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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Transporting chemicals
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:54:48 -0700
Author: Lee Latimer 		Next by Date:
Subject: [DCHAS-L] CHAS Tweets and Chemical Safety headlines (9 articles)
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 08:03:15 -0400
Author: Secretary ACS DCHAS

From: ILPI Support <info**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Transporting chemicals
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:24:08 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: B101C528-F55D-40A6-B547-B7AB8677188D**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com
In-Reply-To


I concur.  I took some grad students to do a fourth grade science day outreach, and I specifically did not take anything that involved fire or explosions.   I introduced myself by saying "My name is Rob, and I'm a chemist.  Does anyone know what a chemist does?"  A dozen hands were thrust into the air.  I selected a student and his answer was "Blows things up."  A half dozen hands went down when I told him "No...".


Which is why the demos consisted of fun with the vacuum pump and bell jar, making slime, and other age-appropriate activities.

This is not to say I haven't had grand fun with hydrogen/oxygen balloons, burning magnesium inside a block of dry ice etc, (without transporting them anywhere) but like everything we do it's all about risk and hazard assessment and remediation, the most important first step of which is substituting less dangerous procedures and materials.  Remove flames, fire and explosions from the demo and the transportation issue pretty much solves itself.  Not entirely, of course, because even transporting a helium tank in a vehicle poses an asphyxiation hazard and we have to worry about spills for even "simple" demos like iodine clock reactions.

Insofar as a written policy, I certainly hope that anyone doing outreach activities has one.  So we should see some good responses from the list members.  There are even courses in safe outreach activities:

http://www.chem.duke.edu/outreach/180.php
https://sites.google.com/site/puchemsociety/home/chemistry-outreach

Found this, which is exactly what you're looking for: http://www.rsc.org/images/safetybooklet_tcm18-115083.pdf

Additional considerations: http://group.chem.iastate.edu/bcce/18BCCE/ChemicalDemoRules.html

Rob Toreki

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On Oct 18, 2013, at 4:54 PM, Lee Latimer <lhlatimer**At_Symbol_Here**MINDSPRING.COM> wrote:

Re: [DCHAS-L] Transporting chemicals
Keep to things you can buy at a grocery, pharmacy or hardware store and you won't have problems with regulations.

Note that when asked about insurance coverage, ACS members are covered by an umbrella policy from the ACS when doing such public outreach activities on behalf of their section and ACS.

Enjoy it!

Lee Latimer


On 10/18/13 11:36 AM, "Steve McLean" <steve_mclean**At_Symbol_Here**BYU.EDU> wrote:

Many businesses, corporations, laboratories, and colleges/universities are routinely asked to provide "chemistry demonstration shows" at elementary schools, Boy Scout troop meetings, science fair kick-offs, etc. as a way to both entertain and, more importantly, develop interest in science and chemistry within the members of the group. (Think Bassam Shakashiri and Bill Nye…)
 
Assume that a presentation cannot be done at the business/lab/university and it must be done at the location of the requesting organization. Does anyone on the list have an established, written policy or set of guidelines that you have developed and are willing to share that addresses how the necessary chemicals and equipment are transported? Any relevant prohibitions?
 
Thanks,
SJM
*******************
Steven J. McLean, CHMM
Brigham Young University
Laboratory Safety Manager
Office: (801) 422-6879
stevemclean**At_Symbol_Here**byu.edu <mailto:stevemclean**At_Symbol_Here**byu.edu>



 


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