Comments for The Safety Zone

Comment on Preliminary hearing for Patrick Harran in #SheriSangji case: Motion to dismiss or reduce the charges by swihart

swihart — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:27:53 +0000

I don’t know where it’s best to put this question. But I see two likely-to-know-something commenters here and so here goes.

Has anybody asked Prof Harran what butyllithium titration procedure was used in their group, or by Ms. Sangji? And how often titration was performed? There are a number of different approaches (I am told).

The transcript of the FM interview is something I keep going back to. And the hexane she spilled on herself after the slip with the syringe…. that had to be from a titration to assess a precise concentration of the tBuLi. Is anybody talking about that?

(I was trained as an organic chemist, completed a non-shabby doctorate, organic chem, have used t-butyl and other butyllithiums but two decades ago. Have never worked as a chemist nor was that my aim. Wanted to teach in a little college where teaching was the valued product. Became a safety pro instead.)

Comment on On the importance of teaching safety by Michael Cannon

Michael Cannon — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:56:16 +0000

The reliance on oral history in the academic research lab to convey proper lab practices has contributed to the rise in accidents. As labs become more interdisciplinary and undergraduate volunteers become the norm S&H training will become even more important. It is imperative that these students get the training through their academic course work to ensure they have the safety and health skills needed to meet the challenge of the evolving research environment.

Comment on On the importance of teaching safety by Susan Beech

Susan Beech — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:12:08 +0000

As a member of the industrial hygiene field, we often see newbies who lack the necessary chemical safety training required for the job. I agree with letter and feel that these safety skills should be taught in school.

Comment on Friday chemical safety round up by Ken

Ken — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:04:02 +0000

Yes, the Florida high school student probably showed poor judgement. But poor enough to warrant expulsion from school and an arrest? I can’t disagree strongly enough. In fact, I personally would like to see the ACS send a letter to the school and law enforcement authorities to ask for leniency in this case (assuming here that it was simple curiosity and a foolish experiment gone bad).

Comment on Friday chemical safety round up by qvxb

qvxb — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:22:25 +0000

The Florida high school student showed poor judgement in having a bottle dispersing a solution of very low or high pH (depending on the cleaner used) after the explosion. Bystanders could have sufferd skin or eye injuries. If she had Googled “aluminum foil toilet bowl cleaner” she would have found a number of videos of similar experiments.

Comment on Friday chemical safety round up by Chemjobber

Chemjobber — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:42:21 +0000

These are still great.

Comment on Ripped from the pages: More on the West Fertilizer explosion in Texas by Ken

Ken — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:39:27 +0000

Absolutely appropriate. It’s an editorial cartoon – it’s supposed to provoke, and the more it provokes the more it is right on target.

Comment on Ripped from the pages: More on the West Fertilizer explosion in Texas by qvxb

qvxb — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:29:53 +0000

Put me on the “appropriately provoking” side. I predict Perry will be asked to head the EPA – of the People’s Republic of China.

Comment on Ripped from the pages: More on the West Fertilizer explosion in Texas by Steven

Steven — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:52:31 +0000

It is an appropriate juxtaposition. These are the sorts of things one can expect by cutting regulations and by not enforcing the ones you have. The same type of explosion happened 66 years ago, but politicians, and the public, have short memories. This is a tragedy in more ways than one.

Comment on Preliminary hearing for Patrick Harran in #SheriSangji case: Motion to dismiss or reduce the charges by Jim Kaufman

Jim Kaufman — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:58:27 +0000

Observing someone work is not the same as providing training. I believe that it is disingenuous and self-serving to suggest otherwise.

Unfortunately, science folks seem to take some delight in pointing out the problems non-science folks have reporting scientific stuff. Sheri died and we (science folks) should take a little less pleasure in pointing out whether it should be molecules or millimoles.