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Re: DANGER in the archive?



As a reference librarian with extensive experience in the
environmental/toxicology area, I'd like to suggest a litererature search in
file B161 (Dialog), Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSHTIC). It is updated
periodically, and although I haven't look specifically for health matters
relative to archives in that database, you might very well find
studies/investigations of archives/libraries/records disposition centers,
etc.  You can go to http://www.dialog.com, pull up the blue sheet on that
file, and see its coverage. Might help you from re-inventing part of a
wheel.

Sharon Lee Butcher
Reference Librarian
AEDC Technical Library
100 Kindel Drive, Ste C212
Arnold AFB, TN  37389-3212
931-454-4430
Fax:  931-454-5421
sharon.butcher@arnold.af.mil

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cait Dallas [SMTP:dallascait@AMERITECH.NET]
> Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 9:27 PM
> To:   ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject:      DANGER in the archive?
>
> Dear Colleague:
>     Has an over-zealous facility manager running amok with pesticides
> made you woozy?  Have you had "beastly" encounters with mice, rats,
> snakes, spiders, scorpions, bats, etc. that have sent you
> running...possibly to the emergency room?  Or waded through pigeon poop
> to rescue abandoned records only to find yourself inexplicably ill for
> weeks afterward?  Or, been nearly done in by falling boxes or collapsing
> shelving units?  If any of these situations sound all too familiar to
> you, or if you have other on-the-job experiences that you feel might
> have temporarily, or perhaps permanently, compromised your health and/or
> safety, I would very much like to hear from you.
>     I'm a graduate student in the Public History and Archives programs
> at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and am putting together a
> paper on health/safety hazards that archivists encounter both in-house
> and during forays into the field (either on routine donation pick-ups or
> in emergency salvage operations). I would be most grateful if you would
> share your personal experiences related to hazards in the archival
> profession with me via email.  I've listed some "risks" below.  I hope
> that you will describe your experiences with these and any other risks
> you've encountered.  How did you first become aware of the danger?  How
> did you handle the risk?  What were the repercussions?  Please feel free
> to add to the "risk" list.  Thanks again for your assistance!
>
> Risk List:
>
> *     Molds
> *     Animal pests (mice, rats, pigeons, snakes, scorpions, spiders,
> roaches, etc. - or the feces and urine they leave behind)
> *     Storage conditions (unstable shelving, stacking too high, not enough
> staff hands to move items)
> *     Building environment ("sick building syndrome" - poor ventilation,
> lead paint, asbestos tile or insulation, placement of electrical panels)
> *     Human hazards (patrons, dangerous neighborhoods)
> *     Emergency situations (floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes)
> *     Dangers within the collections (nitrate film, arsenic, biohazards,
> radioactive material, etc.)
>
> Other Questions:
>
> *     What on-going concerns do you have, if any, regarding your own
> healthand safety on-the-job?
> *     Do you feel that a "primer" outlining common archival hazards would
> bebeneficial to you?  To students preparing for the archival profession?
>
> Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with me!
> Cait Dallas, Archivist
> Kenosha County Historical Society & Museum
> (and UW-Milwaukee grad student)
> dallascait@ameritech.net

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