Safety Equipment

This new Cannabis Order is a difficult read. Difficult in that it doesn't seem to do anything except discourage weed arrests. Officers are supposed to "guess-timate" the weight of the Cannabis, one person says by comparing it to the weight of 3 nickels. Now comes this word:

• Read the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the Duquenois-Levine Reagent 908 Cannabis Testing Kits
  
  Is the Department going to provide the LEGALLY REQUIRED PPE and Exposre Controls including
  
  chemical goggles or safety glasses with side shield splash protection, impervious neoprene or nitrile gloves. Further, an eye wash fountain and safety shower should be readily available to those using the test.
  
  According to the federally mandated MSDS potential Health Effects Include severe corneal burns, irritation and or severe chemical burns by direct contact with the skin.
  
  Will any of the Unions hold the City and Department accountable and protect their membership.

Is all the testing done at the desk, exposing Officers to these chemicals and resultant by-products? And if the "testing officer" spills anything at the desk, is it a Haz-Mat situation? We'd suggest using the now empty Watch Commander's Office, but too many lieutenants are disregarding the General Order that says they're supposed to be sitting at the Front Desk.

In any event, if you are one of the "testing Officers," you are doing the work of a technician, processing evidence and filing a report concerning the same - that sounds like D-2 pay to us.