>
> With respect to respirators, this is a darn stupid idea. There
> should NEVER be a cause to use a respirator in exposure control in
> an academic, secondary school environment. Period.
>
> Using a respirator is more than slapping on a facepiece, sucking in
> to see if you have a seal and calling it good. Yes, an "N-95" is a
> RESPIRATOR and if you're requiring their use, you're buying into a
> full-meal-deal program that includes, but is not limited to....
>
> 1. A complete risk assessment to ensure there are no other viable
> alternatives such as engineering controls and adminsitrative
> controls (including chemical substitution) that will provide the
> necessary exposure control.
>
> 2. A complete respiratory protection program, written, reviewed
> annually, blah, blah, blah.
>
> 3. Medical evaluation as required by the Respiratory Protection
> Standard.
>
> 4. Fit testing to the level required by the Respiratory Protection
> Standard and the local respiratory protection program.
>
> 5. Training as required
>
> 6. Maintennace as required
>
> And the list goes on.
>
> Now, how many secondary school teachers are qualified to do that?
> My bet that it exponentially approaches ZERO.
>
> As a parent, chemist and safety professional, I would have a real
> field day if ANY teacher of my kid required the use of a respirator
> in their class; the first question being, "Just what the hell are
> you using that requires the use?" and then moving on from there,
> including the entire school administration hearing about it.
>
> While it may be true that "any chemical can be handled safely" the
> bottom line is that some should be restricted from use until these
> skulls-full-o-mush get some EXPERIENCE in handling the not-so-bad
> chemicals. Let them handle the cyanides in 300/400/500 level
> college classes, not in high school. You can teach a whole lot of
> chemistry with some low-risk/low-hazard chemicals and their
> dilutions.
>
> Harry "taking a cleansing breath" Elston
>
>
>
> Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., CIH
> Principal
> Midwest Chemical Safety
> www.midwestchemsafety.com
>
> Editor, Chemical Health & Safety
> http://membership.acs.org/c/chas/
>
> "I'm your wife. I'm the greatest good
> you're ever gonna get"
> -Mrs. "Frozone", The Incredibles
>
>
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