On the anniversary of the March 18, 1937 New London School Explosion, I
salute safety experts who specialize in helping schools understand the
explosives and other hazardous materials in their schools. They work to
promote the safety standards, safety plans and staff training necessary
to promote health and safety in every aspect of school activities.
These
"Healthy Schools Heroes" are champions of school safety and security.
They serve as environmental health resources and mentors to the school
community, setting up in-house systems for community participation,
health surveillance, and ongoing hazard identification and control.
Schools need these heroes because too many school communities overlook
opportunities to act when conditions in the school are making people
sick or where there is a high risk of explosion, fire, and chemical
spills -- from either accidental or intentional acts.
Dr. James
Kaufman is the founder and President of the Laboratory Safety Institute,
a national non-profit network and resource center for safety in science
education. He is a safety consultant dedicated to making health and
safety an integral and important part of science education, work and
life. LSI's lectures, training programs, AV lending library and
publications help academic institutions throughout the world. LSI
publishes "Speaking of Safety," a newsletter of information, inspiration
and motivation to raise the standard of science education and school
safety. LSI has recently published "Safety is Elementary: The New
Standard for Safety in the Elementary Science Classroom."
Christopher
Erzinger, is one of three employees of the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment's Hazardous Materials and Waste Management
Division and a Denver attorney honored by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for helping to remove hazardous chemicals from
Colorado schools. They worked with Colorado school districts; fire
departments; the Colorado State Patrol; law enforcement agencies; local
health departments; and county public health nursing services over the
past five years to remove old, deteriorated and unsafe chemicals from
school and college storerooms used by chemistry classes throughout
Colorado. Erzinger is the Hazardous Materials Compliance Officer for the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. His educational
Powerpoint presentation "When Good Chemicals Go Bad" dramatically
documents the school hazards and the work of first responders and bomb
squads who conducted the clean outs and disposals including detonations
of explosives that makes it possible to imagine what could happen to
schools that do not act to remove hazards.
Monona Rossol, is the
founder of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety, a not-for-profit corporation
providing a variety of health and safety services. She is a chemist,
artist, author, industrial hygienist and an international consultant on
safety and risk reduction for schools, individuals, organizations and
institutions. She travels the world promoting safety in a wide range of
school activities and for a wide range of students including the
youngest and most vulnerable. Her book The Artists� Complete Health and
Safety Guide (Allworth Press) provides the basic concepts and vocabulary
necessary for understanding the acute and chronic health hazards posed
by a variety of chemicals and environmental pollutants. She also
describes the practical steps necessary to control them. Written for
artists and teachers in the arts, the book is useful reading for anyone
interested in healthier schools.
The chapter, "Classroom
Hazards," discusses teacher qualifications, emergency planning,
sanitation, cleanup, choosing safe materials and activities, and the
importance of obtaining information on students' special needs. There is
a table on products and materials to avoid and safer options. ACTS
FACTS is the monthly 4-page newsletter that provides information about
occupational health hazards and safety research, regulations and
standards affecting people in the arts, especially teachers, students,
and those with allergies and other sensitivities.
THERE IS A HERO IN YOUR AREA
It could be you.
In
response to the growing number of accidents such as mercury spills and
lab injuries, many states have created resources and programs to help
schools conduct chemical clean-outs and to provide training to staff.
They can be allies and partners to anyone who takes leadership for
school safety.
Today, there is a website and a New London Museum
dedicated to remember the "lost generation" and educating people of all
ages about safety and the aftermath of the School Explosion across
generations.
Make March 18 Healthy Schools Heroes Day In Your School
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The world endures solely by virtue of the breath of school
children. (Talmud)
