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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: Safety Training Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:47:18 -0500 Author: "Tsiakals, Nicholas John" |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: Safety Training Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:52:48 -0700 Author: "Debbie M. Decker" |
> >I think a key concept here is the de facto business model in academia. I agree that this is a key element in the discussion, but I also think that this business model is changing pretty quickly, for both internal and external reasons. I remember that the big issue in lab safety in the 1990's was how to be a good neighbor - how to manage chemical wastes in ways that corresponded to the intent of RCRA and how to do emergency planning for lab emergencies. Those of us who participated in that work have seen significant progress in those aspects of laboratory work. There's still work to do, but these activities that can generally be managed at the institutional level with laboratory level participation, without major changes to the business model. However, the amount and types of chemical research being conducted have grown, intensified and diversified, not only in Chemistry Departments, but throughout academia, as research becomes more interdisciplinary. My feeling is that this change has created hazards that strain the academic oversight traditions. Adapting to this change requires not only more infrastructure and administrative support at the institutional level, but as George Walton pointed out, also more "line staff" engagement in the process. Unfortunately, my interpretation of the Division's survey on safety culture in academic chemistry departments last spring is that the cultural traditions of academia don't promote such engagement. On the other hand, I have noticed that many of the larger Chemistry research programs are hiring PhD chemists to support the departmental safety program, while still relying on institutional health and safety services. It will be interesting to see how the transition to a new tradition of academic oversight develops. But, I do think a transition is underway. And the "training" question and what it means is going to be a key element of that transition. Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to this thread, as it's helped me to think through some specific issues that we're facing on my campus today. - Ralph Ralph Stuart, CIH Environmental Safety Manager University of Vermont Environmental Safety Facility 667 Spear St. Burlington, VT 05405 rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu
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