Helping Your Local School District Effectively Manage Chemical Risk and Disposal

Symposium sponsored by Division of Chemical Health and Safety, cosponsored by Division of Chemical Education and organized by the Committee on Chemical Safety.

Fall 2008 ACS National Meeting
Philadelphia, PA
Sunday August 17, 1-4 PM
Pennsylvania Convention Center

Approximately 45 high school students are seriously injured each year in laboratory accidents (AP, July 2002). Don’t let it happen at your school! Come and learn about the EPA School Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) and what you can do to help your local school district manage chemicals safely and effectively. The symposium will include the following presentations:

Introduction to the EPA School Chemical Cleanout Campaign
Kristina (Krysia) L. Mason, EPA

The US Environmental Protection Agency recognizes the difficulties secondary schools face in dealing with the risk and disposal of chemicals. The School Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) is an important component of the Resource Conservation Challenge, a national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more effectively. The concept of SC3 is to provide schools with information they need to implement an effective chemical management program. The effort includes the development of a variety of tools; it also encourages schools to work with partners such as chemical suppliers, colleges & universities, waste handlers and public service groups. The American Chemical Society is part of the Alliance organized to help implement the program. This presentation will introduce SC3 in more detail, and discuss ways in which ACS members can help.

Deciding what to keep: the battle over chemical inventories in high school laboratories
Harry J. Elston, Midwest Chemical Safety

If there is one thing no one can agree on, it’s what chemicals have a proper place in high school laboratories. While there is clearly risk wherever chemicals are stored and used, the degree of technical expertise and safety knowledge is most widely disparate at the high school level. The balance between the value of chemicals used in demonstrations and experiments and the inherent risk associated with those chemicals is delicate. This paper will explore the decision-making process in determining which chemicals should be maintained in high school chemical inventories and which should not. The criteria for selection is varied, and depends on the nature and degree of hazard, the quantity used and stored, and the use of safe chemical management and use practices.

Building a successful program to address chemical risk in schools
Linda Stroud, Science & Safety Consulting Services

Improper management of chemicals in schools presents significant risks to students and teachers. Often the expertise to properly manage chemicals is not readily available. Several widely publicized incidents have resulted in school closures and costly cleanups. Often the chemicals involved are unneeded or unwanted, but perceived or actual budget limitations result in these chemicals being stored indefinitely. They may also be stored improperly, with poor security, no consideration for compatibility, or inadequate knowledge of proper storage techniques. This presentation will look at ways school districts can initiate an effective chemical management program that reduces risk and overcome barriers to success. It will focus on policies and practices that minimize the accumulation of dangerous chemicals while allowing for successful chemical education of students.

How Colleges and Universities Can Participate in the School Chemical Cleanout Campaign: A Case Study
Russell Phifer, WC Environmental, LLC

One obvious partner in the EPA School Chemical Cleanout Campaign is local colleges and universities. These institutions frequently have the expertise, resources, and time to effectively manage their own hazardous chemicals, while many secondary schools do not. By providing technical assistance on such issues as cleanouts, chemical storage, and guidance on selection of disposal contractors, colleges and universities can share some responsibility for hazardous material management in their local communities. One possible means of contributing is to offer in-service training in chemical health & safety to secondary school teachers. They can also provide guidance on chemical inventories and the development of chemical management systems. This paper will discuss the ways colleges and universities can and have helped their local school districts reduce the risks associated with hazardous chemicals.