The video while well executed sends the wrong message.  Let’s turn back the clock and start before the video was made and ask what message are we trying to send here and who was responsible for first educating these students in lab safety before releasing them into the lab? 

Is this video really a good way to teach a subject by correcting incorrect procedures rather than teaching the correct procedures in the first place?  Furthermore, the approach taken in the safety clip cast all the characters in a bad light.  The students are the villains and the safety official is the authority cop.  Had the video started with the professor or PI, who should have the primary responsibility for assuring a safe laboratory, by introducing safety and the importance of safe work practices (including not working alone in the lab which was overlooked in some of the situations in the video), shown a few safety techniques and them introduced the safety official as a resource and let him complete the training would have in my opinion been a more effective and inspirational approach.

Then there is the title of the video, "A Day in the Lab (A PIs Perspective)".  Except for the credits where is the PI or may be the absence of the PI explains it.

Laurence Doemeny

Hi,

UC San Diego has released a new video titled ‘A Day in the Lab (A PIs Perspective)’. It is a collaborative effort between EH&S and Professor Haim Weizman and has been very well received by our faculty safety committee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA8mC5RIj5k&feature=p layer_detailpage

I hope you enjoy the video.

All the best,

Doug

Douglas Harvey

Environment, Health & Safety, CCHO

Chemical Safety Officer

University of California, San Diego

Office phone:  (858) 822-1579

Cell phone:  (858) 583-3257

Email:  daharvey**At_Symbol_Here**ucsd .edu

Mail code:  0089