STATEMENT OF POLICY
Mission: The University of XXXXX Chemistry Department created the XXXXX
outreach program in order to promote the discipline of chemistry, the University
of XXXXX, and the XX Department of Chemistry by presenting safe, entertaining,
and educational chemical demonstrations to schools and other appropriate
organizations in the XXXXXXXXX area.
A typical demonstration program lasts from 30 minutes to one-hour. The
demonstrations are performed by a University of XXXXX faculty member with
up to three work-study or volunteer assistants. This team typically performs up
to twelve demonstrations per program.
The Department has implemented the following policies to ensure the safety of
all who are involved in the XXXXX program. These policies have been reviewed
and approved by the Assistant Head of the Chemistry Department,
Environmental Health and Safety, and the Risk Management Officer of the
University of XXXXX. Any revisions to these policies must also be reviewed and
approved by them.
1) A XX faculty member will be on the premises and will actively supervise
the performance of the demonstrations as well as the unloading, set-up,
break-down, and loading of all chemicals, apparatus, and wastes at the
host site.
2) No non-XX personnel will be allowed to approach within 15 feet of the
demonstration area during demonstrations or at any time when there are
chemicals or apparatus in the demonstration area.
3) No non-XX personnel will be allowed to approach within 15 feet of any
chemicals or apparatus during unloading, set-up, break-down, and
loading at the host site.
4) The host will provide at least one “proctor” whose sole duty from the time
the ChemDemos team arrives at the host site to the time that they leave
will be to assist the XX faculty member in enforcing safety policies,
particularly items 1-3 above. If the host is a school this proctor must be a
teacher or administrator whose usual duties include the supervision of
students. If the host organization is not a school, the XX faculty member
and the host organization responsible party will agree upon a proctor who
Page 1 of 3
has experience supervising groups of people. If the audience includes
minors the proctor must have experience supervising groups of minors.
5) The XXXXX team will not perform any demonstrations which require the
use of any personal protective equipment such as goggles, hearing
protection devices, or respirators by audience members.
Some
demonstrations may produce a brief loud noise. When this occurs,
audience members will be instructed to stop their ears with their index
fingers. The XX faculty member and the proctor will examine the audience
to ensure that they have all apparently complied and put their fingers in
their ears.
6) All members of the XXXXX team must be faculty or students of the
University of XXXXX. They must attend the Lab Safety, Hazardous Waste
Disposal, and Fire Extinguisher training classes, which are offered by
Environmental Health and Safety at the University of XXXXX, before they
perform or assist with any demonstrations. In addition, the supervising
faculty member must be currently certified to administer CPR and First
Aid. All members of the XXXXX team must also review and sign a copy of
this policy statement and all accompanying documentation.
7) All members of the XXXXX team must wear safety goggles that have been
approved by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at the
University of XXXXX when performing demonstrations or whenever they
are handling chemicals or chemical waste. Any team member performing
a demonstration that produces any loud noise must wear a hearing
protection device which has been approved by the Office of Environmental
Health and Safety at the University of XXXXX. No XXXXX presentations
will contain demonstrations which in the normal course of events will
produce hazardous vapors which exceed NIOSH standards for acute
exposure.
8) All used chemicals from the demonstrations will be transported back to
the University of XXXXX using containers and secondary containment
approved by Environmental Health and Safety. At the University of
Oregon they will be given to Environmental Health and Safety for a waste
determination and appropriate disposal.
9) The host will be provided written information regarding possible
problems that might occur in an upcoming XXXXX demonstration
program at least one week before the scheduled presentation. This will
include information on the chemical reactions which will be presented, any
hazards that might result if the demonstration miscarries, and contingency
Page 2 of 3
plans to safely deal with the miscarriage of any demonstration, including
spill containment plans and plans to deal with the accidental emission of
any noxious or hazardous vapors. The host will also be provided with
copies of Material Safety Data Sheets for every chemical used in each
demonstration.
10) The XXXXX team will provide an ABC fire extinguisher, a spill
containment and cleanup kit, an eyewash, and other chemical incident
response equipment as deemed appropriate by the University of XXXXX
Environmental Health and Safety at all demonstrations as well as during
the unloading, set-up, break-down, and loading of all chemicals,
apparatus, and wastes.
11) The faculty member who will be supervising the demonstration
presentation will perform an inspection visit of the site where the
demonstrations will be performed at least one week before the scheduled
performance date. The faculty member will assess the adequacy of the
facility’s lighting, ventilation, and egress. If appropriate, the faculty
member will review the latest fire inspection report of the building where
the demonstration program will be performed.
12) All blast shields, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment must be
inspected annually by the University of XXXXX Office of Environmental
Health and Safety to ensure that they are in good condition and comply
with industry standards.
I have read these policies, I understand them, and I agree to abide by them.
Name _______________________________________
Signature _________________________________________ Date ______________
Page 3 of 3