So, how do we more adequately reach all of these teachers and others who do not have enough training? What can WE do? Is there any way to reach out to national news outlets and get a piece done about this on occasion....like....say...now, after another major incident? Who has the authority to do this?
Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Manager
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan - Flint
-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of McGrath Edward J
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 10:35 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] ACS and other resources on rainbow experiment and other demonstrations
Hi Ralph:
Thank you for including the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) safety alert (which followed the October 30, 2015 incident in Fairfax, VA). The Safety Advisory Board of NSTA also recently updated its paper "Safer Handling of Alcohol in the Laboratory" on its website. Please share http://www.nsta.org/safety/alcohol.aspx with every teacher of science you know.
This incident highlights the ongoing battle we in the K-12 science arena fight daily. Too many people believe the following myths (and the current incident is the result):
1) "Any teacher can teach science with minimal training"
2) "Any adult can teach elementary science with minimal training"
3) "Safety culture is an add-on to science instruction. The main point is the content. Safety isn't "really" part of that."
4) "If you teach science, you MUST have received safety training ahead of time."
5) (this is the most insidious): "Science is about blowing things up."
Ok, I've been staring at this email for a half hour, and I'm really not sure how to conclude it. We have so much work to do, and fewer resources to do it with.
Bottom line, this kind of crap (laboratory injuries caused by failing to provide Duty of Care) must not happen again. They should never have happened this time (or any other time before). We KNOW better.
Eddie McGrath
Edward J. McGrath
Supervisor of Science
Red Clay Consolidated School District
1502 Spruce Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 552-3768
We did not inherit the Earth from our parents. We borrowed it from our children.
-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:41 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] ACS and other resources on rainbow experiment and other demonstrations
As might be expected, ACS headquarters has received several media inquiries about the rainbow demonstration this week. To support members who might receive inquiries from local media, I thought I would provide a list of some of the key ACS and other resources that provide guidance for safe chemistry demonstrations in general and the rainbow demonstration in particular.
Let me know if you have any questions about this.
- Ralph
Safety Alert: The Rainbow Demonstration
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/about/governance/committees/chemicalsafety/safety-alert-rainbow-demonstration.html
NSTA issued its own alert which relies heavily on the ACS statement:
http://www.nsta.org/safety/flametests.aspx
The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) produced a dramatic video showing consequences of the methanol-related experiments:
http://www.csb.gov/videos/after-the-rainbow/
C&EN Safety Blog K-12 list of educational school museum likely alcohol fire incidents https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cp4xM5iyPIDekvnaDM3DRTQs1gKxDj6aYQ1JaSTFWsU/edit?usp=sharing
DCHED Safety Guidelines for Chemical Demonstrations http://www.divched.org/committee/safety
Safety Data Sheets: Information that Could Save Your Life https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/2015-2016/december-2015/safety-data-sheets.html
Safe Transportation Recommendations for Chemicals Used in Demonstrations or Educational Activities
https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/about/governance/committees/chemicalsafety/safetypractices/transporting-chemicals.pdf?_ga=2.218685529.1721778870.1495114376-1892501655.1494673836
Five Key Questions for Safe Research and Demos https://inchemistry.acs.org/content/inchemistry/en/college-life/five-key-questions-for-safe-research-and-demos.html
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For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas
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Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas
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