Historic House Hazard Survey

This project, "Hidden Health Hazards: A Collaborative Approach to the Problem of Toxins in Museums and Community Collections," was a collaborative effort between myself, another student, and two local historic house museums. I participated in beta testing a comprehensive health and safety survey developed by museum professionals from the American Institute for Conservation. The survey is designed to assist historic house museums and small cultural heritage organizations in identifying and addressing health hazards to prioritize the safety of both visitors and staff.

Key contributions included:
- Testing the survey's framework to evaluate various hazard categories, including general policies, building structure, chemical hazards, collection-based risks, and fire hazards.
- Providing feedback to improve the survey’s usability and adaptability for institutions of different sizes and needs.
- Collaborating with museum staff to apply the survey and assess specific health and safety concerns within their unique historic properties.
- Promoting awareness of toxin-related hazards and supporting organizational planning for mitigating risks and securing resources.

This project underscored the importance of proactive health and safety measures in cultural heritage institutions.