Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:54:12 EDT
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
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From: ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
Subject: Re: Yale student killed in chemistry laboratory accident

I completely agree. There was no reason to assume the chemistry department was involved.  Most universities I've worked at have a shop that is used by many departments.  It may actually be primarily in the engineering or in the art departments.  But it can be used by anyone who qualifies on the shop machines (if they have a good program).  And the problem with most is there is 24 hour access and no monitors at night.

24 hour access is actually a major selling point to attract students in art and theater.  It is really difficult to get the school to either reduce the hours or pay for trained monitors all night.

The faculty at one school I was at recently told me the shop was locked at night which I believed until I found out from a conversation with students that they all knew how to break in and they did it whenever they had a deadline they hadn't met.  And they were sure the faculty actually knew they did this.  That would make intereting tesimony in an accident lawsuit.

Monona


In a message dated 4/14/2011 9:11:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Keifer.Leonard**At_Symbol_Here**EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV writes:


While it is tragic that the young lady died in such a way I find it
disturbing that the accident was immediately assumed to be a chemistry
laboratory accident. She may have been working on a project for a
chemistry course but the accident was clearly a machine shop accident.

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