| LAB SAFETY |
DuPont™ Science Safety Zone™
Science Safety Awareness Program
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General Science Safety Checklist
Science safety is a team effort involving not only
teachers and students but also school administrators and parents. But
where can you go for guidance about proven safety practices?
Many—if not all—issues related to science
safety are addressed by the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS).
From chemical storage to safety equipment recommendations,
CSSS's Web site
provides readers with a wealth of practical information.
The following is a suggested checklist of safety concerns
in K-12 science labs adapted with permission from the Council of State Science Supervisors.
(This and other related materials are available online at:
csss.enc.org/safety.htm.
Safety Equipment
Keep appropriate safety equipment on hand, including an
emergency shower, eye-wash station, fume hood, fire blankets, and fire extinguisher.
All students and teacher(s) should have and wear safety goggles and protective
aprons when working in the lab. Ensure proper eye protection devices are worn by everyone
engaged in supervising, observing, or conducting science activities involving
potential hazards to the eye. Provide protective rubber or latex gloves for students when
they dissect laboratory specimens. Use heat-safety items such as safety tongs, mittens, and aprons
when handling either cold or hot materials. Use safety shields or screens whenever there is potential
danger that an explosion or implosion might occur. Keep a bucket of 90 percent sand and 10 percent vermicullite or
kitty litter (dried bentonite particles) in all rooms in which chemicals are
handled or stored. The bucket must be properly labeled and have a lid that
prevents other debris from contaminating the contents.
Teaching Procedures
Set a good example when demonstrating experiments by modeling
safety techniques such as wearing aprons and goggles. Help students develop a positive attitude toward safety. Students should not
fear doing experiments or using reagents or equipment, but they should respect them for
potential hazards. Always demonstrate procedures before allowing students to begin the
activity. Look for possible hazards and alert students to potential dangers. Explain and post safety instructions each time you do an experiment. Maintain constant supervision of student activities. Never allow
students to perform unauthorized experiments or conduct experiments in the laboratory alone. Protect all laboratory animals and ensure that they are treated
humanely. Remind students that many plants have poisonous parts and should be handled
with care. For safety, consider the National Science Teachers Association's
recommendation to limit science classes to 24 or fewer students.
Student Safety Tips
Read lab materials in advance. Note all cautions (written and oral). Never assume an experiment is safe just because it is in print. Do not eat or drink in the laboratory. Keep personal items off the lab tables. Restrain long hair and loose clothing. Wear laboratory aprons when
appropriate. Avoid all rough play and mischief in science classrooms or labs. Wear closed-toed shoes when conducting experiments with liquids or
with heated or heavy items. Never use mouth suction when filling pipettes with chemical reagents. Never force glass tubing into rubber stoppers. Avoid transferring chemicals to your face, hands, or other areas of
exposed skin. Thoroughly clean all work surfaces and equipment after each use. Make certain all hot plates and burners are turned off before leaving the laboratory.
Lab Environment
Place smoke, carbon monoxide, and heat detectors in laboratories and storerooms. Ensure that all new laboratories have two unobstructed exits.
Consider adding additional exits to rooms with only one door. Frequently inspect a laboratory's electrical, gas, and water
systems. Install ground fault circuit interrupters at all electrical outlets
in science laboratories. Install a single central shut-off for gas, electricity, and water for
all the laboratories in the school, especially if your school is in an earthquake zone. Maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on all school chemicals and
an inventory of all science equipment. Conduct frequent laboratory inspections and an annual, verified safety check
of each laboratory.
Science Lab Activity Guide
Additional Resources
For more in-depth, comprehensive information on science safety, we encourage
you to visit the following Web sites:
Science equipment suppliers that provide science safety information
Schoolwide Student Safety
Science safety is most likely to be achieved when students and teachers work
together to ensure a respectful school and classroom environment. Operation Respect, a non-profit
organization, disseminates free educational resources that help to extablish a climate
of respect and safety in schools and classrooms throughout the United States.
View or download the DuPont™ Science Safety Zone™ poster
(pdf file, 501 kB).
This science safety awareness program is sponsored by the DuPont Center for
Collaborative Research & Education in cooperation with A+ Media, Inc., the Council of
State Science Supervisors, and the North Central Eisenhower Mathematics & Science
Consortium.
DuPont
Center for Collaborative Research & Education
P.O. Box 80030
Wilmington, DE 19880-0030
Copyright © 2003 by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company
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