- Date:2020-12-22
- Department:Hazard Control Division
The Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan has been actively promoting toxic and chemical disaster prevention education and advocacy activities in colleges and universities since 2017. In particular, the Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau of the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan (hereinafter referred to as the Chemical Substances Bureau of the EPA), which organized the results conference, has explained that, in order to expand the benefits of advocacy and promotion, as well as show the stage results of toxic and chemical disaster prevention promotion over the past four years, both the Ministry of Education and the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology were invited to hold the "2020 Results Conference of Toxic and Chemical Disaster Prevention Education and Advocacy in Colleges and Universities." Among the presentations were the safe operation of old gas cylinders in college campuses and the recovery process following a laboratory disaster. Furthermore, booths were set up on site to show the four-year education and advocacy results of toxicological and chemical disaster prevention in colleges and universities, while certificates of appreciation were presented to units that provided professional consultation and assistance in toxic and chemical disaster prevention over the past four years. Together, these activities demonstrate the inter-ministerial and campus-wide efforts to promote laboratory safety and toxic disaster prevention in colleges and universities.
Time spent in laboratories is a common memory of many science students in colleges and universities and is also a key promotion target of the Chemical Substances Bureau of the EPA and the Ministry of Education. Over the years, educational advocacy has been carried out through simulation exercises, toxic substance management, and disaster prevention experiences to enhance students’ awareness of toxic and chemical disasters and their ability to respond. According to the Chemical Substances Bureau of the EPA, due to the wide variety of chemical substances in campus laboratories, if students are inexperienced or the contingency plan is inadequate when accidents occur, laboratory accidents are prone to occur and even lead to disaster escalation. The keys to reducing accidents are to establish correct safety knowledge and emergency response knowledge and capabilities from the source and to improve correct emergency response capabilities after disasters.
In terms of toxic and chemical disaster prevention education and advocacy, the Chemical Substances Bureau of the EPA has stated that since toxic chemicals are commonly used in college laboratories, the proper use of such chemicals is very important in order to ensure a safe and effectively managed campus laboratory environment. In particular, the safe operation of old gas cylinders, emergency responses, and recovery after an on-campus laboratory disaster are key items that should not be overlooked. Therefore, this advocacy results conference invited Associate Engineer Tu Jia-Lin from National Tsing Hua University to explain the methods for the safe operation of old gas cylinders and Director Chien Wei-Jyun from the Department of Applied Chemistry of Chaoyang University of Technology to share about the laboratory disaster and recovery process, so as to inspire students to have a better understanding of both issues. The content and fruitful results of the toxic and chemical disaster prevention advocacy campaign by the Chemical Substances Bureau of the EPA during the past four years were presented through interactive games at booths and the awarding of certificates of appreciation, with the hope of inspiring more schools to pay attention to and identify with the environmental issues on campus.
The Chemical Substances Bureau of the EPA has stated that, in addition to continuing to support the advocacy and promotion of toxic and chemical disaster prevention activities in colleges and universities, it will also continue to deepen laboratory safety and toxic and chemical disaster prevention education in high schools and colleges in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and colleges and universities.
