safety and proper animal care probably go together

[Ruth Sponsler <jk5554@yahoo.com>]

A few more thoughts - - that relate mainly to

university labs.



A properly maintained laboratory will probably show

both good standards of animal care ~and~ proper

procedures for storing and handling chemicals and

radioisotopes.  While the radiation/chemical safety

officer may not be the same person who inspects animal

care, he can certainly coordinate with that person if

there are any questions about something that may have

been observed during a visit, waste pickup or

inspection. 



It's my feeling that the labs that are not storing

chemicals properly or are not real good about

coordinating with the safety office concerning

isotopes, inspections etc. are likely to also be the

labs where animal care may be deficient. 



My experience is that problems of these sorts in the

University environment usually have as a common root

the researchers' or Postdocs'/students' sole focus on

getting publications out, to the detriment of

following proper research and safety protocols,

whether with chemicals, animals, or rad safety.  



Although I wasn't in safety, a few years ago I worked

in a couple of university labs.  [I was not the 'key'

person for any of them].  In labs where the sole focus

is getting the publicationss out, I observed

everything from office safety problems (from which an

injury accident occurred!!) to poor arthropod colony

maintenance to improper chemical storage.   As

radiation procedures are generally more strict than,

say, office safety procedures, I can say I have never

personally observed problems in of this nature,

although the particular labs used very few isotopes.  



Radsafers whose responsibilities include any sort of

visits to university labs can always look over the

'gestalt' picture of the lab in addition to the

inspection points with isotopes (and/or chemicals). 

If they see an office safety shortcoming or dirty

animal cages/poorly treated animals, that can always

be noted on the report and communicated both to the

person responsible for the lab and, if necessary, to

the animal care officer.



This comment in no way condones any illegal and/or

threatening 'animal rights' actions.  I do NOT think

that PETA should be entitled to tax-exempt status. 

However, I can say that there is a basis for

PETA/ALF's perceptions in certain cases, especially

cases where researchers care about only one thing:

ego.  I believe that those folks who are in safety at

universities can help to change that perception, but

that much of the responsibility for change ultimately

lies with the researchers themselves.  



Often times, safety problems crop up in areas that

_aren't_ a current focus of inspections.  The most

serious university lab accident that occurred in my

personal workplace stemmed from an office safety

shortcoming (details by personal e-mail if you like). 

  



~Ruth 2









>>In college at a school of Pharmacy ...





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