Check out Safety Emporium for your N95, N99, and face shield needs.
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:39:52 -0700
Reply-To: DAVID KATZ <dakatz45**At_Symbol_Here**MSN.COM>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: DAVID KATZ <dakatz45**At_Symbol_Here**MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Request for Advice on Chemical Hygiene
Comments: To: rebelford**At_Symbol_Here**UALR.EDU
I have been most successful using a high quality clear packaging tape
such as that produced by 3M. (Although I am not sure what brand is
available in Thailand.) Make sure that the tape completely covers the
label and wraps around the container, sealing the tape onto the tape, so
that moisture cannot get under the ends of the tape. This tape is not
totally waterproof, but it should stand up in a humid atmosphere. I
have bottles for solutions that I have used for workshops for over ten
years, rinsing and refilling them for each new workshop.
I know that funds may be limited, but it would be best to buy the
smallest containers of chemicals that will fulfill the teachers' needs
for six months or no more than one academic year. The moisture and the
mold not only affects the labels, but it also affects the chemicals.
Identifying unlabeled chemical will be a problem, but if they were used
in a school (teaching) environment, then there is a high probability
that very little will be highly hazardous. You will need to confirm
that with the teachers to find out what experiments they have been doing
with their classes.
Again, lack of funds probably limits the teachers from obtaining a
library of safety and disposal manuals. The most cost effective solution
is to obtain catalogs from Flinn Scientific Inc. in Batavia, IL. If the
storage area is arranged by chemical families, as recommended in the
Flinn Scientific Inc. catalog, even if labels do degrade, there will be
some idea of the chemical family the reagent belongs to. They also have
a "Mystery Substance Identification Procedure" that must be requested
directly from them. Although Flinn does not ship any chemicals or
equipment outside the U.S., you should be able to get copies of their
catalog if you will cover their shipping cost. If, for any reason, Flinn
does not want to send you catalogs or the mystery substance procedure,
have one of your colleagues in the U.S. request them and have them mail
you the safety and disposal section of the catalog to reduce the weight
of the mailing package.
David Katz
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David A. Katz
Chemist, Educator, Expert Demonstrator, Science Communicator, and
Consultant
Programs and workshops for teachers, schools, museums, and the public
133 N. Desert Stream Dr. * Tucson, AZ 85745-2277 * USA
voice/fax: (520) 624-2207 * email:
dakatz45**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com
Visit my web site:
http://www.chymist.com
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----- Original Message -----
From: rebelford**At_Symbol_Here**UALR.EDU
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 5:42 AM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Request for Advice on Chemical Hygiene
I am in Thailand and the day after I arrived I ran a one day workshop
on Information and Communication Technologies as the fourth day of a
five day nation wide workshop for high school teachers. I included a
section on MSDS and Chemical Hygiene, and on the following day I was
given written questions by the "adjun" (teachers). Although only a
minor part of my workshop was on chemical hygiene, every question but
one dealt with either chemical hygiene issues or green chemistry.
It appears that in this humid land (full of black mold) there is a
propensity for labels to disintegrate off bottles in school stock rooms,
and I was asked what to do. So, I am asking if anyone has any web based
(or other) protocols for dealing with unlabeled containers that I could
share. I would really appreciate any input as these are great people
whom I believe have far greater problems than we do when it come to
chemical hygiene issues and they do care.
I really appreciate any input and help.
Sincerely,
Bob Belford
.
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Robert E. Belford
Department of Chemistry
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
http://www.ualr.edu/rebelford
501-569-8824
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