E-News for April 2001
Greetings ALMA Members,
Safety codes require most laboratories to have safety showers and eyewashes in case of direct contact with hazardous chemicals. Most of us know that these devices need to be tested periodically—eyewashes once a week and safety showers at least once per month. This flushing of the system removes rust and other particles that accumulate as the water is held static in the pipes and can get into the eyes or restrict the flow during use. But one part of this vital system is sometimes overlooked—the floor drain under the shower. Many labs test their safety showers by flowing the water into a bucket or drum to avoid wetting the floor in a work area so that no water flows into the drain. If the drain is not used for several weeks, the water in the trap can evaporate and create a hazardous situation where sewer gases can backflow into the lab. Refilling these floor drains should be a regular part of the safety shower test each month.
The April issue of the Harvard Business Review has a brief article entitled “Is Lying Good Business?” The article maintains that the morals of business are not the same as the morals of society and that deception, concealment, exaggeration and other questionable practices are not only acceptable but are desirable in business. Business is compared to poker where these behaviors—bluffing—are just part of the game. Cunning deception and concealment of one’s strengths are vital to winning and no one thinks any less of the poker players on that account. While few companies would openly admit to following this philosophy, there is little doubt that these practices occur regularly and there are likely to be occasions where the lab manager is asked to participate. Few lab managers would go so far as to falsify results but is it ethical to manipulate test parameters to generate a result that looks better for a customer? Or to edit results to report selective data to a customer? Lab managers who participate in these ethical “gray areas” are risking one of our most important assets—our credibility. What do you think?
I hope that all of you are planning to attend our 22nd Annual Conference in Houston from October 31 to November 2. The theme this year is “Beyond Motivation to Engagement” and should offer new ideas on inspiring and leading our staffs. You might consider bringing your family for a short vacation surrounding the meeting since there are several interesting activities in the area. Space Center Houston at the Johnson Space Center is just across the lake from our convention site as is the Kemah Boardwalk (restaurants, specialty shops, amusement park, etc.). Galveston beach and Moody Gardens (rainforest, 3-D IMAX, etc) are just a short drive away. The Houston Zoo, Museum of Natural History, and Art Museum are also excellent. Make your plans now.
If you have any comments, cost saving suggestions, opinions, etc. let me hear from you .
Wayne