Lucy, You are exactly correct! Jay Young ********************************* ----- Original Message ----- From: "List Moderator"To: Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 2:16 PM Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] : Legal aspects of CalOSHA & UCLA/Change Focus > From: lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net > Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] : Legal aspects of CalOSHA & UCLA/Change Focus > Date: May 8, 2009 5:11:41 PM EDT (CA) > > In my experience, it is the culture of safety cultivated from the > highest > levels that creates a safe working environment. > > This means, when someone says "I don't choose to wear a lab coat > because it > is too hot," that management intervenes to stop the work until the > person > wears their PPE and, or, the heating is adjusted. When a technician > says, > "I won't wear safety glasses because they give me a headache," he/she is > worked with to supply safety glasses that work for them. And if the > employees do not comply when management is eager and willing to help > them > comply then there will be consequences of non-compliance. > > I worked in a facility that had a similar incident to the one at UCLA, > and > because the person was following company procedures, was fully trained > and > the area supervisor was in the area, all that resulted were some frayed > nerves, broken glassware that was contained to the hood and very good > lessons learned. > > The keys are: management commitment and good oversight, including > frequent > informal walk-throughs of the labs to make sure there is compliance > insofar > as is possible, and consequences for non-compliance. > > I am very sad that this bright young person was killed. I know that > it has > generated some very worthwhile discussion and thought on this board. > > Lucy Dillman > lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net >
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