>1. How many universities have Emergency Response Teams?
UC Davis has one and I don't think this is unusual.
>2. If a facility does not have a response team, how do they intend to handle a
>spill of leak of hazardous material?
It's necessary to have a general chain of response, otherwise using
hazardous materials would be irresponsible. Example: there was a UC (not
Davis) Chemistry professor, about ten years ago, who proceeded with a
classroom demonstration using a lecture bottle of fluorine. The gas got
out of his control and we are all fortunate that (despite significant
damage) nobody was killed. Highly controlled usage and response plans with
these materials is absolutely necessary.
>5. How many facilities have an emergency response plan?
Our microfabrication facility was required to write such a plan. It was
arduous and complicated, but I'm glad we did. There is considerably
greater confidence that if there's a major incident, the impact will be
minimized.
Not only is it unethical to not prepare for the worst, it could create
fallout which would have significant negative impact on the rest of this
community; our students and our research programs would be the victims.
=Charles Hunt=
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