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{"id":1398,"date":"2018-08-06T05:43:49","date_gmt":"2018-08-06T10:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mywlri.com\/now\/?p=1398"},"modified":"2018-08-06T05:43:49","modified_gmt":"2018-08-06T10:43:49","slug":"dep-helps-improve-school-safety-with-laboratory-chemicals-training-and-cleanout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wnuz.org\/dep-helps-improve-school-safety-with-laboratory-chemicals-training-and-cleanout\/","title":{"rendered":"DEP Helps Improve School Safety with Laboratory Chemicals Training and Cleanout"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Harrisburg, PA<\/strong>\u00a0– With the new school year approaching, 11 schools in seven counties are protecting students\u2019 safety by improving\u00a0management of laboratory chemicals in the 2017-2018\u00a0Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign<\/a>\u00a0led by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). By the time the campaign ends on August 9, 2018, DEP will have removed more than 57,000 pounds of outdated, excess, and high-risk chemicals and 158 pounds of low-level radioactive materials from 180 schools statewide since the annual program began in 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re committed to helping schools protect their students, faculty, and staff by preventing problems with mishandled chemicals,\u201d said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. \u201cLab accidents can and do happen at schools. To help reduce risk, we train teachers and staff on the full spectrum of chemical use in teaching, from thoughtful purchasing to safe handling, storage, and disposal. We may provide further support by funding and coordinating a one-time chemical cleanout event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schools must complete DEP chemical management training to be eligible to apply for the one-time cleanout. DEP provides the training to personnel in the fall, and the school completes a laboratory chemical inventory over the winter. DEP then coordinates a cleanout event at the school in the summer.<\/p>\n

Eighty teachers and staff from 61 schools participated in DEP\u2019s fall 2017 training. Earning continuing education credits, teachers learned procurement best practices; what to include in a chemical inventory; how to replace high-risk chemicals with lower-risk ones; correct spill response; and proper storage, use, and disposal.<\/p>\n

The following schools were approved for the 2018 chemical cleanout:<\/p>\n