From:
Christa Homenick <christa.homenick**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Working in labs on the weekend proposal
Date:
Mar 14, 2024 15:30 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CAE6d3uPvaRv7mOf=xMq9fS2oOt-HMeP43T9eELWHcmZ3h_cmCg**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<BL3PR04MB7914210937BC079638CFC489CA2B2**At_Symbol_Here**BL3PR04MB7914.namprd04.prod.outlook.com>
I have several questions:
1. What is their college's working alone policy? Does their college even permit it?
2. What are the emergency services available after hours? Only 911 or do they have an internal emergency response team that would help for spills?
3. What are the reagents the student will be working with and what are the procedures the student will be doing?
4. Is the student comfortable being alone and know what to do in an emergency?
5. Finally I would question what research is so critical that it is even necessary to put a student at risk to be alone.
6. If this work is so critical why is the PI not stepping up and joining their student after hours so they are not alone.
Finally, the biggest red flag for me is the statement about the PI not being interested in hearing no working alone, it is sending the message that progress is more important than safety of their staff.
Hope a good plan is established.
-Christa
Dr Christa Homenick
Research Officer
National Research Council Canada
Hello DCHAS members,
A friend of mine works in a small liberal arts college and came to me with the following situation: one of the faculty asked if their summer research student could do their research work (lab based, but according to the PI it does not involve
hazardous substances) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to allow the student to also work at an additional opportunity Monday – Thursday. This would be the students second summer doing research with this PI. While I understand larger universities do keep
a 24 hour schedule, my friend’s college is a Monday – Friday 9a-5p institution. The likelihood of there being anyone else in the building during these weekends is almost certainly zero.
I admit that I told them I didn’t think anyone should be working in the building alone for a number of reasons, but I’m hearing the PI is not interested in that answer. I am requesting some additional thoughts if you’d care to share them;
your personal identities will not be shared with my friend. You can respond on list or to me privately as you feel comfortable.
Thank you all, and stay safe!
Jennifer.
(she/her/they/theirs)
Wittenberg Chemistry – Catalyzing Student Success
Coordinator of Chemistry Labs
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Barbara Deer Kuss Science 245C
(937) 327-6442
gilej**At_Symbol_Here**wittenberg.edu
Please note that I am often unable to respond to calls or emails in the afternoon. I appreciate your patience.
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For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at
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