[NHCOLL-L:2177] Health & Safety in Museums Course

[CAHawks at aol.com]

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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