Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:06:34 -0700
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
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From: "Debbie M. Decker" <dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**UCDAVIS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Safety Training
In-Reply-To: <001801cb4640$6d0e8330$472b8990$**At_Symbol_Here**net>

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Robin and Rob make some excellent points, from both directions.  Here at Davis, I provide general chemical and laboratory safety training.  Yes, it’s stand-up training and I reach about 1500 folks per year.  I’m working on an on-line refresher but it just doesn’t have that special “Debbie touch” <grin>.

Many departments won’t issue keys until students compl ete my training.  Many PIs have a similar policy.  More departments/P Is all the time are implementing that requirement.  It’s not up to me ( or EH&S) to make sure folks have training before they head into the lab.  That’s the responsibility of the PI/supervisor and the department to put those requirements in place.

When I started here, lab safety training was offered about e very 6 weeks or so with maybe 20 people attending.  At the beginning of the fall quarter, I’ll have at least one training per week – someti mes more.  It’s taken a long time to get to this point but for a big institution like UC Davis, changing the culture (turning the aircraft carrier) takes a while.

Just my $0.02.

Debbie

-------------------------

Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA  95616
(530)754-7964/(530)681-1799 (cell)

(530)752-4527 (FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicS tories.com and join the conspiracy

-----------------------------

Safety is the first and foremost concern in *every* laboratory operation.  Period.  You relax that rule, bend it, or break it and the consequences (as we have seen) can be fatal.  Reinfor cing the importance of safety by *requiring* safety training before *any* work begins telegraphs the role of safety and is an important first step (of man y) that academia needs to take to embrace the safety culture mindset.

Rob Toreki

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On Aug 27, 2010, at 4:54 PM, Robin M. Izzo wrote:

If only it were that simple… an outright ban on labora tory work until the worker has completed safety training.   In a way, we have that, but it is so much more complicated and I honestly believe that o nly those who work in academia can appreciate that.

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