Put the word "corrosive" in front of "chemicals" and the problem goes
away. But you knew what I meant. And do you really think you need to
tell a 74 year old chemist/IH that we are all made of chemicals? Monona
Monona, your comment about "flying glass and chemicals" really illustrates
the crux of the issue. You realize that "glass" is not in and of itself a
hazard, but that "flying glass" is. At the same time, you use "chemical"
as synonymous with hazardous. This is incorrect. Not even all chemicals
used in lab are hazardous. The physical universe is made of matter and
energy (let's ignore dark matter and dark energy). ALL matter is
chemical. We try to teach our students to be precise in their language.
Remember, every Thing that is good for us, that we treasure is a bunch of
chemicals.
Kay Calhoun
OK - I've been following this heated discussion
& have a related question for all of you (and I know you will all have
an opinion, so don't hold back!)
I'm giving a short training session
for the Long Island High School research teachers (the teachers who have
students doing Intel, Westinghouse, etc work) during the next ISEF event.
I've been asked to explain to them how to conduct a risk assessment for
chem & bio work that these HS students use during the science fair
project. They do use some nasty stuff because they do their award winning
projects at ours & similar universities.
I put together a hazard & exposure
"rubric" ( fancy teacher word so they'll relate). I've scored
1 (less risky) to 5 (more risky) hazards I want them to look at when reviewing
their chemicals (and I tell them to look at ALL chemicals, whether they
think they are hazardous or not). I've included flammablility (range, FP,
NFPA); toxicity (LD50), Corrosivity (pH), Oxidixer, chronic health hazard
(carcinogen, repro.) and health effects (exp limilts, NFPA).
The exposures are quantity, concentration,
physical form, VP, BP, route of expo. Detection & warning properties.
What did I miss? Bio is much easier
- bsl 1 or 2 as per CDC/ABSA or ATCC.
If you want to see the form, email me
directly & I'll send it to you.
Thanks!
Kim Auletta
Lab Safety Specialist
EH&S Z=6200
Stony Brook University
kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu
631-632-3032
EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/
Remember to wash your hands!
| From:
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| To:
| DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
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| Date:
| 03/09/2010 03:11 PM
|
| Subject:
| Re: [DCHAS-L] GLOVES IN STUDENT LABS
|
| Sent by:
| DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU> |
Put the word "corrosive" in front
of "chemicals" and the problem goes away. But you knew
what I meant. And do you really think you need to tell a 74 year
old chemist/IH that we are all made of chemicals? Monona
Monona, your comment about "flying glass and chemicals" really
illustrates the crux of the issue. You realize that "glass"
is not in and of itself a hazard, but that "flying glass" is.
At the same time, you use "chemical" as synonymous with
hazardous. This is incorrect. Not even all chemicals used in
lab are hazardous. The physical universe is made of matter and energy
(let's ignore dark matter and dark energy). ALL matter is chemical.
We try to teach our students to be precise in their language.
Remember, every Thing that is good for us, that we treasure is a bunch
of chemicals.
Kay Calhoun
