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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (16 articles) Date: Friday, December 10, 2021 at 11:32:43 AM Author: Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (16 articles) Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2021 08:49:35 -0800 Author: NEAL LANGERMAN |
In the UConn Chem building, we had a large nitrogen tank on every floor that was accessible to anyone who entered the building. And the building doors were unlocked most of the time, so this could easily happen there. TBH, I'm surprised that we don't hear about more undergrads messing around with the tanks. Especially since they lock the dry ice cabinets in the basement for about a week before Halloween every year because it is quite common for undergrads to go down there and steal dry ice at that time of year - and those are way more challenging to find than the nitrogen tanks.
On Dec 10, 2021, at 7:29 AM, CHAS membership <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> wrote:*Message sent from a system outside of UConn.*The public information challenge of hazmat situations is one interesting aspect of this story, although my experience is what gets printed is not reliable for identification of the actual hazardous material involved.Please join with me in writing your Senators and Representatives! A ban is clearly needed on this dangerous explosive, nitrogen!
The more interesting aspect of the story as reported is that someone randomly walked into a chemistry building and was able to start playing with gas cylinders of any kind. The reason I continue to collect and share these hazmat headlines after 10 years is to remind myself and the chemical safety community of the risks that emerge in real life situations. These risks are usually not related to unexpected chemical reactions or exotic equipment, but arise from human factors which are overlooked or otherwise not well managed. I find it quite helpful to have reminders on a regular basis that it can be simple aspects of a situation that translate a hazard into a risk...
Thanks for pointing out this other aspects of the story, though.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Membership Chair
American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Health and Safety
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
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