Region 5 News Release:   V-112
Feb. 5, 2002
Contact: Gary Anderson
Phone: (708) 891-3800

CHICAGO: A conference to discuss health and safety hazards in museums and galleries will be held at the Art Institute of Chicago on Friday, March 8.

The "Health in the Arts: Museum/Gallery Collections; Preventing Health Hazards Conference" will provide a seminar for employers, educators, workers, government officials and others to gain practical experience and discuss workplace programs to prevent hazardous exposures and reduce injuries and illnesses. In addition to an overview of safety and health issues common to museums, the seminar will address potential hazards that specific pesticides and preservatives can pose to employees handling artifacts.

The conference is sponsored by The Occupational Health Service Institute and the Illinois Education and Research Center of the UIC School of Public Health, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Art Institute of Chicago, and the city of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs.

Key speakers at the conference will be Kathryn Makos of the Smithsonian Institution, Margie Skimina of the Art Institute of Chicago, Drs. David Hinkamp and Katherine Duval of the Health in the Arts Program and Joe Zanoni of the Illinois Education and Research Center. Barb Smith and William Coulehan of OSHA will discuss personal protective equipment, hazard communication, material safety data sheets, and other information.

"This conference is a great opportunity to work together and exchange information to prevent job injuries and illnesses in these workplaces," said Michael G. Connors, OSHA regional administrator in Chicago.

The conference will be held on March 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue. The conference fee is $50, which includes lunch and refreshments. The registration table at the conference will open at 8:00 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to register at least 48 hours in advance to ensure that adequate course materials are available. Registration may be made by phone at (312) 996-6904 or by fax at (312) 413-7369. Additional information is available on the Internet through the "Health in Arts Conferences" link at www.uic.edu/sph/glakes/harts/index.htm