The University of Chicago Library
Safety Collection

INTRODUCTION

The safety collection was created in the former Chemistry Library during the early 1990's in response to a recommendation by Jack Halpern, the Chairman of the Chemistry Library Committee. The collection is designed to provide chemical safety information for laboratory workers, primarily in the Chemistry Department. Encouragement of good safety practices to help prevent injuries and property damage remains a priority of the Department of Chemistry. Federal regulations, primarily the OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), also require that academic institutions provide information concerning 1) the handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals, 2) the right of the individual worker to know the hazards of chemicals in the workplace, and 3) the development of an institutional chemical hygiene plan. The University of Chicago Library continues to support safety practices by maintaining the safety collection through regular purchases both of titles in new areas and updates of standard reference works, as well as access to web resources with safety information..

The Library's safety collection provides useful and accurate information about various aspects of chemical safety. This bibliography lists titles located both in the Jones Laboratory Room 209 reading room, relevant titles in the John Crerar Library, and a variety of web and other electronic resources in chemical safety. Locations are indicated beneath the call numbers in the bibliography. Most of the book materials are in reference collections and do not circulate. Video materials may be borrowed for use in classrooms, laboratories, etc. for training purposes.

All University employees and students have access to these library collections during normal services hours; consult the University of Chicago Library Schedule of Hours for details. A valid Library ID card is necessary for access to The John Crerar Library stacks at all times and to the building itself after 5:00 p.m. daily. Access to the Jones Lab reading room titles may be arranged by contacting the John Crerar Library circulation desk.. Interested users of this bibliography from outside the University of Chicago should feel free to consult the Chemistry Librarian for further information regarding the safety collection.

Andrea Twiss-Brooks
Bibliographer for Chemistry, Physics, Geophysical Sciences, and Technology
The University of Chicago
atbrooks@uchicago.edu