From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Ken Kretchman
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2019 5:51 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Thoughts?

As a non-renowned academic, who does research and is not really involved with CH&S as my job, shutting a labis certainly effective but not likely to win friends in the department. Academics have to listen to department heads and Deans because of the immediate leverage over the academics researcher's daily life. So, winning the hearts and minds of those administrators is probably a better place to start. I would suggest with leading with personal and university liabilities including recent examples. Administrators, by their nature, are risk averse and, if presented correctly, can be led to developing a safer culture in the lab.

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of Lucy Dillman <lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET>
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Date: Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 3:25 PM
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Thoughts?

 

The renowned researcher probably does no real work in his lab.  I would approach his staff.  I would get them as much training time as possible and make them largely responsible for implementing safe practices (including PPE, waste disposal, etc.) as you can, emphasizing their personal responsibility and possible penalties (monetary, loss of job, loss of life and limb, etc.) that come from not following "the rules."  Safety practices supposedly come from the "top down," but with someone like "RR" you will probably have better luck from the bottom up.  Speaking of which, good luck.

 

Lucy Dillman

 

On Sat, Aug 3, 2019 at 8:36 AM Peter Zavon <pzavon**At_Symbol_Here**rochester.rr.com> wrote:

Easier said than done in academia, and Tiffany has not even hinted at whether she has the clout to do that.  That is why she is receiving advise about developing allies, elevating the issue, etc.

 

 

Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com

 

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Giarmo
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2019 4:36 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Thoughts?

 

Worst case: Shut them down until a plan is in place to remedy the unsafe situation. Waiting for an accident to happen is an unacceptable risk for any institution or corporation. Turning a blind eye or overlooking violations will encourage them elsewhere and will leave your institution liable and may leave you personally liable in the event of an incident.

 

Geoff

 

On Fri, Aug 2, 2019 at 2:31 PM Tiffany Freedman <trush1**At_Symbol_Here**citadel.edu> wrote:

 

Good afternoon all!

 

I know as safety professionals we've all faced some very interesting situations, but I was curious as to everyone's thoughts on a situation similar to the one below. 

 

How did you approach the situation?  What did you try that worked?  What did you try that maybe didn't work as well as you had hoped? Maybe the problem wasn't completely solved but it improved? Did you have to reach out for assistance?  I know we all have different environments and experiences and it's these differences that make our shared experiences invaluable.

 

Situation:

 

A renowned researcher is bringing in large sums of funding and greatly adding to the prestige of a facility/institution.  This individual, however, has repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for safety. Others in the group are aware of this but are reluctant to comment.  They wonder how/why this individual can continue operating in this manner.

 

Thanks so much for your thoughts! 

 

Regards,

Tiffany

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

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