Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:41:47 -0500
Reply-To: Karen Messana <kranny**At_Symbol_Here**AC.NET>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Karen Messana <kranny**At_Symbol_Here**AC.NET>
Subject: Re: Fire extinguishers in research and teaching labs
In-Reply-To: <D0CE15DEFAFB4191B6D07292C8F0FD3D**At_Symbol_Here**Ernie>
It is possible that someone at the University has misinterpreted the OSHA
requirements for fire extinguisher use by volunteers versus members of a
fire brigade.  In fact, no actual hands-on training is even required for
voluntary use.  A simple video or brochure, along with any university policy
would address voluntary use of the fire extinguishers available to the lab
personnel.

Karen Messana, CSP
Former University Fire Marshal

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of
List Moderator
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 9:14 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Fire extinguishers in research and teaching labs

This is an e-mail from another list that I am on that I thought would  
be of interest to DCHAS-L...

- Ralph

From: 	swihart**At_Symbol_Here**PURDUE.EDU
Subject: 	[SAFETY] anybody here from Murfreesboro?
Date: 	November 24, 2008 9:06:21 AM EST (CA)

Our Chemistry Department received a "survey" from a person in the  
Chemistry Department at Middle Tennessee State University.   The Dept  
Head asked me to respond to the survey.

At MTSU some of the Chem faculty and graduate students are apparently  
very upset that the university administration has forbidden them to  
use fire extinguishers in their research and teaching labs.

The survey sender wrote "The reason given is that the university  
cannot bear the enormous expense required to train a group of  
experienced graduate faculty and research scientists in the  
complicated procedures involved in using a fire extinguisher."

That made me sigh a sad sigh, those of you in universities know why,  
but anyway, if there's anyone in this list that is at MTSU, I would  
enjoy corresponding with you about how I might be able to

1 -- find the appropriate address to copy my reply to this "survey" to  
someone in the MTSU administration, and
2 -- get tips on how to persuade *my* university administration to  
consider such a plan.

Thanks!

Linda

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.