Training Videos

[VERNIG.PETER@forum.va.gov]

There have been recent posts inquiring about computerized training
and I'm afraid I can't help and I would be interested in reviewing any
thing like that out there.
 
Up Front Disclaimer- The following is my opinion alone and does not
reflect that of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Denver Medical Center, 
or the U.S. Government.  Also I have no financial intest in the videos
I am discussing.  
 
The Howard Hughes Memorial Inst. has produced 4 lab safety videos target
ed toward life science research.  The first, "Practicing Safe Science"
is about 30 min. Is general lab safety, touches very briefly on some RAD
Safety.  The next 3 are a set that can be ordered on individual cassettes
or all together on one.  They run 10-15 min each.  The set is "Safety in
the Research Laboratory; they are Radionuclide Hazards, Chemical Hazards,
and Emergency REsponse.
 
Generally I thought they were all excellent.  Note the Emergency response
one has about 5 min on a RAD liquid spill.  One comment I did not care for
near the end of the Nuclide one was that labs should always be looking for
and evaluating non-radioactive alternatives.  The inference is that No.1
priority is reducing exposure to Radioactive materials.  I would think
most research personnel would be interested in non RAD procedures if they
were equivolent.  But all things are rarely equal and I would evaluate 
all procedures on cost, difficulty, hazards, and RESULTS.
 
The good news is Howard Hughes is a nonprofit organization and has been
offering them for FREE.  Simply write them at 4000 Jones Bridge Road,
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 or FAX a letter requesting which ones you want to
301-215-8828 (Tel. # 8827).  I offered to pay for the media and shipping
& handling and they just sent them to me.  If they get deluged they could
change their policy. Peter G. Vernig, VAMC Denver, vernig.peter@forum.va.gov