Guest post: Because they are careful
Originally a comment by Karen the Chemist on Near the crater.
Re risk taking: Ego is a factor.
Common objections to instituting safety measures or changing how they handle a chemical:
We’ve been handling it this way for years and haven’t had problems. Things have been going fine, no problems, without [safety procedure].
Another common attitude is that people think that they won’t have a mishap* with a chemical because they are careful. They assume they are very careful, certainly more careful, and a better chemist, than those who did have mishaps.
And those who claim they don’t need eye protection because they’ll use their arm or hand to shield their eyes. As if they could raise them quick enough to block the splatter or the broken glass from the reaction vessel flying out of the fume hood at them. Nevermind that broken glass is very sharp and can easily cut human flesh. Even through some types of glove, like the disposable nitrile gloves that are widely used.
*spill, exposure, fire, etc.
I’ve seen multiple incidences of people coming very very close to losing weeks worth of work because they didn’t take some time to follow some safety procedures. Even simple ones that would have taken 10-15 minutes. Them: But it takes time. This would be with a reaction that will take two days, or more, to get from reaction setup to pure compound.
I’ve also noticed that some people just don’t care if their actions increase or create risks for others.
Very well said. I rarely work with chemicals, but do frequently work with bacteria. Although the bacteria isn’t supposed to be pathogenic, it is prudent to handle it safely. The resistance to gloves wasn’t as strong as the resistance to goggles, but there was always some.
Where I encountered the indifference to risk is in field work. My list: closed toed shoes. Shirts with sleeves. No shorts, long pants only. These are industry standard, but students thought them onerous. It was even more difficult to get them to bring two things that I would think are basic: water and sunscreen. I left insect repellent up to them; I don’t use it because my body chemistry and insect repellent appear to be some sort of weird chigger pheromone or something: the only time I ever get chiggers is if I use insect repellent, and for some reason, mosquitos aren’t interested in me most of the time (probably because I’m a zombie, but that’s my secret). Both chiggers and mosquitoes love my husband; maybe he draws them away from me.
Anyway, telling a student you won’t take them out for the exercise, and they will be counted absent because they didn’t dress properly is met with: but I go out like this all the time! Really? Out to a prairie? To a forest? Or out in the neighborhood? They really are different things.
And getting them to wear shoes when we went in the river…wow. That was a challenge.
Jump to the 33 second mark of this, Australia’s former Prime Minister cosplaying a welder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZatwnSfxFs
In graduate school I was an organic chemistry lab TA. I found threatening the grade to be effective in getting students to follow rules and instructions. It’s proper lab technique. A significant portion of their grade was lab technique. Back then (1980s), students tended to be concerned about their grades, certainly in chemistry, especially organic chemistry.
As to wearing shoes in the river: There was a pond in the neighborhood where I grew up. Us kids knew to wear shoes when swimming or playing in it. We knew people threw junk in it. So who knew what was on the bottom.
PS The quote is from iknklast @#1
oh, and:
A guest post? Squeeeeee!! :-)
I’m honored.
I used to be a chemist and I used some nasty shit, so I’m totally on board with this post. Still important to recognise the difference between the ego driven and/or wilfully ignorant risk taker and the oblivious and unknowing risk taker. people being what we are, it’s quite possible to move from excellent risk analysis to oblivious to ego driven, depending on the circumstances at the moment.
Rob @#6
Good points.
The lab students were in the unknowing, and inexperienced, category. As a TA, I figured it was my job to teach them about the risks and how to mitigate them.
To add: Dealing with risks takes vigilance and continual attention. Both of those can wane over time. One starts out paying good attention. Over time, one gets confortable, especially if it’s the same risks on a regular basis and nothing happens. Gradually, attention wanes, without one realizing it. Then there’s an incident or a near miss. Attention goes back up. And repeat.