What Are the Hazards What Are the Hazards You Might Encounter You Might Encounter When Teaching Science?When Teaching Science?
What is a hazard?What is a hazard?
• A hazard is anything with the potential to A hazard is anything with the potential to harm. Hazards in the science laboratory can harm. Hazards in the science laboratory can be be
• Chemicals (e.g. hydrochloric acid)Chemicals (e.g. hydrochloric acid)
• Apparatus (e.g. Low Voltage Power Supply)Apparatus (e.g. Low Voltage Power Supply)
• Procedures (e.g. heating a beaker of water) Procedures (e.g. heating a beaker of water)
General hazardsGeneral hazards• Heat (flames/hot objects-tripods)Heat (flames/hot objects-tripods)
• Hot liquidsHot liquids
• Sharp instrumentsSharp instruments
• Voltages above 25vVoltages above 25v
• Lifting heavy objectsLifting heavy objects
• Taste, smell, touchTaste, smell, touch
Hazards in BiologyHazards in Biology• ChemicalsChemicals
• Living or once living materialsLiving or once living materials
• TastingTasting
• Hazardous equipmentHazardous equipment
• Field workField work
Chemical Dangers in Chemical Dangers in BiologyBiology
• EthanolEthanol
• StainsStains
• Reagents - iodine solution, Reagents - iodine solution, Benedict’s reagent, ninhydrin ……..Benedict’s reagent, ninhydrin ……..
• Formalin?Formalin?
Using Animal and Plant Using Animal and Plant MaterialsMaterials• Dissection and human emotional Dissection and human emotional
disturbancedisturbance
• Contamination e.g. Contamination e.g. SalmonellaSalmonella
• Plants. allergies and toxins(e.g. Plants. allergies and toxins(e.g. buttercup, foxglove, laburnum)buttercup, foxglove, laburnum)
• Saliva and bloodSaliva and blood
• TastingTasting
Pupils As the Subject of Pupils As the Subject of ExperimentsExperiments
• Asthma and bronchitisAsthma and bronchitis
• Tasting materialsTasting materials
• Avoiding competitive activitiesAvoiding competitive activities
• ExerciseExercise
MicrobiologyMicrobiology
• Choice of organismsChoice of organisms
• Facilities and resourcesFacilities and resources
• Preparation and disposalPreparation and disposal
• AutoclavesAutoclaves
• Staff expertiseStaff expertise
Biological Equipment and Biological Equipment and Apparatus Apparatus
• Scalpels and sharpsScalpels and sharps
• Aquariums (electric shock)Aquariums (electric shock)
• SyringesSyringes
• SphygmomanometersSphygmomanometers
• SpirometersSpirometers
FieldworkFieldwork
• AdministrationAdministration
• In loco parentisIn loco parentis
• Group controlGroup control
• Dangerous areas?Dangerous areas?
• Supervision levelsSupervision levels
Hazards in Chemistry (1)Hazards in Chemistry (1)
• Toxic e.g.ammonia gas, asbestos, chlorine, leadToxic e.g.ammonia gas, asbestos, chlorine, lead
• Harmful e.g. copper sulphate, napthalene, iodineHarmful e.g. copper sulphate, napthalene, iodine
• Irritant e.g. dilute acids and alkalis, calcium chlorideIrritant e.g. dilute acids and alkalis, calcium chloride
• Corrosive e.g. conc. acids and alkalis, soda limeCorrosive e.g. conc. acids and alkalis, soda lime
• Flammable e.g. ethanol, sulphur, paraffinFlammable e.g. ethanol, sulphur, paraffin
• Oxidising e.g. potassium nitrate and permanganateOxidising e.g. potassium nitrate and permanganate
• Explosive e.g. ammonium nitrite, nitrocelluloseExplosive e.g. ammonium nitrite, nitrocellulose
• Radioactive e.g. thorium saltsRadioactive e.g. thorium salts
Hazards in Chemistry (2) Hazards in Chemistry (2) • Heating solids and liquids (quantities)Heating solids and liquids (quantities)
• Smelling gasesSmelling gases
• SpillageSpillage
• Broken glassBroken glass
• Chemical disposalChemical disposal
• Personal protection (goggles, gloves, Personal protection (goggles, gloves, aprons, lab coats, screens)aprons, lab coats, screens)
• Fume cupboardsFume cupboards
Hazards in Physics (1)Hazards in Physics (1)
• ChemicalsChemicals
• Electricity and electrostaticsElectricity and electrostatics
• Electron and gas discharge tubesElectron and gas discharge tubes
• HeatersHeaters
• Large massesLarge masses
• LasersLasers
Hazards in Physics (2)Hazards in Physics (2)
• High pressures or vacuumsHigh pressures or vacuums
• Steam enginesSteam engines
• Stroboscopes/signal generatorsStroboscopes/signal generators
• Viewing the sunViewing the sun
• Wires under tensionWires under tension
• RadiationRadiation
Hazards in Physics (3)Hazards in Physics (3)• Power supplies (less than 25V and 10A)Power supplies (less than 25V and 10A)
• Van de Graaff generator (electric shock)Van de Graaff generator (electric shock)
• High tension discharge tubes (up to High tension discharge tubes (up to 400V)400V)
• Electric fires, fan heaters, radiant Electric fires, fan heaters, radiant heaters (burns and electric shocks)heaters (burns and electric shocks)
• Heavy masses (feet, lifting, whirling, Heavy masses (feet, lifting, whirling, beam collapse)beam collapse)
• Lasers (classes-danger to eye)Lasers (classes-danger to eye)
Hazards in Physics (4)Hazards in Physics (4)• Bell in jar/collapsing can (implosion/explosion-Bell in jar/collapsing can (implosion/explosion-
scattering of material)scattering of material)
• Steam engines (exploding boilers, fuel ignition)Steam engines (exploding boilers, fuel ignition)
• Strobes/signal generators (possible migraine Strobes/signal generators (possible migraine or epileptic trigger)or epileptic trigger)
• Viewing sun (care when focusing rays)Viewing sun (care when focusing rays)
• Wires/strings/plastic filaments (breakage Wires/strings/plastic filaments (breakage under tension producing whiplash injuries)under tension producing whiplash injuries)
• Radiation (headaches, eye damage, skin Radiation (headaches, eye damage, skin ‘burning’, cell damage)‘burning’, cell damage)
General Principles General Principles
• Find it out (refer to documentation)Find it out (refer to documentation)
• Think it out (use your common sense)Think it out (use your common sense)
• Ask about (teachers/technicians)Ask about (teachers/technicians)
• Try it out (practice experiments)Try it out (practice experiments)
• Get it out (no Bernie, don’t….)Get it out (no Bernie, don’t….)
• DfEE (1996) DfEE (1996) Safety in Science Education Safety in Science Education HMSOHMSO