[NHCOLL-L:2177] Health & Safety in Museums Course
CAHawks at aol.com
CAHawks at aol.com
Fri Dec 19 15:49:17 EST 2003
GW University Special Topics Course
Introduction to Health and Safety in Museums (MSTD 297.80) (PubH 290.33)
Credit Hours
2 – PubH
3 – MSTD (students who register through MSTD will complete an additional
research project with one of the course directors)
Prerequisites
None (PubH 221 is recommended but not required)
Course Dates
Summer Session I, 2004 (19 May – 2 July 2004)
Registration
Spring, 2004. Registration information will be available at www.gwu.edu. In
the interim, please contact one of the course directors (see below) for
information. GW Columbia College alumni may be eligible to audit the course. Contact
one of the course directors for permission to audit.
Time
Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6:10-8:20 pm
Location
TBA in Ross Hall, GW Campus (2 off-site classes, one at a local museum and
one at the Smithsonian’s Museum Support Center in Silver Hill, MD)
Required Text
McCann, Michael. 1992. Artist Beware. 2nd edition. The Lyons Press, New York.
Other readings as assigned.
Web Site
For registered students,TBA
Course Directors
David Goldsmith (PubH) eohdfg at gwumc.edu
Catharine Hawks (MSTD)cahawks at aol.com
Methods of Instruction
Lectures, visits to Smithsonian and other museum facilities, Web quizzes,
term paper/presentation
Grading Methods
Best 4 of 5 quizzes -25%; Presentation /paper - 65%; Class participation - 10%
Course Schedule
WEEK 1
Session 1 (Instructors: Goldsmith, Hawks)
Introduction to the course
Bibliographies and technical references/resources
Overview of museum occupations and workforces, museum terminology, museum
facilities and functions
Overview of health & safety hazards in museum-related work including hazards
to museum visitors and volunteers
Session 2 (Instructor: Goldsmith)
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, Routes of entry, how standards are set (risk
assessment), differences between occupational and community health standards
WEEK 2
Session 1 (Instructor: Ertel)
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)
Session 2 (Local museum) (Instructors: Ertel, Hawks)
Field trip to local museum for safety assessment walk-through
WEEK 3
Session 1 (Instructor: Ertel)
Chemical handling, storage, and labeling, with emphasis on laboratory safety
and exhibit shops
Hazardous waste disposal
Session 2 (Instructor: Ertel)
Health hazard control: ventilation, substitution, personal protective
equipment including respirators, radiation protection, biohazards protection in field
and laboratory settings
Safety hazard evaluation and control: ergonomics, physical plant safety
WEEK 4
Session 1 (Instructor: Goldsmith)
Outlines due for papers/presentations
Role of monitoring and surveillance: exposure monitoring, biological
monitoring, medical surveillance, permissible exposure standards, with emphasis on
museum environments
Session 2 (Instructors: Hawks, Makos)
Object testing for contaminants, NAGPRA issues, disclosure statements for
loans, deaccessions, repatriation agreements, pest control methods, contaminated
storage/exhibit cases and other materials, hazards in field work, exhibits
collection safety for the public, hazard communication for shipping and handling
WEEK 5
Session 1 (Museum Support Center, Smithsonian) (Instructor: Dietrich)
Disaster planning, response and recovery – safety for staff, visitors, and
the collections
Facilities tour
Session 2 (Instructor: Stemmen)
Fire protection: fire codes; fire protection systems; fire protection in
public displays and fluid collection storage
WEEK 6
Session 1 (Instructors: Goldsmith, Hawks)
Final papers due
Course summary
Session 2 (Instructors: Goldsmith, Hawks)
Presentations
Catharine Hawks
Conservator
2419 Barbour Road
Falls Church VA 22043-3026 USA
t//f 703.876.9272
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