From: JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] DCHAS-L Digest - 19 Sep 2014 to 20 Sep 2014 (#2014-226)
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 02:09:29 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 83e24.1cc5d23c.414fc599**At_Symbol_Here**aol.com


Building Occupancy Load limits educational occupancies for shops and labs to 50 square feet per person.
 
See your state fire code and the state fire marshal for specific information which should be enforced by the local fire chief.
 
James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
President/CEO
The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)

A Nonprofit International Organization for
Safety in Science, Industry and Science Education

192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 Skype: labsafe
Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335
jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafetyinstitute.org www.labsafetyinstitute.org
 
Chair, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education
International Council for Associations of Science Education
www.icaseonline.net

P
We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary
 
In a message dated 9/21/2014 12:00:43 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**listserv.med.cornell.edu writes:
Date:    Sat, 20 Sep 2014 06:51:32 -0400
From:    "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety"
         <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: Organic Chemistry Class Size

I received this question in the divisional e-mailbox and Dr. Roslaniec said that she would appreciate thoughts from the DCHAS membership.

- Ralph

From: Mary Roslaniec <roslaniecm**At_Symbol_Here**mjc.edu>

We are re-evaluating our lab class size.  Historically, we have followed the ACS guidelines.  Our General Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry courses hold no more than 25 students per lab and our Organic Chemistry for Science Majors class is generally below the 20 student limit.

Our GOB courses span two semesters.  The first is general chemistry and the second is organic/biochemistry combined; both are for the allied health majors.  The Office of Two Year Colleges advised the following:

"To the best of my knowledge, there are no specific recommendations for biochemistry labs (certainly not in the Guidelines). However, you are considering a hybrid lab. Because the student/educator ratio is a safety consideration in the laboratory, I would go with the more stringent recommendations for organic labs. In other words, treat the organic/biochemistry lab as an organic lab, and limit the number of students to 20.

True, this course is =E2=80=98organic chemistry', however, it is at the GOB level.  Our courses are impacted so we hesitate to lower the class size.  So, my question is, is the recommendation for organic chemistry for the allied health majors really as strict as the organic chemistry lab for science majors?

Thank you in advance for your information.

Mary Roslaniec, Ph. D.
Chemistry Professor
Modesto Junior College
Science, Math & Engineering
435 College Avenue
Modesto, CA 95350
209-575-6285
209-575-6216 fax

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