Course on health and safety

GW University Special Topics Course
Introduction to Health and Safety in Museums
(MSTD 297.80)
(PUBH 290.33)
Credit Hours: PUBH: 2, MSTD: 3
(students who register through MSTD will complete an additional
research project with one of the course directors)
Prerequisites:  None
Course Dates:   Summer Session, 2002 July 9-August 15, 2002
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:10-7 pm

Registration:  Begins April 4, 2002. Registration information is
available at <URL:http://www.gwu.edu/~specprog/essentials>

Course Registration Nos.
    91576 (PUBH 290.33, 2 credit hours)
    92571 (MSTD 297.80, 3 credit hours)
Web site: TBA

Course Directors: Catharine Hawks (MSTD)  and David Goldsmith (PubH)

Methods of Instruction: Lectures, visits to Smithsonian facilities,
Web quizzes, term paper/presentation

Grading Methods:
    Best 4 of 5 quizzes -25%;
    Presentation /paper - 65%;
    Class participation - 10%

Course Learning Objectives

    1.  To describe the major health and safety issues in museums
        and related Institutions relative to employees, volunteers,
        and visitors.

    2.  To identify major health and safety hazards that might be
        encountered in museum operations (exhibit preparation,
        collection management and care, research, and interpretive
        programming).

    3.  To provide state of the art occupational safety and health
        management for museums.

    4.  To provide an understanding of the pertinent regulations and
        the role of regulatory agencies in ensuring safety in
        museums.

    5.  To identify procedures to improve public safety and staff
        emergency response in museums.

    6.  To describe methods of controlling museum hazards and
        preventing occupational and environmental health effects,
        including occupational safety, fire prevention, electrical
        safety, machine guarding, local exhaust, ventilation,
        hazardous waste handling, and personal protection equipment.

Course Schedule
Week 1

Session 1
July 9, 2002 (Instructors: Goldsmith, Hawks, Makos)

    Introduction to the course
    Bibliographies and technical references/resources
    Overview of health and safety hazards in museum-related work
    including hazards to museum visitors and volunteers

Session 2
July 11, 2002 (Instructor: McCann)

    Overview of safety and safety programs: program administration,
    health and safety committees, inspections, emergency procedures,
    employer/employee rights and responsibilities, workers
    compensation, regulations, job hazard analyses, OSHA Hazard
    Communication Standard, Chemical Hygiene Programs, Materials
    Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and OSHA construction standard vs
    general industry standards (e.g., for exhibit preparation)

Week 2
Session 1
July 16, 2002 (Instructor: Goldsmith/Guidotti)

    Overview of toxicology; toxicology of specific biological,
    chemical, radiological hazards as outlined in Week 1; medical
    toxicology as it applies to museum staff and visiting public

Session 2
July 18, 2002 (Instructor: Goldsmith)

    Toxicology continued; routes of entry, how standards are set
    (risk assessment), differences between occupational and
    community health standards

Week 3
Session 1
July 23, 2002  (Instructors: McCann/Ertel)

    Chemical handling, storage, and labeling, with emphasis on
    laboratory safety and exhibit shops
    Hazardous waste disposal

Session 2
July 25, 2002 (Instructors: Hawks, Makos)

    Outlines for papers/presentations due
    Special Topics: Object testing for contaminants, NAGPRA issues,
    disclosure statements for loans, deaccessions, repatriation
    agreements, pest control methods, contaminated storage/exhibit
    furniture, hazards in field work, exhibition safety for the
    public

Week 4
Session 1
July 30, 2002 (Instructor: McCann))

    Role of monitoring and surveillance: exposure monitoring,
    biological monitoring, medical surveillance, permissible
    exposure standards

Session 2
August 1, 2002 (Instructors: McCann/Ertel)

    Health Hazard Control:  Ventilation; substitution; personal
    protective equipment including respirators; radiation
    protection; biohazards protection in field and laboratory
    settings

Week 5
Session 1 (Museum Support Center, Smithsonian)
August 6, 2002  (Instructors: Ridgway/Dietrich)

    Safety hazard evaluation and control: ergonomics; physical plant
    safety
    Disaster and emergency medical situations; safety in emergency
    response and recovery

Session 2 (Museum Support Center, Smithsonian)
August 8, 2002 (Instructor: Stemen)

    Fire protection: fire codes; fire protection systems; fire
    protection in public displays and fluid collection storage

Week 6
Session 1
August 13, 2002 (Instructors: Goldsmith, Hawks)

    Final papers due
    Discussions of special topic (e.g., contamination of cultural
    property by the WTC disaster)

Session 2
August 15, 2002 (Instructors: Goldsmith, Hawks)

    Oral Presentations and discussions
    Course summary

Catharine Hawks
Conservator
2419 Barbour Road
Falls Church VA 22043-3026 USA
703-876-9272 (phone/fax)




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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:65
                  Distributed: Tuesday, March 26, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-65-012
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