DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:49:58 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Don Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
Subject: Re: flammable cabinet question
In-Reply-To: <C3E98B533BBA314490DC0D1C18E02317095A5703**At_Symbol_Here**pb01msx.wgipb.local>
<
div style='font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'
>The idea that "
The
bottom line on this issue is that if it's mandated by law we really don't h
ave a
choice but to comply" could be the subject of endless philoso
phical, legal, and ethical debate, but I'd like to suggest that as a practi
cal matter, given the thousands of pages of regulations and consensus stand
ards out there, it'd be hard to imagine there's any institution that's mana
ged to comply with every last one of them (assuming one could even be aware
of every requirement), and that at some point we have to choose our priori
ties and be as aware as we can of the benefits, consequences, and costs of
choices about regulations.
I'm not suggesting we pick and cho
ose the rules we like and ignore the rest, but rather that the consequences
of being out of compliance with a specific regulation are not infinite, an
d that being in compliance isn't the same as being safe. In this part
icular instance, I'd choose not dropping the bottles over compliance.
(I'd reconsider, of course, if the penalty for the lack of a self closing
door is a mandatory life sentence on the first offense.)
Also
, deciding
"to ignore or
work around a standard or legal requirement to do something because we may
not
agree with it" is what keeps the entire legal syste
m in business.&
nbsp; &
nbsp; Respectfully,
&
nbsp;
Don
I see
the point trying to be brought up. There are some rules and procedures out
there
that while addressing one problem end up causing another one. I deal with t
hose
issues myself on an almost daily basis.
The
point I was wanting to make is that it is not up to us to decide to ignore
or
work around a standard or legal requirement to do something because we may
not
agree with it. It appears that this person's local jurisdiction has adopted
at
least part of NFPA 1 (Uniform Fire Code) which when discussing Hazardous
Materials Storage Cabinets states in part: "doors shall be well fitted,
self-closing, and equipped with a self-latching device". Some sta
tes
have adopted the UFC statewide while others have had only local jurisdictio
ns
adopt it. This isn't a simple rule or procedural issue - this is a legal
compliance issue.
The
bottom line on this issue is that if it's mandated by law we really don't h
ave a
choice but to comply and should do our part to ensure our folks can co
mply
in a safe manner instead of ignoring it. NFPA reviews standards on a regula
r
basis. I completely agreed with you when you stated that "often rules are m
ade
by people who are only looking at one small part of a situation". One
way
we can address items like this is by joining NFPA and becoming involve
d in
the process that updates the standards.
Do
n A.
Long
STS,
CAIH
So
uthwest
Research Institute Laboratory
Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
PO Box 20130
White Ha
ll, AR 71612
870-541-4930
-----Original
Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List
[mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU]On Behalf Of Rita Kay
Calhoun
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:14 AM
To:
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabinet
question
It
is hard to see the sense in following "safety rules=" that
cause more danger
than they prevent. Often rules are made by people who are only look
ing
at one small part of a situation and not at all considering the overall
ramifications of their dictates. Consider the post this morni
ng
from Ina Ahern whose local fire department is mandating the use of a tubi
ng
which has been shown to cause safety problems (see her post) when all tha
t is
needed is a program to increase awareness as to the importance of inspect
ing
tubing; at most a requirement that inspections occur and are documented a
t
regular stated intervals.
Kay
From: DCHAS-L
Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of List
Moderator
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 7:04 AM
To:<
/b>
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabinet
question
Date:
November 10, 2010 6:54:08 AM EST
Subject:
RE: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabinet question
"I
recently bought several safety cabinets, and I found that it is the state
that
mandates self closing doors. Luckily, we were able to purchase ones
with
manual doors."
This
spooks me. The above statement implies that even though self-closing door
s are
mandated by state law (probably a UFC state) but inconvenient, you have
decided to ignore the law. I hope that's not what I
read.
It's
hard to convince employees of the importance of safety rules and standard
s
when we ourselves ignore the "inconvenient" ones.
Southwest
Research Institute Laboratory
Pine
Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
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