January 25, 2015
Set aside a special day
...let us suggest the legislature of Texas set aside a special day each year to be observed as a memorial day on which tribute will be paid to the children and teachers who died in this catastrophe...and to make laws of safety... Our daddies and mothers, as well as the teachers, want to know that when we leave our homes in the morning to go to school, that we will come out safe when our lessons are over.“ Read the complete speech by Carolyn Jones Frei, March 25, 1937 to the Texas Legislature after the 1937 March 18 Texas School Explosion.
Let’s make March 18 an annual day to Bring the Lessons of 1937
to Your School. Tell the story of the 1937 TX School Explosion, study its
lessons, and celebrate the leadership and partnerships that can save lives. Update
your school's values and technical skills to live safely with 21st century
chemicals and technology. Read about inspiring heroes at http://tinyurl.com/HealthyKidsHeroes2015.
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| As a result of the New London tragedy, the 45th TX Legislature enacted House Bill 1017 which amended Article 6053, Texas Revised Civil Statutes, 1925, giving the Railroad Commission the authority to adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the odorization of natural gas or liquefied petroleum gases. On July 27, 1937, Gas Utilities Docket 122 was adopted and the Commission began enforcement of odorization requirements for natural gas. |
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| "My sister Helen Jones, an honor student and member of the high school champion debate team, was not so fortunate. She and my uncle, Paul Grier, a senior who planned to study medicine, were both taken from us in this awful explosion that killed so many of the future generation of East Texas."-- Carolyn Jones Frei, 1937 |
January 09, 2015
Safety in the Science Classroom
Q: I'm looking through the NGSS and I don't see any standards about lab safety or health education. Am I missing something?
A: The NGSS are science content standards based on the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education, and as such, contain neither health education standards nor lab safety standards. This is not an indication that these topics are unimportant, but rather that they go beyond the content contained in the Framework. Each state typically has both health education standards and lab safety standards or manuals that are used in addition to their science content standards.
To find additional resources about lab safety, you can visit this page for books and resources: Safety in the Science Classroom.
Q: I'm looking through the NGSS and I don't see any standards about lab safety or health education. Am I missing something?
A: The NGSS are science content standards based on the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education, and as such, contain neither health education standards nor lab safety standards. This is not an indication that these topics are unimportant, but rather that they go beyond the content contained in the Framework. Each state typically has both health education standards and lab safety standards or manuals that are used in addition to their science content standards.
To find additional resources about lab safety, you can visit this page for books and resources: Safety in the Science Classroom.
January 08, 2015
Pipeline Association for Public Awareness (PAPA) Video http://vimeo.com/114175332 Not
just a training video for excavators, this video includes lots of
useful information for schools and communities about energy pipelines,
gas and other pipeline hazards, pipeline markers, and the DigSafe 811
hotline. There is graphic video of pipeline
accidents. More PIPA videos: Pipelineawareness PIPA: www.pipelineawareness.info
School Pipeline Safety Partnership Introduction Video http://vimeo.com/96512706 This short video shows how to find your school's custom pipeline safety webpage at schoolpipelinesafety.org.
Only schools that are enrolled in the program will have a custom
webpage on the site. For more information, please email info@schoolpipelinesafety.org.
Find Pipelines Near Your School to help you quickly respond to a pipeline problem and protect students, staff and facilities.
Permanent Pipeline Markers
Pipeline
operators place permanent signs, called pipeline markers, along
transmission, gathering and hazardous liquids pipeline routes, at
roadway and railway crossings and at aboveground facilities to identify
the general location of a pipeline. Lines maintained by your local gas company typically do not have permanent pipeline markers.
Markers can vary in size, shape and color, but all markers include
important information about the pipeline, including the product
transported, the pipeline operator’s name and the operator’s emergency
contact number. Line markers do not indicate depth of the line, the
number of lines in the area or the exact location of a pipeline.
If you are planning an excavation or building project on your school
property, even if you have identified a pipeline marker, you must call
811 or your local One-Call center to have pipelines located and marked
before digging. Depending on the specifics of your school’s project,
the pipeline operator may elect to be on-site during excavation.
Pipeline markers are important safety signs. It is a federal crime to
willfully deface, damage, remove or destroy a pipeline marker. If you
notice a damaged marker, please contact the pipeline operator.
School Pipeline Safety Map (available for participating schools)
If
your school participates in the School Pipeline Safety Partnership
program, you can access an online aerial map of your school showing the
general location of nearby pipelines by accessing your school’s pipeline safety information page.
In addition to a map, school pipeline safety pages include the pipeline
operator’s emergency contact number, information about the pipeline and
what it transports, and non-emergency contact information for local
pipeline and school personnel.
National Pipeline Mapping System Maps (available for all schools)
The federal government provides online maps to help you locate pipelines in your community through the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS).
Maps generated by NPMS show the approximate location of gas and
hazardous liquids transmission pipelines in relation to specific
addresses, major roads, zip codes, cities and counties. NPMS also
provides non-emergency contact information for transmission pipeline
operators in your community.
Learn more about the types of pipelines that make up our nation’s pipeline infrastructure.
Aboveground Facilities
In addition to underground pipelines, your school may be located near
aboveground components of the pipeline system, including compressor and
pumping stations, metering stations and storage facilities. Pipeline
markers are posted to identify aboveground facilities as well.
Metering stations and compressor and pumping stations are located along
gathering and transmission lines. Metering stations measure flow of
product in and out of the pipeline system, and compression and pumping
stations push products through the pipeline. Storage facilities store
natural gas or other products. If you have questions about an
aboveground facility near your school, contact the operator listed on
the pipeline marker for more information.
Also see: Gas Pipeline Safety Information for School Administrators and Safety Officials (SourceGas Brochure)
Also see: Gas Pipeline Safety Information for School Administrators and Safety Officials (SourceGas Brochure)