Over the past 25 years I’ve heard a lot of anecdotal stories about (chemical industry) supervisors lamenting that their straight-out-of-college new hires have not been taught basic laboratory safety principles.  Similarly, I know a lot of chemists who reported a “rude awakening” when they started their first job and realized they knew a lot about textbook chemistry principles/theory, but knew essentially nothing about how to read and interpret a SDS/MSDS or how to select an appropriate chemical-resistant glove.

If you’re aware of any reputable journal article, news story (think C&EN, etc.) that addresses this specific topic, please let me know the reference.  I’m particularly interested in any piece wherein an industry leader (BASF, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto, Huntsman, etc.) has issued a clarion call (or plea) for higher education to improve their efforts to train future graduates in the basics of laboratory and chemical safety.

Thanks,

SJM

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Steven J. McLean, ASP, CHMM

Brigham Young University

Laboratory Safety Manager

Risk Management - 241 FB

Office: (801) 422-6879

Cell: (801) 960-5203

stevemclean**At_Symbol_Here**byu.edu