I've said it before here and on JCHAS Page 1: People change when the pain
of change is less than the pain of staying the same.
I submit that there is ample warning out there. The ACS, its associated
group AACT, and individual efforts by a number of people contacting school
administrators has provided a lot of warning. However, the warning is not
being perceived as siren, but just noise that is simply ignored.
Clearly the pain is not yet high enough for change. The multimillion dollar
settlement in 2016 from a 2013 incident in Georgia wasn't enough pain.
(http://cenblog.org/the-safety-zone/2016/05/georgia-student-burned-in-rainbo
w-demo-alcohol-fire-to-receive-1-5-million/). The CSB video on this wasn't
enough pain. How much will it take?
If history is any indication of future events, we have an answer to the
question: When there is a felony negligence charge leveled at the high
school teacher and the administration after an incident, we will see some
change. It won't be a fatality, nor permanent physical disability; it will
be the felony indictment that will precipitate change.
I really hate being Nostradamus on this; and I pray that I am not.
Harry
-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
[mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Stuart, Ralph
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2017 11:05 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 'Large fireball' injures students in chemistry
experiment gone wrong
>What is needed is common sense. Is this something that can be learned?
The question is where the common sense needs to be located. The NFPA has
already laid out very explicit expectations for classroom chemical
demonstrations that enable a prudent person to work safely. However, it's
not clear to me that either the teachers (or other demonstrators in public
spaces, such as museums, daycares or scout gatherings) are aware of this
standard. In my opinion, school administrators need to be more curious about
why not...
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
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