Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:49:58 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Don Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
Subject: Re: flammable cabinet question
In-Reply-To: <C3E98B533BBA314490DC0D1C18E02317095A5703**At_Symbol_Here**pb01msx.wgipb.local>
<
div style='font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'
>The idea that "The
bottom line on this issue is that if it's mandated by law we really don't h
ave a
choice but to comply" could be the subject of endless philoso
phical, legal, and ethical debate, but I'd like to suggest that as a practi
cal matter, given the thousands of pages of regulations and consensus stand
ards out there, it'd be hard to imagine there's any institution that's mana
ged to comply with every last one of them (assuming one could even be aware
of every requirement), and that at some point we have to choose our priori
ties and be as aware as we can of the benefits, consequences, and costs of
choices about regulations.
I'm not suggesting we pick and cho
ose the rules we like and ignore the rest, but rather that the consequences
of being out of compliance with a specific regulation are not infinite, an
d that being in compliance isn't the same as being safe. In this part
icular instance, I'd choose not dropping the bottles over compliance.
(I'd reconsider, of course, if the penalty for the lack of a self closing
door is a mandatory life sentence on the first offense.)
Also
, deciding "to ignore or
work around a standard or legal requirement to do something because we may
not
agree with it" is what keeps the entire legal syste
m in business.
&
nbsp; &
nbsp; Respectfully,
&
nbsp;
Don
Do
n A.
Long
STS,
CAIH
So
uthwest
Research Institute Laboratory
Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
PO Box 20130
White Ha
ll, AR 71612
870-541-4930
-----Original
Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List
[mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU]On Behalf Of Rita Kay
Calhoun
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:14 AM
To:
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabinet
question
It is hard to see the sense in following "safety rules=" that cause more danger than they prevent. Often rules are made by people who are only look ing at one small part of a situation and not at all considering the overall ramifications of their dictates. Consider the post this morni ng from Ina Ahern whose local fire department is mandating the use of a tubi ng which has been shown to cause safety problems (see her post) when all tha t is needed is a program to increase awareness as to the importance of inspect ing tubing; at most a requirement that inspections occur and are documented a t regular stated intervals.
Kay
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of List Moderator
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 7:04 AM
To:< /b> DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabinet question
From: "Long, Don" <d on.long**At_Symbol_Here**wgint.com>
Date: November 10, 2010 6:54:08 AM EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabinet question
"I recently bought several safety cabinets, and I found that it is the state that mandates self closing doors. Luckily, we were able to purchase ones with manual doors."
This spooks me. The above statement implies that even though self-closing door s are mandated by state law (probably a UFC state) but inconvenient, you have decided to ignore the law. I hope that's not what I read.
It's hard to convince employees of the importance of safety rules and standard s when we ourselves ignore the "inconvenient" ones.
Don A. Long
STS, CAIH
Southwest Research Institute Laboratory
Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
PO Box 20130
White Hall, AR 71612
870-541-4930
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