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)
