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New times, new ways
EDITORIAL
New times, new ways
I
t has now been over three months since we’ve entered this new phase of American history. Many never thought it would happen. For the first time in my generation, we are witnessing warfare on American soil. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon seem to be a dramatic precursor to a new era where we will battle terrorists across the world. The ensuing anthrax infections of October 2001 throughout the United States may be only the beginning of a more subtle kind of terrorist plan to attempt to undermine the most important exports of America . . . freedom and liberty. Dr. Frankie Wood-Black, former DivCHAS chair, urged everyone to “get involved” at a local level and help out. I’ll echo that call to action here. All of our readers should make themselves known and available to local emergency planning committees as a resource. Each of us can contribute something to the battle against terrorism. Now would be an excellent time to review the properties of hazardous materials stored in your community and those that travel through your community on a regular basis. Arm yourself with knowledge
and be prepared to meet our future challenges with a positive attitude. We should all take some time to look around our workplaces for possible security problems as well. If you haven’t, here are a few things you might want to consider. Most, if not all, make good chemical safety sense too! ●
●
●
● ●
Control access to your facility. It is perhaps the single most important part of an overall security program. Keep office, laboratory, and storage facility areas locked when not in use. Visitors should be escorted at all times. This will be most difficult in academic facilities, but in these new times, we should consider more security for the research areas of the facility. Keys for after-hours access to the facility should be more carefully controlled. Arrange with security personnel to make routine surveillance tours of the facility. Minimize the inventory of hazardous material on site, paying particular attention to flammables and oxidizers. Properly dispose of the material that is really unnecessary. There’s no need to be a packrat in the age of “just-in-time” delivery. Minimize the quantity of radioactive and highly toxic material in storage. Review mailroom procedures and train personnel to be alert for un-
● ●
usual packages and mail. Prepare to deal with the potential or perceived threats. Investigate all potential threats and suspicious activity. Develop a good, solid relationship with your local emergency response teams (fire, hazmat, security/police, and EMS). Make sure they have confidence in any information that you provide them.
In my service days at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock during the final pre-commissioned days of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), we were constantly reminded to “keep your head on a swivel or you’ll be likely to loose it.” That sound advice has even more application after the events of September 11, 2001. I would urge you all to keep your heads on a swivel, your eyes open, and your psyche alert in addition to getting involved, both at work and in the local community. The price of our safety and freedom is eternal vigilance and steadfast resistance against the oppression sought by our terrorist tormentors.
Harry Elston Editor
NEWS FROM THE NRCC The Editorial Board of Chemical Health & Safety and the NRCC would like to congratulate the following people on successfully completing the Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer examination during the year 2001: Barbara A. Boyle Robert J. Ceru Dominic C. Costa Lisa-Anne B. Donohue J. Dennis Ergle Douglas A. Eubank Regina M. Frasca John E. Garofalo Laura B. Hinkle Kelly Jones Michael W. Jones Sheila M. Kennedy Paul M. Kivistik
1074-9098/02/$22.00 PII S1074-9098(01)00279-9
William C. Knoop Christopher E. Kohler Michael A. Lawless Cecile M. Mars Timothy S. Ryan Wallace H. Ruch, III Stephen A. Szabo Pamela J. Veach Russell N. Vernon Hubert L. Walker Brian J. Wazlaw Donna L. Wilson The CHO examination is given several times each year throughout the country. To find out more about certification, qualifications, examinations, dates, and locations, contact Dr. Gilbert Smith at the National Registry of Certified Chemists, [email protected].
We encourage all readers to enhance their professional skills by continuing education and professional certification. If you or a member of the Division of Chemical Health and Safety obtain a professional milestone such as CIH certification, CSP certification, or CHO certification, please drop us a line and we will let the world know. Throughout this production year (2002), Chemical Health & Safety will be publishing an additional column devoted to CHO certification. We encourage you to participate by contributing a column devoted to one of the rubric areas. All columns that are submitted will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and if used, the author will receive a Chemical Health & Safety coffee mug.
© Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
3
New times, new ways
I
t has now been over three months since we’ve entered this new phase of American history. Many never thought it would happen. For the first time in my generation, we are witnessing warfare on American soil. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon seem to be a dramatic precursor to a new era where we will battle terrorists across the world. The ensuing anthrax infections of October 2001 throughout the United States may be only the beginning of a more subtle kind of terrorist plan to attempt to undermine the most important exports of America . . . freedom and liberty. Dr. Frankie Wood-Black, former DivCHAS chair, urged everyone to “get involved” at a local level and help out. I’ll echo that call to action here. All of our readers should make themselves known and available to local emergency planning committees as a resource. Each of us can contribute something to the battle against terrorism. Now would be an excellent time to review the properties of hazardous materials stored in your community and those that travel through your community on a regular basis. Arm yourself with knowledge
and be prepared to meet our future challenges with a positive attitude. We should all take some time to look around our workplaces for possible security problems as well. If you haven’t, here are a few things you might want to consider. Most, if not all, make good chemical safety sense too! ●
●
●
● ●
Control access to your facility. It is perhaps the single most important part of an overall security program. Keep office, laboratory, and storage facility areas locked when not in use. Visitors should be escorted at all times. This will be most difficult in academic facilities, but in these new times, we should consider more security for the research areas of the facility. Keys for after-hours access to the facility should be more carefully controlled. Arrange with security personnel to make routine surveillance tours of the facility. Minimize the inventory of hazardous material on site, paying particular attention to flammables and oxidizers. Properly dispose of the material that is really unnecessary. There’s no need to be a packrat in the age of “just-in-time” delivery. Minimize the quantity of radioactive and highly toxic material in storage. Review mailroom procedures and train personnel to be alert for un-
● ●
usual packages and mail. Prepare to deal with the potential or perceived threats. Investigate all potential threats and suspicious activity. Develop a good, solid relationship with your local emergency response teams (fire, hazmat, security/police, and EMS). Make sure they have confidence in any information that you provide them.
In my service days at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock during the final pre-commissioned days of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), we were constantly reminded to “keep your head on a swivel or you’ll be likely to loose it.” That sound advice has even more application after the events of September 11, 2001. I would urge you all to keep your heads on a swivel, your eyes open, and your psyche alert in addition to getting involved, both at work and in the local community. The price of our safety and freedom is eternal vigilance and steadfast resistance against the oppression sought by our terrorist tormentors.
Harry Elston Editor
NEWS FROM THE NRCC The Editorial Board of Chemical Health & Safety and the NRCC would like to congratulate the following people on successfully completing the Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer examination during the year 2001: Barbara A. Boyle Robert J. Ceru Dominic C. Costa Lisa-Anne B. Donohue J. Dennis Ergle Douglas A. Eubank Regina M. Frasca John E. Garofalo Laura B. Hinkle Kelly Jones Michael W. Jones Sheila M. Kennedy Paul M. Kivistik
1074-9098/02/$22.00 PII S1074-9098(01)00279-9
William C. Knoop Christopher E. Kohler Michael A. Lawless Cecile M. Mars Timothy S. Ryan Wallace H. Ruch, III Stephen A. Szabo Pamela J. Veach Russell N. Vernon Hubert L. Walker Brian J. Wazlaw Donna L. Wilson The CHO examination is given several times each year throughout the country. To find out more about certification, qualifications, examinations, dates, and locations, contact Dr. Gilbert Smith at the National Registry of Certified Chemists, [email protected].
We encourage all readers to enhance their professional skills by continuing education and professional certification. If you or a member of the Division of Chemical Health and Safety obtain a professional milestone such as CIH certification, CSP certification, or CHO certification, please drop us a line and we will let the world know. Throughout this production year (2002), Chemical Health & Safety will be publishing an additional column devoted to CHO certification. We encourage you to participate by contributing a column devoted to one of the rubric areas. All columns that are submitted will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and if used, the author will receive a Chemical Health & Safety coffee mug.
© Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
3