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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Is this another? Date: Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 7:39:01 AM Author: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [New post] Health and Safety II? Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2019 15:43:34 -0400 Author: James Kaufman |
> >Given the complexities and nuances unique to free soloing versus other risk management environments, I'd personally suggest exercising caution when attempting to draw any parallels to laboratory/chemical safety. This is my personal perspective as both a climber and a chemist.
>
I agree that there are differences between personal and institutional risk tolerances and that these can change with the context of the decision-making, but it's not always clear to me that everyone who works in labs recognizes those differences. Some lab workers seem to assume that their lab neighbors will accept their own personal risk tolerances and are unaware of the impacts of those choices.
For EHS professionals, this is important when we design of safety training and oversight programs, as these programs will manage a wide range of risk tolerances within their purview and conflicts between these tolerances can be expected to arise. As we discussed earlier this month, this can lead to the need for significant planning and effort in designing consequences associated with the oversight program.
On a related note, I ran across on interesting article in an unusual location earlier this week. The article is on the Forbes web site at
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/08/05/computer-science-could-learn-a-lot-from-library-and-information-science/#4cce0531587d
and is entitled "Computer Science Could Learn A Lot From Library and Information Science". The author makes the interesting point that computer scientists are taught "what can we do with this data?" and while librarians are taught to first ask "what is the impact of this use of information on people?". It seems to me that Green Chemists are raising the second question relative to chemical technologies in a similar way.
One reason I am pursuing this discussion is that I am helping to organize a symposium on "Connecting Professionalism, Safety & Ethics: Opportunities & Challenges" for the upcoming San Diego national meeting, so this subject is top of mind for me right now.
Thanks to everyone for their interest in this topic.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
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