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Dartmouth's Office of Environmental
Health and Safety (EHS) usually helps clients across the College by
providing education about and oversight of hazardous materials management. But
recently, the EHS team responded to a call from the science department at Hanover High School—which was beginning
an extensive renovation.
From left: Katrina Morgan, Dartmouth hazardous waste manager; Sally Hair,
science teacher at Hanover High School; and Michael Cimis, Dartmouth chemical
hygiene officer with chemical spill supplies and storage items donated by
Dartmouth. (Photo by Michael Blayney)
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"Their needs are similar to those of our instructional labs," says
Michael Blayney, director of EHS. "They are different in that they don't
have the kind or number of teaching labs we have, but the issues are
essentially the same. Some of the materials they work with can harm individuals
and threaten the environment or public safety. They have to be managed
carefully and disposed of correctly. We at EHS see the school's needs as part
of our responsibility too. You don't want hazardous materials mismanaged
because our local fire departments inevitably must deal with the
consequences."
While preparing for the renovations at Hanover High two years ago, the
science teachers found a potentially explosive container of expired ether. With
permission from the N.H. Department of
Environmental Services, a licensed waste company properly stabilized the
container for transport and eventual disposal. Also removed from the school
were several old bottles of acids and other hazardous substances. EHS offered
advice and assistance to the school in preparing their wastes for disposal and
is now helping the school with advice and supplies to safely store their
chemical inventory and manage chemical wastes. The final step will be working
with the Hanover Fire Department to plan for emergency response.
"We're grateful that they are so willing to help us out," says Dan
Falcone, science coordinator at Hanover High. "They go out of their way to
say, 'We're here for you and don't hesitate to call if you have questions.'
They are a great resource."
Blayney helped to found the New Hampshire
College and University Compliance Assistance Cooperative, a joint effort of
Dartmouth and the University of New
Hampshire. The cooperative "is meant to help all the colleges and
universities in New Hampshire," explains Blayney, "but it can also be
a model for secondary schools and surrounding local communities." One of
the first of its kind in higher education, the NHC3UA works to provide
inspection, audit, training, and advocacy for EHS issues in higher education in
New Hampshire.
By BRUCE WOOD
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