An interesting piece from the article that Debbis pointed out... - Ralph In an article in C&EN today (see: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/87/8731sci1.html ) there is a link to an Imperial College London form titled "Reaction Risk Assessment Form" (see: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/_img/87/i31/Imperial_College_London_hazard_assessm ent_forms.pdf ). Towards the end of the linked article above, one reads: The end result for academic chemistry research in the U.K. was that risk assessments have become an integral part of experiments. The assessments don=92t apply just to chemical reactions but also to equipment such as lasers. The initial assessments were =93much like some kind of legal record where if we got sued we could say we=92d done this,=94 Welton says, but the paperwork has evolved over the years into a simple table that is printed on one side of every page spread in his department=92s lab notebooks=97risk assessment on the left, experimental notes on the right. =93Twenty years ago, it was very much about a legal defense should it be necessary,=94 Welton says. =93Now it is about making the person engage in the risk management of what they=92re doing.=94 Chemistry students in the U.K. start doing risk assessments in their very first undergraduate lab, so the process is second nature by the time they get their bachelor=92s degree, Welton says. He adds that the training is critical not just from a safety perspective, but also for future employment. =93If we don=92t train students in risk management and safety procedures, then we=92re not training them for employment in modern industry,=94 Welton says. =93If we want someone to turn up in a job and be productive, they can=92t do that if they=92re not safety aware.=94
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