Date: September 5, 2009
5:51:58 PM EDT
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Extinguishers and gloves
David & Colleagues,
=46rom my
extensive experience in academia as well as industry and
government
research labs, Dave and John
are quite correct in their insightful
assessment as well as condemnation of the FD. I was at
an academic
institution where fire
extinguishers were not allowed in labs - it was
largely because they felt that everyone was less
qualified than they were
and the
institution did not want to invest in training. The
institution
obviously did NOT believe
that a large part of their mission was education
of their students, staff and faculty in areas of being
responsible and
accountable for safety. Ask anyone who has spent
time in a learning
environment and they will likely point out that opportunities
for learning
exist well beyond and often
outside the formal classroom and lab experience
- lessons to bring into and apply at these
venues.
It is indeed unfortunate that the head-in-the-sand
approach is still being
advocated
by some...
David
