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MONDAY 20TH MAY 2002 / FREE WORD 722
CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY
David Lindsell reports
THE UNIVERSITY’S Health and Safety department has defended itself from a `slapped wrist’ by Academic Affairs officer Ian Hibble over the disposal of potentially hazardous material in the Chemistry labs. Hibble, sitting on the University Health and Safety Committee as a Union representative, had raised concerns to Gair Rhydd about Health and Safety standards. He said, “In the meeting it was reported that some old stock of potentially explosive diispropylether had to be disposed of by the ‘bomb squad’. This alarmed me slightly. “The committee then went on to say that there could be more old chemicals in a similar nature in cupboards,in the Chemistry department and in others such as the Pharmacy and Bioscience.” He continued, “Quite clearly this was a cause for concern and I had it minuted that “this committee should send a slapped wrist to the Chemistry Dept and ask that they regularly check their cupboards and report any new potentially hazardous material.”
Lydia Kirby reports
The Main Building, where the Chemistry department is based and below Ian Hibble, who raised concerns about safety standards in the University
However University Health and Safety boss Bernard Mallows defended the chemical removal as a normal procedure. “It was only a gramme in this situation. It had dried out from a liquid state when it is totally safe to a dry state where it could explode if shocked. “The worst an ‘explosion’
could do is smash the bottle it was placed in.” “All materials are properly registered. The only issue here is whether to register all materials centrally or continue to register departmentally.” “Since the cost and organisation of central registry would be very high we’ll carry on with the departmental registration.” John Bowley, University safety officer, denied that a specialist ‘bomb squad’ was used. “We haven’t had a bomb squad out for ten or more years. This material was potentially explosive with the emphasis on potentially. “It was perfectly safe within the department. We informed the health and safety people that we were ready to have it removed and they informed BIFFA the removal firm. BIFFA
arrived and followed their own safety guidelines for transport of materials.” Natasha Hirst, Union Disabilities Officer, and a postgraduate student in the department also confirmed the high safety standards the university kept for disposing of hazardous materials. However, she added her concerns over some aspects of safety. She said, “My main worry is the speed at which things get done – I asked my supervisor for a flashing fire alarm to be installed in my lab, because I’m deaf, back in October and nothing happened, so I brought it up in a safety meeting two months ago. “The alarm was installed yesterday, after much passing of the buck, some seven and a half months into my PhD.”
“It was reported that some old stock of potentially explosive chemicals had to be disposed of by the ‘bomb squad’. This alarmed me.” ACADEMICS AFFAIRS OFFICER, IAN HIBBLE
A CARDIFF University student was the victim of a vicious attack that left him with broken ribs, severe bruising and a black eye. First year James Granger, who suffers from a heart defect, also had his false ear ripped off when a large gang of men attacked him on the cycle path near Talybont Halls of Residence last Friday night. James said, “I was walking back to Talybont when a group of 10 to 15 blokes came down onto the cycle path. “I was walking through them when one hit me in the face. I fell to the floor and they started kicking and punching me.” The 21-year-old was forced to stay in hospital for two days as hospital staff feared his injuries might have repercussions on his heart. Police found the prosthetic ear at the scene of the attack but the student will now have to wait for a new ear to be reconstructed. James has returned home to Dorset to recover and
admits that he is now anxious about coming back to Cardiff. “I do feel nervous. Maybe that will change. To think that people can go around and not get caught is terrible.” he said. Acting Detective Inspector Bob Tooby said, “This attack was totally unacceptable and we’ve put a team on the inquiry. “We will be examining CCTV footage. We won’t let this drop.” The cycle path near Talybont Halls of Residence, where the attack took place, was the scene of several flashings last year and police have warned students to avoid the path if possible and to walk in groups. Student Liasion Officer, Bob Keohane said, “The cycle path can be very quiet at night and is best avoided. “Stick to main roads where there are street lights and people around rather than back routes.” Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the attack, which took place between 9pm and 10.15pm on Friday 10 May to contact Cardiff Central CID on 029 2952 7420.
“Luckily, the World Cup happens only once every four years, and in typically patriotic fashion, in the interim the British endearingly forget exactly how crap our national teams actually are.” CHARLOTTE SPRATT TAKES AN ALTERNATIVE LOOK AT WORLD CUP FEVER P27 News p1–4 ● Letters p7 ● GRiP 9 TV listings p20 ● Features p27 ● Sport p30