Edited by
Gardner W. Stacy Conference Chairman
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ACS Tenth Biennial Education Conference
Safety and Health in the Academic Laboratory Recommendations by the Partic&nts
The Tenth Biennial Education Conference of the American Chemical Societv, held October 20-22. 1977. in Chicaeo. - , brought togetheiacademic and industrial chemists, government safety and health administrators, and university safety officers to discuss "Safety and Health in the Academic Lah-
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The Conference was sponsored by the ACS Board of Directors' Committee on Education and Students in response to the increasing concern to provide a safe and healthful environment in academic chemistry laboratories. Conference speakers and study groups discussed: estahlishment of health and safety programs in college and university chemistrv de~artments:the develooment of reeulatims and the enfhrcement of theie hy the Ockpnt ional ~ L f e t y and Health Administrationand the Knvironmental Protertion Agency as they apply to the academic chemistry laboratory; and the moral and legal responsihilitv of chemistrv d e ~ a r t ments in the maintenance or safe andhealthful research and educational laboratories. The preparation of a booklet addressing these and other topics was commissioned by the Conference participants to help answer many of the questions that chemistry departments have in the area of health and safety. T h e Society will publish the booklet and distribute it to departments of chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical engineering. t s discussed wavs in which ACS Conference ~ a r t i c i ~ a nalso and other professional societies, government bodies, academic institutions, and industrial organizations could work toeether to ensure that: (a) amdemir lahoratories ;are safe and heulthful and meet upplirahle I'edrral ;and state safety st;~ndards;lbj insrrurtion in and inturmation concerning laboratory safety and health are widely availat~lr;and (cj students, tmchers, and academic research chemists give high priority to safety and
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A) To the American Chemical Society 1) WE RECOMMEND to the American Chemical Societv that it estal,lihh an adequately fundcd Olfire ol ~hemi~.;~'l Safety and Health, and that this Utiire Courdinate existing and plan new ACS activities in chemical safety and health. Interact with other scientific and professional societies to exchange information un safety and health matters and consider joint approaches to resulving specific problems. Develm and distrihute materials that clearlv exulain . federal safety and health regulations as they apply to academic institutions. Develop and distribute materials to help chemistry departments identify laboratory hazards and review their lahoratory facilitiesand practices ibr compliance with applicable federal or state safety standards. Compile a list of qualified resource people in the field of chemical safetyand health who are willing toadvise chemistry departments seeking to improve their laboratory facilities and practices. Provide information shout funding sources for chemistry departments whose laboratory facilities must be improved to comply with federal or state safety standards. Provide academic chemistry departments with information about internal procedures and outside services for the disposal of chemical wastes. Coordinate and expedite efforts to make liability insurance available to ACS members against lawsuits deriving from injuries or illness caused hy unsafe or unhealthful laboratory practices or conditions. Develop a publicatiun on safety and health factors in the design and construction af academic facilities with particular a
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Participants Ilea,,,University Of Hawaii aL Maws Hslley A. Merreii. American Chsmicrl &x.ielv. Manaxor. O f i m of l.llcnl Sectimi Activities. Staff 1.iainm. C,,mmilloa sun rhemiral Safety R. Kcith Os~erheld,University ~ ~ I M o n t a n r Malclllm M. Kenlrew. Univemily of 1dnh,1. Chairman.'l'A'I'rrinine C
