“

The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many things.”

Lewis Carroll: “Through the Looking Glass”

”

Dan Levine - Project Partner

McElroy enjoys a reputation as a premier translation resource for hazard communication documents like MSDSs and labels. But what about the client who wants the entire package? You know… Write the MSDS and label and then translate it into various languages. For projects like these, McElroy can work with contractors whose expertise helps us deliver a complete package. One of our contractors is Dan Levine, president of Product Safety Solutions.

Dan has said that “Almost nobody starts out to become a hazard communicator. We take very different paths to this profession.” An interactive presentation he gave at the 2004 Spring SCHC meeting in New Orleans bears this out. Out of an audience of about 100 people, only one actually took an academic program designed to help them become a hazard communicator.

Dan’s path to hazard communication is the typical circuitous route. Born in New York City, he grew up on Long Island and attending Hicksville High School. He was a baby boomer who found himself in the advanced science track along with some of his friends. “We all had finished biology, chemistry and physics by the end of our sophomore year and were able to take advanced courses. I took mine in biology and chemistry. Luckily, the teachers who taught these courses made them fun as well as educational.” When it came time for college, Dan looked for a school that offered a chemical engineering program. He ended up at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (now know as the Polytechnic University).

“The program was pretty tough. I had to complete 144 credits in four years and lots of those credits were labs where you had to spend three hours in lab for the same credit as one hour in class.” He joined the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and that helped to counter the intensive academic program. “Craziness was the norm at the fraternity house. We were all engineers or scientists and needed to do anything that didn’t involve science. Fortunately, we had some fraternity brothers with great imaginations…..”

Upon graduation, Dan took a job in Syracuse, NY with what was then Allied Chemical. He spent 10 years in manufacturing that included two plant startups and ended up with him as supervisor of the “dry side” of the first and oldest synthetic soda ash complex in North America. But the plant was fighting cheaper, natural soda ash and had a limited life. He jumped at the chance to transfer to headquarters in Morristown, NJ when a job in the product safety department became available. “My dad was into health foods and organic gardening and sparked my interest in chemical toxins and hazards. I think this helped to steer my path to product safety.”

Dan spent 31 years with Allied, which by mergers, acquisitions and name changes became AlliedSignal Inc. He became a “hazard communicator” when the person who did precautionary labeling had to undergo a medical procedure that would keep him away from work for two months. There was a current need and Dan, who was then concentrating on product stewardship issues, was “volunteered” by his boss to fill the gap. Over the next few years, many other “gaps” had to be filled and Dan’s eagerness to learn new things helped him to develop expertise in all the issues related to chemical product safety. He also joined SCHC, the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication, about a year or two after it was created. Dan’s a joiner and he soon found himself running the Society’s program committee for three years. He joined the board of directors but then found himself as secretary/treasurer and eventually became president. He is currently a member of the board and active in several committees.

In 1994, Dan became the corporation’s Director of Product Safety and Integrity. His responsibilities included not only the chemical products, but overall direction for the product safety programs of the aerospace and automotive business sectors as well. “I was far from an expert in aerospace and automotive issues, but they were very interesting areas and we had some great folks directing the day to day programs in these areas.”

Dan left Allied in 1998 and started up Product Safety Solutions. Chemical product safety has been in his blood since 1978 and this provided the opportunity to do it full time. His clients vary from Fortune 500 companies to owner-operators. “The work varies client to client and it gives me the opportunity to do some training for folks who are anxious to learn. Also, no two days are the same and I guess that’s part of the appeal.” Dan and McElroy found each other through the SCHC and it has resulted in a relationship that puts two disciplines together to give McElroy the ability to deliver a complete “hazard communication solution” for our clients.

Hong Kong

The People

Hong Kong is very sophisticated and cosmopolitan, blending the cultures of Asia and Europe. Its people are highly educated, very motivated and westernized. Hong Kong is 98% Chinese (Cantonese), but the people view themselves as different from other Chinese. Cantonese habits and customs are dominant. An individual’s actions, prestige, education, wealth and reputation reflect positively or negatively on the entire family.

Meeting and Greeting

• Shake hands with everyone – men, women and children – upon meeting and leaving. Note that Hong Kong Chinese handshakes may be less firm than a Western handshake.
• Higher-ranking persons are introduced before those of lower rank. An older person comes before a younger person, and a woman before a man. Family members are greeted in order of age, oldest first and youngest last.
• It is polite to inquire about a person’s health or activities upon greeting.

Names and Titles

• Use family names and appropriate titles until specifically invited by your host or colleagues to use their first names.
• Address the Chinese with Mr., Mrs., Miss or professional title plus family name. Example: Lau Gan Lei would be Mr. Lau or Doctor Lau or Professor Lau.
• Chinese names have two parts: family name and given name. The family name comes first.

Body Language

• Hong Kong Chinese may stand close when talking, however, they are reserved and uncomfortable with body contact. Do not hug, kiss or pat people on the back.
• Winking at someone is considered a very rude gesture.
• Request your bill by making a writing motion with your hand.
• To beckon someone, extend your arm, palm down, and make a scratching motion with your fingers.
• Never point with your index finger. This is used only for animals. Point with your hand open.

Corporate Culture

Many Hong Kong businesspeople have been educated in Western schools and are well-heeled, well-traveled and possess an international perspective. The business climate in Hong Kong is “wide open, ” with a free market and limited government involvement. Hong Kong business activities are competitive, honest and quick. Making money is the main goal. The style of business is similar to that of the United States.

• Punctuality is expected and respected; be on time for all appointments. Allow “courtesy time” (30 minutes) if someone is late for an appointment with you.
• Tea is served at meetings. Do not drink until your host takes the first sip. A host leaving tea untouched signals the end of the meeting.
• Bring business cards printed in English on one side and Chinese on the other side. Make sure that the Chinese side uses “classical” characters, the written form of Chinese used in Hong Kong, and not “simplified” characters, which are used in the People’s Republic of China. Upon introduction, present your business card with both hands and with the Chinese side up.
• Be sure to look at a business card upon receiving it. Do not write on a business card in front of the person who gave it to you.
• Lawyers are not included in negotiations until contracts are drawn up and signed.
• Negotiations may be slow and detailed, but very efficient. Send senior people with technical and commercial expertise prepared to function as a team and make decisions on the spot. Business deals may be sealed with a handshake alone. Be prepared to compromise.
• Banking contacts are very important. Use a bank to set up your meetings.
• Take time to build relationships. It may take several meetings to accomplish goals. Do business face to face. Courtesy calls and personal selling are vital to success.
• “Yes” may not mean agreement; it often means “I hear you.” “No” is generally not said. Instead, you may hear “I will have to wait,” or “This may be very difficult.”
• Do not attempt to open an office in Hong Kong without hiring or consulting a “geomancer”/“feng shui” professional. A feng shui professional advises on facility, moving date, opening date, entrance, etc. and positions office furniture to be in harmony with cosmic forces. Do not ignore this custom. Many Chinese will not do business without feng shui approval for fear of trouble from spirits. Ask a Hong Kong businessperson for the name and number of a reliable feng shui professional.
• Make appointments for business meetings a month before arrival.

Dining and Entertainment

• Tea is the customary beverage for all occasions. Your teacup will be refilled continually. Leave your cup full if you are finished. Chinese find adding sugar and cream to tea a very strange Western habit. Place teapot lid upside down (or open if attached) to signal the waiter for more tea.
• Toasting is an important part of a Chinese dinner. If you are the guest of honor and are toasted, smile, raise your glass, make eye contact, drink, raise your glass and thank the host and guests.
• The guest of honor rises and thanks the host for everyone present at the end of dinner. Make a simple, polite, short toast to friendship, success and cooperation.
• The banquet host visits each table and makes a toast. A toast is often made in the middle of a banquet when the shark fin soup is served.
• Be sure to eat and show appreciation for shark fin soup if it is offered. This delicacy is offered only to special guests, and is very expensive.
• It is bad manners for a host not to keep a guest’s plate full, and it is even worse for a guest not to continue eating as long as the plate is full. Always leave some food on your dish after you are finished with each course. Otherwise the host will continue refilling your plate or bowl.
• Be sure to reciprocate with a banquet of equal quality. Your hotel can assist you in preparations.
• Rice is served as a filler. Do not eat large amounts, which implies the host has not served enough food.
• Lay your chopsticks on your chopstick rest or neatly on the table when you are finished eating. Never stick them in a bowl of rice.
• Don’t be afraid to dirty the tablecloth. Bones, shells, etc. are put on the table; do not put them in your rice bowl. A plate may be provided for this purpose.
• The Chinese find belching, slurping, clanging utensils and making loud noises at the dinner table acceptable, sometimes even complimentary.
• Oranges or other fruits are served to signal the end of the meal. Leave soon after the meal ends.
• Never refuse an invitation to lunch or dinner. If you can’t make the date, suggest nother date.
• Spouses are usually not included in business dining. Do not bring a spouse unless invited to do so. If spouses are present, business is generally not discussed.

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Hispanic Heritage Month

On September 29, The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC) will announce the Community Service Awards. McElroy is proud to be a contributing sponsor of this event. This year’s theme is “Nuestra Gente...Uncovering the Light from Within.” The Community Service Awards honor people who dedicate their time and energy to making Austin a better place to live. Selected individuals will be recognized for their exemplary contributions and personal commitment in the areas of Arts, Community, Education, Professional and Youth Leadership. For more information about GAHCC visit www.hispanicaustin.com. This event coincides perfectly with Hispanic Heritage Month. Inttranews reports:

New York, USA (PRNewswire): PBS features year-round programming both created by and about Hispanic Americans. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, PBS offers a variety of new and encore presentations that celebrate the diversity of the Latino community and explore its history and culture.

For more information, please visit: www.prnewswire.com