From: Daniel Kuespert <dankuespert**At_Symbol_Here**ME.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Draft lab risk assessment video comments requested
Date: Tue, 1 May 2018 13:43:59 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 3BC03B4E-8E33-40B1-9066-753A6F8B279C**At_Symbol_Here**me.com
In-Reply-To <081D2363-9FA6-42E3-B06F-4B0FB2EC3DA9**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>
Demystify:
Excellent video. Describing a risk assessment as a kind of "prioritized" hazard assessment is a great way to make it understandable.
I do take a little issue with describing risk as essentially a measure of probability alone. Not to be pedantic about risk = F(probability, severity), but I think there are situations when thinking of risk solely as probability or likelihood might lead people astray. Really bad outcomes, even if extremely unlikely, should have measures taken to prevent them. For one thing, the history of catastrophic incidents indicates that people tend to underestimate the probability of such incidents, or let their layers of protection gradually degrade until the probability becomes higher.
With the support of the ACS's Innovative Project Grant program for technical divisions, DCHAS has been working with Timothy Gallagher of the University of Bristol and a video artist to develop a short video on the the topic of laboratory risk assessments and maintaining situational awareness as work proceeds. We are nearing the end of the editing process; the current draft is available for viewing at https://vimeo.com/260598497 with a password of: lab
I'd appreciate any comments or questions DCHAS members have about the video by Thursday of this week.
Let me know if you have any questions about this.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Membership chair American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Health and Safety
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