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Subject: FW: Measuring chemical safety program effectiveness
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:42:32 -0500
Author: "Jeskie, Kimberly B." 		Next by Date:
Subject: Re: laboratory ventilation question
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:18:29 -0500
Author: Russ Phifer


Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:43:10 -0500
Reply-To: Ralph Stuart <rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Ralph Stuart <rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU>
Subject: Re: FW: Measuring chemical safety program effectiveness
In-Reply-To: <8056_1229001188_mBBDD8JB013491_34704B7D15D2C14BA7F130CB44313E3F01D9D566576A**At_Symbol_Here**EXCHMB.ornl.gov>

> > Inspections are really good at picking up conditions... What they  
> aren't good at ...are evaluating behaviors and a person's  
> understanding of chemical safety

I would add to Kim's observation that we've tried to use inspection  
results as a measure of safety program effectiveness; it's been less  
successful in the Chemistry Department than elsewhere on campus. I  
agree with Kim that a more in depth discussion of risks (and benefits)  
associated with novel procedures is necessary to get buy in from the  
chemists. Unfortunately, this requires a high level of specialized  
chemistry expertise, which is difficult for the safety department to  
provide because of the mixture of disciplines found in a general  
chemistry department. Persistence has proven to be our most effective  
tool in dealing with chemists, as with other laboratory workers and  
the number of inspection visits addresses this issue most directly.

- 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
fax: (802)656-5407

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