From: Daniel Kuespert <dankuespert**At_Symbol_Here**ME.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Draft lab risk assessment video comments requested
Date: Tue, 1 May 2018 13:43:59 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 3BC03B4E-8E33-40B1-9066-753A6F8B279C**At_Symbol_Here**me.com
In-Reply-To <081D2363-9FA6-42E3-B06F-4B0FB2EC3DA9**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>


Excellent video. Describing a risk assessment as a kind of "prioritized" hazard assessment is a great way to make it understandable. 


I do take a little issue with describing risk as essentially a measure of probability alone. Not to be pedantic about risk = F(probability, severity), but I think there are situations when thinking of risk solely as probability or likelihood might lead people astray. Really bad outcomes, even if extremely unlikely, should have measures taken to prevent them. For one thing, the history of catastrophic incidents indicates that people tend to underestimate the probability of such incidents, or let their layers of protection gradually degrade until the probability becomes higher.

Just my $0.02.

Regards,
Dan

Daniel Reid Kuespert, PhD, CSP
11101 Wood Elves Way
Columbia, MD 21044
410-992-9709

On May 1, 2018, at 07:40, DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> wrote:

With the support of the ACS's Innovative Project Grant program for technical divisions, DCHAS has been working with Timothy Gallagher of the University of Bristol and a video artist to develop a short video on the the topic of laboratory risk assessments and maintaining situational awareness as work proceeds. We are nearing the end of the editing process; the current draft is available for viewing at
https://vimeo.com/260598497
with a password of: lab

I'd appreciate any comments or questions DCHAS members have about the video by Thursday of this week.

Let me know if you have any questions about this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

Membership chair
American Chemical Society
Division of Chemical Health and Safety

---
For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.