Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:20:07 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Kim Auletta <kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**NOTES.CC.SUNYSB.EDU>
Subject: Re: GLOVES IN STUDENT LABS
In-Reply-To: <27ea2.1849cf40.38c80390**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com>


OK - I've been following this heated discussion & have a related question 
for all of you (and I know you will all have an opinion, so don't hold 
back!)

I'm giving a short training session for the Long Island High School 
research teachers (the teachers who have students doing Intel, 
Westinghouse, etc work) during the next ISEF event. I've been asked to 
explain to them how to conduct a risk assessment for chem & bio work that 
these HS students use during the science fair project. They do use some 
nasty stuff because they do their award winning projects at ours & similar 
universities.

I put together a hazard & exposure "rubric" ( fancy teacher word so 
they'll relate). I've scored 1 (less risky) to 5 (more risky) hazards I 
want them to look at when reviewing their chemicals (and I tell them to 
look at ALL chemicals, whether they think they are hazardous or not). I've 
included flammablility (range, FP, NFPA); toxicity (LD50), Corrosivity 
(pH), Oxidixer, chronic health hazard (carcinogen, repro.) and health 
effects (exp limilts, NFPA).

The exposures are quantity, concentration, physical form, VP, BP, route of 
expo. Detection & warning properties.

What did I miss? Bio is much easier - bsl 1 or 2 as per CDC/ABSA or ATCC.

If you want to see the form, email me directly & I'll send it to you. 

Thanks!

Kim Auletta
Lab Safety Specialist
EH&S    Z=6200
Stony Brook University
kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu
631-632-3032
EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/

Remember to wash your hands!


From:
ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
To:
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Date:
03/09/2010 03:11 PM
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] GLOVES IN STUDENT LABS
Sent by:
DCHAS-L Discussion List 


Put the word "corrosive" in front of "chemicals" and the problem goes 
away.  But you knew what I meant.  And do you really think you need to 
tell a 74 year old chemist/IH that we are all made of chemicals?    Monona 

Monona, your comment about "flying glass and chemicals" really illustrates 
the crux of the issue.  You realize that "glass" is not in and of itself a 
hazard, but that "flying glass" is.  At the same time, you use "chemical" 
as synonymous with hazardous.  This is incorrect.  Not even all chemicals 
used in lab are hazardous.  The physical universe is made of matter and 
energy (let's ignore dark matter and dark energy).  ALL matter is 
chemical.  We try to teach our students to be precise in their language. 

Remember, every Thing that is good for us, that we treasure is a bunch of 
chemicals. 

Kay Calhoun



OK - I've been following this heated discussion & have a related question for all of you (and I know you will all have an opinion, so don't hold back!)

I'm giving a short training session for the Long Island High School research teachers (the teachers who have students doing Intel, Westinghouse, etc work) during the next ISEF event. I've been asked to explain to them how to conduct a risk assessment for chem & bio work that these HS students use during the science fair project. They do use some nasty stuff because they do their award winning projects at ours & similar universities.

I put together a hazard & exposure "rubric" ( fancy teacher word so they'll relate). I've scored 1 (less risky) to 5 (more risky) hazards I want them to look at when reviewing their chemicals (and I tell them to look at ALL chemicals, whether they think they are hazardous or not). I've included flammablility (range, FP, NFPA); toxicity (LD50), Corrosivity (pH), Oxidixer, chronic health hazard (carcinogen, repro.) and health effects (exp limilts, NFPA).

The exposures are quantity, concentration, physical form, VP, BP, route of expo. Detection & warning properties.

What did I miss? Bio is much easier - bsl 1 or 2 as per CDC/ABSA or ATCC.

If you want to see the form, email me directly & I'll send it to you.

Thanks!

Kim Auletta
Lab Safety Specialist
EH&S    Z=6200
Stony Brook University
kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu
631-632-3032
EH&S Web site:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/

Remember to wash your hands!


From: ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Date: 03/09/2010 03:11 PM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GLOVES IN STUDENT LABS
Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>



Put the word "corrosive" in front of "chemicals" and the problem goes away.  But you knew what I meant.  And do you really think you need to tell a 74 year old chemist/IH that we are all made of chemicals?    Monona

Monona, your comment about "flying glass and chemicals" really illustrates the crux of the issue.  You realize that "glass" is not in and of itself a hazard, but that "flying glass" is.  At the same time, you use "chemical" as synonymous with hazardous.  This is incorrect.  Not even all chemicals used in lab are hazardous.  The physical universe is made of matter and energy (let's ignore dark matter and dark energy).  ALL matter is chemical.  We try to teach our students to be precise in their language.  

Remember, every Thing that is good for us, that we treasure is a bunch of chemicals.  

Kay Calhoun


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