Class Breakout Discussions –
From the “Chemical Laboratory Safety and Security –A Guide to Prudent Chemical Management; Instructor’s Guide, Forms, and Signs”, National Academies, 2010.
Breakout Topic: Lesson 11: Unwillingness to Confront Coworkers or Superiors
A young employee walks into a laboratory when he sees a coworker put a small bottle of a chemical into his backpack. The young employee has known the coworker for a long time and trusts him. The young employee decides that there must be a good reason for the coworker taking the bottle. He is very worried and thinks about what he should do. He worries that he will offend the coworker if he asks about the bottle.
1. Should the young employee be worried about the actions of his coworker?
2. Why might the young employee be worried about this?
3. The coworker took the chemical from the laboratory. Can you think of any reasons why?
4. What do you think the young employee should do?
5. Have you ever seen anything like this in a laboratory you worked in?
6. Has this ever happened to you ‐ what did you do?
7. If this has not happened to you – what would you do?
More of the story –
The young employee decides to ask his coworker about the bottle. The coworker tells him that the small amount of chemical in the bottle is for a friend who needs it for an experiment. He tells the young coworker that the friend is a good person.
a. Does this information change the situation?
b. What risks does this pose?
c. What should the young employee do now?
d. Should he forget the incident or tell his supervisor?
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Breakout Topic: Lesson 2: Suspicious Behavior
A medium‐sized laboratory hires a security guard because of concerns about outside theft.
The guard is given specific duties. He is not given access to the rooms used for chemical storage, so the guard is instructed to walk a specific route through the facility in the morning, afternoon, and evening and to check badges to make sure that non‐laboratory personnel and visitors do not gain entrance. Everything goes smoothly for the first few weeks, then the laboratory manager notices the security guard taking a different route. The manager sees the guard stopping in front of some of the chemical storage rooms. For a few days, the laboratory manager monitors the security guard’s behavior. The manager does not see the guard take any chemicals; however, he does see the guard check locks on the doors. This behavior troubles the laboratory manager.
1. Should the laboratory manager be concerned? Why or why not?
2. What should the lab manager do, what is the best action?
3. What might prevent the lab manager from taking any action?
More of the story –
The lab manager decides to confront the security guard. The security guard denies that there is a problem, and that he was “Given directions by his boss to use the new route”. The lab manager is still uneasy.
a. What should the lab manager do now?
More of the story –
The lab manager sees the guard bringing non‐laboratory individuals into the facility. The guard and the strangers convene near the locked storage rooms. The manager decides to talk to the guard’s supervisor. The supervisor brushes off the concern, saying “Oh, I’ll talk to my nephew, but I’m sure he means well. There is nothing to worry about.”
b. How does this information change the situation?
c. What should the lab manager do?