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http://www.carolina.com/labsafety/start_safely.asp
Every science educator
wants to maintain a safe, well-managed classroom and
student laboratory. The ideal time to assure a
successful, mishap-free year of science teaching is
before your students return in the fall. I suggest that
you begin your school term with a thorough examination
of the laboratory work and storage areas.
General housekeeping
First, make sure that eyewash stations, safety showers,
fire extinguishers, and fire blankets are positioned
correctly and are in good working order. Inventory all
chemicals and other hazardous materials to ensure that
containers are labeled and stored properly. Insist that
only authorized personnel have access to the storage
area. Dispose of outdated and unnecessary items in the
manner prescribed in their material safety data sheets (MSDS).
Current MSDS sheets for all chemicals must be readily
available for anybody who requests them.
Check your various
forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) to assure
that the quantities of goggles, gloves, and aprons in
serviceable condition are adequate for the number of
students in your classes. Make sure that the goggle
sterilization cabinet works correctly.
Plan ahead
Overcrowding, a tremendous problem in many schools, is
exceptionally unfortunate for those who teach science.
The incidence of laboratory accidents escalates
dramatically when too many students attempt to work in a
confined area. Anything that can be done to reduce
crowding in a student laboratory should be given the
highest priority!
Also, science
classrooms should not be assigned for use by nonscience
classes. Curious students cannot resist the wondrous
things that reside in a science room. A science teacher
really needs to be in charge of these facilities at all
times to prevent unfortunate occurrences.
If it’s not already
scheduled, initiate a meeting of all science teachers as
well as the principal and, if appropriate, the science
supervisor. Review your school’s laboratory safety
rules and make certain they conform to those mandated at
district and state levels.
Safety checklist
Every instructor has some safety requirements that are
unique to the grade level and the specific activities.
However, the primary list of laboratory safety rules for
the school science program can be reasonably generic and
should include the following:
| 1. |
Personal
protective equipment (PPE) must be of the
accepted type for the activity and must be worn
correctly at all times-by students and
instructors. |
| 2. |
All
chemicals and other hazardous materials must be
kept in a properly secured area, clearly and
properly labeled, and accounted for meticulously
at all times. Students must never be allowed to
remove hazardous materials from the lab. |
| 3. |
Laboratory
working conditions must be safe. Safety
equipment must be sufficient to deal with the
most extreme hazard or mishap that could
potentially occur. |
| 4. |
Proper
equipment and supplies must be provided for
students to use. They must be given instructions
in laboratory technique and in handling
materials before being allowed to conduct
experiments. |
| 5. |
Teachers
must supervise laboratory activities at all
times. Students must not perform any
unauthorized experiments. During inquiry-based
activities, the teacher must approve
student-designed experiments-before they are
performed. |
| 6. |
Students
must dress appropriately for the laboratory.
This includes wearing the required PPE, and NOT
wearing certain types of personal apparel,
including open-toed shoes, shirts with floppy
sleeves, and shorts or short skirts. Long hair
should be tied back to keep it away from flames
and chemicals. |
| 7. |
Students
must not bring food, drink, or personal items
into the work area. After completing the day’s
activity and cleaning up, they should wash their
hands thoroughly to prevent contamination of
themselves and their personal effects. |
| 8. |
Emergency
telephone numbers, including those for the
school office, the poison control center, and a
hazardous materials service, should be posted in
the laboratory. Include emergency response and
evacuation procedures on this posting. Students
should be familiarized with this information
before the first laboratory session. |
Safety contract
Your laboratory safety program cannot be successful
without the support and commitment of all persons
involved in the educational process, from the school
administration to your students and their parents.
Safety rules, which pertain to teachers and students
alike, must be clearly stated and enforced, without
exception, in all classrooms and at all levels of
authority.
Parents and guardians
must be aware of the laboratory safety program that
exists for their children’s benefit. Moreover, they
must agree to accept the rules as they are implemented
on the students’ behalf. This is most satisfactorily
accomplished by sending home a laboratory safety
contract, to be signed by the student and his or her
parent or guardian. The contract explains the safety
rules that the student will be required to abide by
while participating in laboratory activities. The
signatures signify that your students and their
guardians agree to abide by the rules and the measures
set forth to deal with infractions.
Elementary, middle, and
high school teachers have unique laboratory safety
issues that involve the age of their students and the
types of activities to be performed. Likewise, safety
considerations differ among the various disciplines and
are influenced by instructional preferences and many
other factors. A generic
laboratory safety contract does not
satisfy every need, but it will provide a platform upon
which a customized document can be built. Regardless of
the precise wording of the laboratory safety contract,
be sure to provide 2 copies of the signature portion so
the student’s family and the school each have a copy
on file.
We at Carolina join
together in wishing you the best of success at the
beginning of this school year. Please feel free to contact
me at any time for assistance with
laboratory safety questions or concerns.
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