DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive

>What other topics should/could be covered? Our system of chemical labeling
>is basic, but I think it works. If someone needs a system or would like to
>pick mine apart - let me know and I'll send you the information.

1. Emergency/accident procedures; obviously these are the instructor
or TA's responsibility, but one has to consider what happens if that
person is out of the room (bad) or incapacitated (worse).    I know
of at least one major teaching lab accident where the instructor was
absent.  And I've seen several research lab incidents where the grad
student involved completely froze up or reacted the wrong way.
Students need to know to evacuate rather than deal with the
situation, where to meet, to account for everyone, how to call 911,
pull the fire alarm, close the doors, whatever...

2. All of the topics you cover should be reinforced with Real Life
examples of why they are important.  For example, when I covered
waste disposal/segregation of wastes, I described several gory
incidents I had seen as a result of incompatibles mixing (none in my
own lab, thankfully).   And if you don't have any, refer them to this
page:  http://www.ilpi.com/safety/explosion.html  There is also a
description of one I saw as an undergrad still floating around in
Usenet archives: http://yarchive.net/chem/piranha_solution.html - the
thread is an interesting read, but if you want to cut to the
description, scroll down to the last posting.

http://www2.umdnj.edu/eohssweb/aiha/accidents/ is also a terrific
place to find more Real Life examples and you can even sort their
list by topic or key instructional concept.

Rob Toreki
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