From:
McGrath Edward J <Edward.McGrath**At_Symbol_Here**REDCLAY.K12.DE.US>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] [External] Re: [DCHAS-L] Pa. student's lawsuit over burns suffered during chemistry class explosion is dismissed
Date:
Apr 25, 2019 18:48 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
In-Reply-To:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Pa. student's lawsuit over burns suffered during chemistry class explosion is dismissed
So here's an interesting albeit disgraceful situation. Who messed up? The plaintiff's attorney, who didn't prepare the case well? The judge, who miscarried justice? Or the press, who misunderstood the science?
My thinking--maybe, maybe, and maybe. But one person I know who messed up: the teacher! The number one message I give my science teachers during annual safety training: the reason we go through annual safety training, training of students, hazard analysis,
risk assessments, safety actions, inspections, safety acknowledgement forms, etc, etc, is TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!!
I explain Duty of Care, negligence, and liability to the best of my knowledge. But I also have these discussions with our Board of Education, our PTA, and our teacher's union. I want them to be so sick of the sound of my voice, they'll do anything to shut
me up--even create a safety culture!!!!
And Mary, if your safety standards are over the top, you're not a joke; you're my hero!
Eddie McGrath
Edward
J. McGrath
Science
Supervisor
Red Clay
Consolidated School District
1502 Spruce
Avenue
Wilmington
DE 19805
(302) 552-3768
?We
did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrowed it from our children.
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of Mary Shane <space7051**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2019 12:17 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [External] Re: [DCHAS-L] Pa. student's lawsuit over burns suffered during chemistry class explosion is dismissed
I am a high school chemistry teacher and was surprised by the demo. I work hard to be sure I go over safety protocols with my students. I am often the end of a joke about safety in other classes, but that's okay. I would rather others think
my safety standards are over the top than to have an accident.
Can I suggest a little caution on outrage over the judge's decision? I'm no lawyer, but I've been in plenty of courtrooms and depositions. Journalistic
accounts of legal decisions are often inaccurate. I was suspicious when I saw that the judge was federal, since claims like this are usually pursued in state court. It could be that the judge dismissed the claim because the plaintiff could not show that there
was a federal issue. That would be a technical legal ruling, and would not excuse shockingly negligent behavior by the teacher and the school.
Mike
Michael J. Wright
Director of Health, Safety and Environment
United Steelworkers
412-562-2580 office
412-370-0105 cell
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll
change the world."
Jack
Layton
