Every
year, to mark the anniversary of the March 18, 1937 Texas School
Explosion, Healthy Kids salutes Healthy Schools Heroes who demonstrate
extraordinary responsibility and inspirational leadership to protect
children and teachers from chemical hazards in schools.
The
Healthy Schools Hero Award is an annual opportunity to remember the
worst school disaster in American history as a case study and
cautionary tale. It can inspire us to break the silence about school
hazards and to prioritize the values and technical skills we need to
live safely with 21st century chemicals and technology. It prompts us
to take action to save lives in today's schools where explosives and
other hazardous materials in labs, closets and storerooms are routinely
ignored.
The Healthy Schools Hero Award 2008
goes to a TEAM of five people who demonstrate how state and federal
agencies can take leadership for school safety. They
are heroes for their collective sense of responsibility, inspirational
leadership, and exemplary persistence and courage that has protected
thousands of children from laboratory chemicals and other hazards and
unhealthy school conditions." wrote Randy Brown, of the US EPA, Region
8 (8P-TA), Tribal Assistance Program, Denver, CO.
Brown's
nomination detailed the extraordinary amounts and types of explosives
and other chemical hazards the team cleared out of tribal and rural
schools.
Brown also wrote,
I
have observed the collective efforts of a collaborative team of
professionals dedicated to making tribal and rural schools safer from
chemical and explosive hazards for school children, teachers, and
administrators throughout Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Colorado.
Together
this team has accomplished tasks that would have been impossible for an
individual to accomplish. This work has been ongoing for the last few
years...
This team has used a very practical
process and cost saving measures to reduce risk to chemical exposure.
The team has worked tirelessly to improve chemical safety school
conditions for children...
Members of the team
are working with the US EPA Office of Solid Waste to produce a video of
school chemical cleanout activities at Wyoming Indian School in Ethete,
Wyoming on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The video will be used to
demonstrate how industry can help and how any activity by school
administrators can be helpful to make schools safer for school children.
Voices of History
In
1937, in the small oil-rich town of New London, Texas, a series of
decisions to cut costs in the new junior-senior high school's heating
system led to a gas leak in the unvented basement that led to an
explosion that destroyed the modern, steel-framed school building. At
least 319 people died, mostly children.
Surprisingly,
no one was held responsible because the Court of Inquiry concluded that
"school officials were just average individuals, ignorant or
indifferent to the need for precautionary measures, where they cannot,
in their lack of knowledge visualize a danger or a hazard." (Court of
Inquiry, 1937)
The disaster resulted in a law
requiring that a warning odor be added to natural gas, thus saving
millions of lives all over the world. Texas created the Texas
Engineering Practice Act to set professional standards for public
buildings to "safeguard life, health, and property and protect the
public welfare."
However, the Court's other
important safety recommendations have yet to be implemented in most
21st century schools. The Court recommended that schools need: 1)
technically trained administrators for modern school systems, 2) rigid
inspections and more widespread public education about avoiding and
managing hazards, and 3) a comprehensive, rational safety code.
Today,
there is an extensive website of primary source materials and a museum
dedicated to remembering the "lost generation," to documenting the
story of their beloved community, the explosion and its aftermath, and
to preserving its legacy for future generations. London Museum and Tea
Room, New London, Texas 75682. (903) 895-4602 or (903) 561-7256
Inspiring 2008 Hero Nominees
Dr. Jack Gerlovich Nominated by Dennis McElroy, PhD, Asst. Professor of Education, Graceland University School of Education
Dr. Jack Gerlovich, Nelle Levvitt Professor of Education, Drake University School of Education, Des Moines, Iowa; Founded JaKel, Inc. in 1986, an Iowa registered corporation specializing in science education safety products and services for elementary, middle, junior high, high school, community college, and teacher preparation colleges.
Dr. Jack Gerlovich's primary area of research interest is in science safety. He has authored 8 books, 30 professional journal articles, and The Total Science Safety System CD-ROM's.
During the past 20 years, he has built custom state CD-ROM and training packages for 20 U.S states, addressing applicable laws, codes, and professional standards unique to each. In addition he has conducted 500 school safety assessments, served as a consultant to government agencies, private business, publishers, and the legal profession. He is past Chair for the Safety Advisory Board for the National Science Teachers Association.
Dr. Gerlovich has served as the State Science Supervisor for the Iowa Department of Education and as an Iowa science teacher. He was also been active in school science and mathematics education and computer networking and has received several grants from the National Science Foundation, State of Iowa, and private foundations.
Dr. McElroy wrote:
Jack is recognized by his peers across the country as our nation's top expert concerning science safety in the learning environment. In 1986 he founded JaKel, Inc. a science safety company that focuses on working with teachers to create the safest possible science learning environment... Jack is an outstanding individual who has dedicated his life to the cause of science safety. I can think of no other person who is more deserving of this recognition.
I began working with Jack in 1999 and since then we have been contracted by 14 states to create a state specific version of the Total Science Safety System software and to provide training for teachers in those states.
JaKel works through the department of education in each state and collaborates with OSHA, the fire marshal and other safety personnel to personalize the software to the specific state. In two states, Tennessee and South Carolina, the software has been made an official state document. Of particular importance, there have been no serious science safety related accidents in any of the 14 states that are using the Total Science Safety System. Drake University has recognized Jack's contributions and uses him as an example of why students should come to Drake.
Champion of Safety (Excerpt from the article "Get Your Hands on This: School of Education professor's active approach creates a lasting impression.")
While education majors and elementary students are inspired by Gerlovich's inquiry-based activities, educators throughout the world know him as the expert to call when it comes to maintaining science safety in the classroom. "I'd start a Jack fan club if I could," says Clara Stallings, middle school science consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. "He has single-handedly though he'd never say that transformed science safety in elementary and secondary classrooms."
As a father, Gerlovich worried about the safety of his two daughters in science classrooms cluttered with unmarked chemicals, outdated equipment and unclear or nonexistent procedures for safety and accident prevention. Many schools around the nation were simply not equipped to collect and standardize safety information according to state and industry specifications.
As a science educator, he decided to take action. Through his teachings at Drake and his company JaKel, Inc., Gerlovich researches and compiles requirements, guidelines and operating procedures, state by state.
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Barbara Lee Foster Nominated by Erik A Talley, Chair, Division of Chemical Health and Safety, American Chemical Society, New York.
Barbara Lee Foster is known for her commitment and pursuit of excellence in safety. Barbara L. Foster is a Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer. At West Virginia University, Morgantown, she is the Department of Chemistry Safety Director and Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Safety Program Coordinator.
Erik Talley wrote, In addition to her duties within the University, she actively supports K-12 science programs with materials and is a safety resource to teachers...Barbara is an inspirational leader and presents an exemplary role model for presenting science in a safe, enjoyable and educational manner. She frequently presents safety workshops for teachers and encourages her colleagues to work in their communities to enhance safety in science classrooms.
Foster has published many papers, created a variety of resources for science teachers including manuals such as Laboratory Safety and Management, A Handbook for Teaching Assistants, (2007).
IN HER OWN WORDS
From the WVU Chemistry Department webpage, Message from the Safety Director: It is with a keen sense of responsibility that we prepare our students for their careers in laboratory settings in academia, industry, government, law enforcement, and the health sciences. We realize that what our students learn about safety in our laboratories will have a significant impact on all of the people who will share their work environments in the future. Work Safely and Teach Safety!
From "In pursuit of excellence in safety," Journal of Chemical Health & Safety, May/June 2007. How do we ascertain the efficacy of a laboratory safety program? If we set a goal to achieve excellence in all aspects of our safety program, where do we set the bar? To achieve a measure of excellence, several key elements must be present and function at the highest possible level within a laboratory safety program. These essential elements include: Administrative Responsibilities, Safety Documents, Chemical Management Program, Laboratory Inspection Program, and Emergency Preparedness...
I encourage you to instill a philosophy of safety in your laboratory and workplace. Set a good example every day by following the safety rules, enforcing the safety rules, and providing a safe and healthy learning environment for your students and employees.
Foster is also active professionally as a Member of the ACS Joint Board-Council Committee on Chemical Safety and Secretary (2004-2006) of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety. Barbara serves on the Board of Editors for the journal Chemical Health & Safety. She is the recipient of 2006 Tillmanns-Skolnick Award for outstanding service to the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety and 2007 Chair, American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Health and Safety.
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Dwight Peavey, PhD Senior Scientist at US EPA Region I Nominated by Rick Reibstein of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Office of Technical Assistance and Technology
Dr. Peavey is the regional expert on toxic chemicals and their environmental fate and adverse effects on the environment and human health. In the last five years, he has brought an "integrated chemical management program" to several Massachusetts schools systems.
He has saved these schools thousands of dollars in hazardous chemical removal, reduced chemical exposure to teachers, staff and students, minimized liability, and created integrated real time "pharmacy-like" chemical management. In addition to providing better chemical security, integrated chemical management programs lead to additional cost savings as schools avoid unnecessary re-ordering and expensive specialized storage.
Massachusetts is one of six states where schools are not required to have a chemical hygiene program. Nor is it an OSHA state. So Dr. Peavey's success in risk reduction in schools is attributable to his initiative and unique dedication, as well as his expertise and interpersonal skills.
"During my watch, no harm should come to a child." says Dr. Peavey. "When a child or a teacher goes to school, he should come home in the same condition he went there."
Dr. Peavey is EPA's New England Small Business Ombudsman, Chemical Right-To-Know liaison, Brominated Flame Retardant expert and the Senior Assistance Coordinator. He is the regional coordinator for the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Dwight serves as the regional Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics (PBTs) and High Production Volume Chemical Challenge Program liaison.
In his various positions, Dr. Peavey has made presentations at state, regional, national and international seminars, workshops and conferences on all aspects of small business assistance, EPCRA, Toxics Release Inventory, Pollution Prevention, PBTs, Chemical Right-To-Know, and EPA's Small Business Policy. As the regional Small Business Ombudsman, Dr. Peavey has partnered with SBTAPs, the Small Business Development Centers, colleges/universities and various small business trade associations throughout New England.
Prior to EPA, Dr. Peavey was the executive director for the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, consultant to the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, and assistant professor at the SUNY Geneseo.
The world endures solely by virtue of the breath of school
children. (Talmud)
