From: "Gmurczyk, Marta" <M_Gmurczyk**At_Symbol_Here**acs.org>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [EXT] Re: [DCHAS-L] New Video Series | ACS Matters | August 18, 2020
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2020 14:34:27 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 88b633a97ba1458f9dea5784f6a0b359**At_Symbol_Here**acs.org
In-Reply-To


Dear All:

Thank you again for the thoughtful discussion - and yes, we are reading all the message and embracing this discussion as our learning opportunity.

 

Marta

ACS Safety Programs

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Daniel Kuespert
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2020 3:06 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [EXT] Re: [DCHAS-L] New Video Series | ACS Matters | August 18, 2020

 

[Actual Sender is owner-dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**princeton.edu]

SDSs also tend to be written to cover all possible situations. I have an SDS for sucrose that calls for full Level A containment to clean up a spill. This might actually be reasonable if you'd spilled a unit train full of the stuff, and there was a lot of airborne material (though it still looks like overkill). Of course, I've got another SDS for water that instructs me to rinse the affected area for 15 minutes, with water. Sometimes, there's just no excuse for what you find in a SDS.

 

I must say that I see both sides of this debate. As Chris suggested, perhaps the picture was not the best choice simply because it causes professionals in the field to have spirited discussions about the safety of what is portrayed. The fine points we are discussing will be lost to the member of the public who is the target audience. 

 

So perhaps we should look at it from his or her point of view: as-is, he or she gets the idea that mucking about in a chemistry lab is safe without eye protection. With eye protection added, he or she gets the idea that chemists are nut cases who wear goggles into the shower in case they get soap in their eyes. I'd replace the photo if possible, and if not, just move forward and resolve to do it differently next time.

 

I do think that the folks at ACS (was it Publications or Education who did this photo?) should take a look at this whole email chain just to see what they can take away from it for the future. I'm sure Marta has that already in-hand.

 

Regards,

Dan

 

Daniel Reid Kuespert, PhD, CSP

11101 Wood Elves Way

Columbia, MD 21044

410-992-9709



On Aug 21, 2020, at 13:47, Kolodziej, Christopher <ckolodziej**At_Symbol_Here**EHS.UCLA.EDU> wrote:

 

As has been mentioned before, context matters. Perhaps, as Marta's colleague said, there was a better thumbnail that would have conveyed how engaging this video series is without prompting safety questions when removed from the context of the presentation.

 

As for the idea that safety glasses are warranted when pouring molasses from a glass beaker, I'm going to have to disagree. While the SDS for molasses that John shared does call for eye and hand protection, Section 2 of that document states that molasses is non-hazardous. Manufacturers that recommend PPE for handling non-hazardous substances may be motivated more by liability fears than by reasoned risk assessments. And, while I can't claim that Jim's scenario is impossible, it doesn't seem any more likely than getting glass in one's eye while washing dishes after dinner.

 

Chris

 

 

________________________________

Christopher M. Kolodziej, Ph.D. 
Chemical Hygiene Officer

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Jennifer Gile
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2020 7:12 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [EXT] Re: [DCHAS-L] New Video Series | ACS Matters | August 18, 2020

 

I think there's a question of consistency here from the ACS.

 

Years ago, with the ACS Silicon Valley chapter, our college hosted a "Teach the Teachers" workshop involving candy chemistry. We were working with water, skittles, m&ms, etc.  Nothing that I would consider toxic.  Because the workshop was designed for teachers working on a non-existent to limited budget, their "beakers" and "lab glassware" were recycled soda cans and other household items. My ears are still ringing with the shouts of "you need to wear your safety glasses!  ACS needs you wearing your glasses in the photos!" 

 

Would I wear PPE when handling maple syrup in my kitchen?  No.  Would I if I were going to be on a promotional poster for the ACS?  If you asked me last week I would have said the ACS standards dictated it.

 

Jennifer. 

 

 

 

On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 9:20 AM Gmurczyk, Marta <M_Gmurczyk**At_Symbol_Here**acs.org> wrote:

Dear All:

What I always appreciate about our ACS safety community is that we lift each other and enable our mutual learning. We all have been working hard to educate, provide resources, build partnerships, understand, listen and suggest solutions to grow safety culture around us. If we want to grow people,  I think the feedback we deliver should teach and inspire, and research tells us that shaming and blaming are indicators or poor safety culture. Let walk our talk!  I am embracing this discussion as a teachable moment and I appreciate all off -line and on-line messages. I am in communication with my colleagues in charge of the newsletter. 

 

Marta Gmurczyk

 

 

Marta U. Gmurczyk, Ph.D.
Safety Programs Manager| Scientific Advancement Division
1155 16th St., NW | Washington | DC 20036
T 202-452-2105 | F 202-872-8068 
http://www.acs.org/">www.acs.org
--------------------
ACS Chemistry for Life
American Chemical Society

 

 

 

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Doug Cody
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2020 6:59 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [EXT] Re: [DCHAS-L] New Video Series | ACS Matters | August 18, 2020

 

[Actual Sender is owner-dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**princeton.edu]

I couldn't agree more with Jim here. The ACS is supposed to show true leadership not Pooh Pooh something important. If indeed they actually performed any hazard analysis they would come to the conclusion Jim did. Shame on them. 

 

Doug Cody 

Farmingdale State

Sent from my iPhone

 

On Aug 20, 2020, at 7:53 PM, James Kaufman <jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org> wrote:

?

They are badly mistaken.

 

The young woman is holding a glass beaker.  If she drops it, she could have glass in her eyes. She should be wearing safety glass with side shields. 

 

Please ask them to reconsider.   ... Jim

PS.  "There's more to lab safety than just labs!"

 James A. Kaufman, PhD

Founder/President Emeritus

 

The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)

A Nonprofit Educational Organization for Safety in Science, Industry, and Education

192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252

(O) 508-647-1900  (F) 508-647-0062  (C) 508-574-6264  Skype: labsafe; 508-401-7406 

jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org  www.labsafety.org    Teach, Learn, and Practice Science Safely

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