Robin and Rob make some excellent points, from both directions.  Here at Davis, I provide general chemical and laboratory safety training.  Yes, it’s stand-up training and I reach about 1500 folks per year.  I’m working on an on-line refresher but it just doesn’t have that special “Debbie touch” <grin>.

Many departments won’t issue keys until students compl ete my training.  Many PIs have a similar policy.  More departments/P Is all the time are implementing that requirement.  It’s not up to me ( or EH&S) to make sure folks have training before they head into the lab.  That’s the responsibility of the PI/supervisor and the department to put those requirements in place.

When I started here, lab safety training was offered about e very 6 weeks or so with maybe 20 people attending.  At the beginning of the fall quarter, I’ll have at least one training per week – someti mes more.  It’s taken a long time to get to this point but for a big institution like UC Davis, changing the culture (turning the aircraft carrier) takes a while.

Just my $0.02.

Debbie

-------------------------

Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA  95616
(530)754-7964/(530)681-1799 (cell)

(530)752-4527 (FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicS tories.com and join the conspiracy

-----------------------------