We've had similar discussions here re. cleaners and engineers, the latter
are skeptical of my apparent scare stories about these kind of events.
I wonder whether there was actual documentation out in AMMRL-space of
the kind of catastrophic events we're concerned about. Photos, for example,
of hammers, camera tripods, gas cylinders, and tool boxes attached to
magnets, or the damage they've caused. I know of events relating to all
four of these implements, but can't actually document them. Perhaps
showing these to people on induction would emphasise that we aren't
crying wolf when we say that magnets can be dangerous beasts!
If anyone wants to send me scans or digital photos, I'll happily collate
them into a document and post it to the 'net.
Russell
-----Original Message-----
> From: Stephanie Mabry [mailto:mabry_at_umbc.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 3:42 PM
> To: AMMRL
> Subject: Safety Training for Magnets
Does anyone know of any safety training programs regarding high-field
magnets? Ideally, I would like some type of video that demonstrates the
force of the NMR size magnets, but written information relating in layman's
terms the attraction forces would also be helpful.
Last week our 500 MHz magnet was quenched when an organic post-doc decided
that he needed a different cooling bath to perform a VT experiment.
Needless to say, the magnet did not appreciate having a 70 pound metal
object rolled by its base, and now we have a quenched magnet and destroyed
probe. Obviously, the plastic chain and all the signs did not make the guy
stop and think about what he was doing.
What has come out of this is the realization that many of the students (and
professors) have no concept of the strength of high-field magnets. They
understand that the magnets will erase their credit cards, etc., but don't
really understand the physics of magnet fields.
Any suggestions for sources of information would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Stephanie Mabry
--------------------------------------------
Stephanie Mabry, Ph.D., Instrument Manager
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
office (410)455-1031
fax (410)455-2608
mabry_at_umbc.edu
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Received on Wed May 22 2002 - 14:09:20 MST