I don't think those who have lamented the fact that "chemistry" has been prominently included in the reports of a shop accident are implying that we aren't responsible for safety in all areas.  They're just saying "Here we go again; chemistry gets the bad rap."  When Morton advertises  their Solar Salt as having "no chemicals", C&EN Nov,2010, you know there's a problem and being sensitive about it is understandable.  The other side of this is that with the emphasis in the headline is on Chemistry, many Physics & Astronomy professors and those responsible for mechanical safety may have just ignored it.  I know I passed it on to our Physics faculty because I didn't know if they'd hear about it otherwise.

Kay Calhoun

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 8:23 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] 8 Re: [DCHAS-L] Yale student killed in chemistry laboratory accident/ A Call for a broad perspective on safety

From: fred.simmons**At_Symbol_Here**srs.gov

Date: April 15, 2011 7:25:16 AM EDT

Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 8 Re: [DCHAS-L] Yale student killed in chemistry laboratory accident/ A Call for a broad perspective on safety

When I was in school I had the lathe, drill press and other machine shop tools in my laboratory along with all of the traditional chemistry lab equipment.  I fail to see the difference here.  Whether you call this a lab or a machine shop it was a part of here "Chemistry Lab" environment and the distinction is surely irrelevant to her friends and family.

Fred Simmons

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions

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