From: Melissa Charlton-Smith <charltonsmith**At_Symbol_Here**WVWC.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] CHO hiring algorithm?
Date: November 12, 2012 1:44:39 PM EST
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <FADD02FF-213B-4F24-96F7-D2770B7EFEF8**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>

Ralph my thoughts on the matter, and this is coming from someone who is a
CHO at a smaller institution of about 1,400 students....

I strongly believe also that there should be a resident CHO full time,
unless the institution completely shuts down and doesn't conduct any
research etc during the summer months. The size of the institution would
dictate the scope and duration of responsibility.

For larger institutions (greater than 10,000 students) a full time, year
round CHO-lab safety manager as part of an EHS type team...probably
several CHO's depending on the number of buildings, number of labs doing
research, number of teaching labs etc. Research/graduate labs would have
different hygiene issues than undergraduate teaching labs. With full
support from administration on compliance matters.

For "medium" institutions (say 2,000 to 10,000 students) at least one to
two full time, year round CHO-lab safety managers with additional part
time support and/or part of an EHS team. Again depending on number of
buildings/teaching labs/research labs. With full support from
administration on compliance matters.

Smaller institutions (say 2000 or fewer students) could combine CHO
responsibilities with lab management responsibilities or with lighter
teaching loads (1/2 or 1/3 time teaching loads) possibly a part time
support person. Also with full support from the administration on
compliance matters.

I emphasize the full support from administration, especially with smaller
institutions and limited funds, because it seems (from personal past
experience) that some (NOT ALL) will have a CHO "figurehead" with little
or no authority or support from the administration, who reports to the
chair of the academic department who may, or may not, be "on board" when
it comes to safety culture.

Anyway, that is just my quick 2 cents...take it or leave it....obviously
more consideration will have to go into this than I just threw out to
everybody.

Mel


Mel Charlton-Smith
Chemical Hygiene Officer, Lab Coordinator, Lecturer
BS-CHO program
Department of Chemistry
WV Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV 26201

charltonsmith**At_Symbol_Here**wvwc.edu
304-473-8355


-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf
Of Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 11:50 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] CHO hiring algorithm?

A colleague writes:
===
I've been asked by a college system comprised of 13 institutions if they
should hire a full- or part-time chemical hygiene officer. Do you know
what parameter(s) per CHO hour may be the best way to think about it
(student enrollment, number of science faculty, chemical inventory,
current state of the program, etc.)?
===
I agreed to send the question to the DCHAS-L for input from people who may
have faced this question in their setting.

Any responses would be appreciated.

- Ralph


Ralph Stuart
secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Secretary
Division of Chemical Health and Safety
American Chemical Society

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